Seven Horse Manure Storage Ideas To Keep Your Arena Clean

Horses produce significant amounts of manure daily and finding effective storage solutions is essential for keeping your barn, arena, and property clean.  With the right horse manure storage ideas, you can prevent the buildup of waste, control odors, and enhance the overall environment for horses and humans alike. In this guide, we’ll explore various strategies on how to store horse manure efficiently and sustainably.

Why Is Proper Horse Manure Storage Important?

Horses can produce up to 50 pounds of manure per day, and if left unmanaged, manure can quickly accumulate, leading to unsanitary conditions. This increases the risk of flies, pests, and unpleasant odors, and can also cause nutrient runoff that contaminates nearby water sources.

Proper manure storage helps prevent these issues while also making it easier to dispose of or repurpose the manure. Whether you plan to compost it for fertilizer, spread it on pastures, or arrange for disposal, an organized storage system is the first step in keeping your arena clean.

Manure Bins

One of the simplest and most effective horse manure storage ideas is using manure bins. These enclosed bins provide a designated area to store manure until it’s ready to be removed or composted. Typically made from wood, plastic, or metal, manure bins are easy to construct and can be scaled to fit your specific storage needs.

Benefits of Manure Bins

• Containment: Manure bins keep manure contained, preventing it from spreading or accumulating in undesirable areas.
• Odor Control: By covering the manure and keeping it in one place, bins help reduce odors around your arena.
• Ease of Use: Manure bins make it easy to collect and store manure in one location, simplifying the process of transferring it to a compost pile or disposal service.

To keep your manure bin functioning well, consider pairing it with a pasture vacuum to efficiently collect and transport manure from the arena and surrounding areas.

Composting Systems

Composting manure is a popular storage solution that allows you to recycle waste into a valuable fertilizer. A well-managed composting system helps break down manure over time, converting it into nutrient-rich compost that can be used in gardens, pastures, or flower beds. Compost bins or piles are typically placed in a dedicated area away from water sources to prevent nutrient runoff.

How to Set Up a Manure Composting System

• Designate a Compost Area: Choose a well-drained location for your compost pile or bins. Ensure it is far enough away from barns and arenas to minimize odors and flies.
• Aerate Regularly: Turning the compost pile every few weeks helps oxygenate the materials and speeds up the decomposition process.
• Monitor Moisture: Compost piles should remain moist but not waterlogged. Keeping the right moisture balance is essential for proper breakdown.

Covered Manure Sheds

For facilities looking to take a more structured approach to horse manure storage, building a covered manure shed is a great option. These enclosed structures provide a designated space to store large quantities of manure, keeping it protected from rain and reducing the risk of nutrient runoff.

Advantages of Manure Sheds

• Protection from Weather: A roofed shed keeps manure dry, preventing excess moisture from rain, which can lead to runoff and unpleasant odors.
• Easy Access: Manure sheds are designed to be easily accessible, allowing you to store and remove manure without difficulty.
• Containment: A manure shed keeps manure contained in one area, preventing it from spreading and reducing flies and pests.

Covered manure sheds can be customized to fit the needs of your facility, making them a versatile and efficient solution.

Manure Bunkers with Concrete Walls

For larger operations, manure bunkers with concrete walls provide a durable and long-lasting manure storage solution. These bunkers are built with sturdy walls on three sides, which help contain the manure while still allowing for easy access by tractors or manure spreaders.

Advantages of Concrete Bunkers

• Durability: Concrete walls offer long-term durability and are resistant to weather, ensuring your storage system will last for years.
• High Capacity: Manure bunkers can store large amounts of manure, making them ideal for larger barns or facilities with several horses.
• Efficient Management: Bunkers are designed for easy loading and unloading, whether you’re moving manure for composting or spreading it on pastures.

By utilizing a bunker system, you can manage high volumes of manure efficiently while keeping your property clean and organized.

Manure Pits

Manure pits are another storage solution often used in larger equine facilities. These pits are essentially large holes dug into the ground where manure can be stored until it’s ready for composting or disposal. While simple in design, manure pits must be carefully managed to prevent contamination of groundwater.

Important Considerations for Manure Pits

• Location: Manure pits should be located far from any water sources or wells to prevent contamination from nutrient runoff.
• Drainage: Ensure the pit is well-drained to prevent standing water, which can lead to unpleasant odors and attract pests.
• Temporary Storage: Manure pits should be used for short-term storage only, with regular removal or composting to prevent the pit from becoming overwhelmed.

Portable Manure Trailers

If you need a more flexible horse manure storage option, portable manure trailers can be an ideal solution. These trailers allow you to collect and store manure on-site and then easily transport it for disposal or composting.

Benefits of Portable Trailers

• Mobility: You can move the trailer around your property, making it convenient for collecting manure from multiple locations.
• Easy Transport: Once the trailer is full, it can be easily transported to a composting facility or disposal site.
• Short-Term Storage: Manure trailers are great for short-term storage, particularly for facilities without a permanent storage structure.

Pairing a portable manure trailer with regular use of a travel fence can help you designate clean, manure-free areas for horses, especially when managing temporary setups at events or shows.

Manure Spreaders

For those looking to repurpose manure as a natural fertilizer, manure spreaders offer an efficient way to manage both storage and application. By collecting manure in a spreader, you can store it temporarily and then apply it directly to your pastures as needed.

Benefits of Manure Spreaders

• Dual Functionality: A manure spreader stores manure and also distributes it evenly across your fields.
• Improved Pasture Health: When used correctly, manure can enrich your soil with valuable nutrients, promoting healthy grass growth.
• Efficient Application: Manure spreaders are designed to cover large areas quickly, making them ideal for larger properties.

Greystone USA offers a variety of tools, including arena drags and groomers, that work alongside your manure management system to ensure your facility remains clean and well-maintained.

How to Store Horse Manure Safely and Effectively

When thinking about how to store horse manure, it’s important to consider the size of your facility, the number of horses you manage, and the amount of time you can dedicate to maintaining your storage system. No matter which storage method you choose, regular removal, aeration, and moisture management are key to keeping your manure piles sanitary and odor-free.

By staying on top of manure storage and management, you can keep your arena clean and provide a healthier environment for your horses, riders, and visitors.

Invest in the Right Storage Solution Today

Proper horse manure storage is imperative for maintaining a clean and safe environment in your arena. Whether you choose a manure bin, bunker, or composting system, having an efficient storage solution in place helps you keep manure contained and out of high-traffic areas. With the right setup, you can minimize odors, pests, and environmental risks while keeping your facility looking its best.

Greystone USA offers a range of innovative tools designed to make your arena upkeep easier than ever. Our products are designed to help you maintain a pristine facility while adhering to best practices in waste management. Visit us today to find the perfect tools to keep your arena clean and your horses healthy.