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  Discussion on Manure
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Posted on Sunday, Aug 27, 2000 - 12:16 am:

This is going to sound like a dumb question - but I am very new to the horse world - what should "normal" manure look like?

Posted on Sunday, Aug 27, 2000 - 1:39 am:

Well....the size of the balls depend on the size of the horse, to a certain extent. The color seems to depend on what they've been eating--it's anywhere from greenish to reddish brown. It should look moist, but not be slimey. Some say that it should just barely hold its shape. Dry hard balls are not good.

It should smell like horse manure--not real pungent or "off."

Expect to get six to eight piles a day. More is better than less.

How's that for a dumb answer?

Posted on Sunday, Aug 27, 2000 - 3:57 pm:

I have always been told it should come out as a formed sahpe and break up as it hits the ground. As Eveo said the colour and consistancy varies according to the diet and in spring when there is a flush of grass it often turns all green and mushy like cow pat. It often contains roughage but should not contain obviously undigested feed. Just after worming you can sometimes see worms in it as well. You can tell in a field which horse has doen which pile once you get to know them. We get about 10 per day from the pony and 8 or so each from the other two. the size of the pile depends on the size of the horse - baby horses do baby poos which are really cute!! I Hope this helps Claire :~}

Posted on Monday, Aug 28, 2000 - 6:46 am:

By the way, if after a while the manure in the horse's stall has lost its shape and looks like a pile of lumpy sawdust, your problem isn't the horse - you just have mice or rats (and they are enjoying a good meal!)

Posted on Monday, Aug 28, 2000 - 5:55 pm:

Hello Jani,
You should visit a close by boarding facility early and check the manure out. Or better visit several as feeding practises will affect appearence.
DrO
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