Workshop Saturday — Learn to care for horse and farm with CVC

November 18, 2015 · 0 Comments

Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) invites equine farm owners to participate in the Caring for Your Horse and Farm workshop Nov. 21 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The workshop will take place at the Watershed Learning Centre in Terra Cotta Conservation Area at 14452 Winston Churchill Blvd.
“This workshop is a great way for equine farmers to assess their operations and create an action plan to make environmental improvements,” CVC’s Deputy CAO and Director of Watershed Transformation Mike Puddister commented. “A one thousand pound horse will produce approximately nine tons of manure each year. Learning how to turn waste into a resource is one example of how this workshop helps equine farmers and the environment.”
Workshop participants will learn best practices to manage a healthy equine farm, including how to manage horse manure, improve pasture quality and protect natural features such as ponds, wetlands and streams. Following the workshop, participants can schedule a site visit for technical support and become eligible to apply for funding when they complete certain program requirements.
“As a small horse farm owner, the workshop helped me identify priority environmental projects that help my horses and farm,” said Bridget Ryan, a past workshop participant from Erin.
With guidance from CVC, Ryan installed eavestroughing and rainbarrels to control barn water roof runoff and started rotational grazing in her pastures.
“I see the positive impacts of pasture rotation,” she said. “Not only has the pasture quality improved and reduced our need to administer dewormer, it helped protect our nearby streams and pond.”
Workshops are free, thanks to funding from CVC’s regional and municipal partners. Interested equine farm owners should own property within the boundaries of the Credit River watershed.
Register by Nov. 15 at www.creditvalleyca.ca/events
For more information, call 1-800-668-5557, ext. 440, or email meastman@creditvalleyca.ca