Transform waste into value – and make it easier with Tow and Collect.
If you’ve got horses, you’ve got manure. And a lot of it.
The average horse produces more than 50 pounds of manure every day. Without a plan, this waste quickly turns into an unsightly and unmanageable heap, taking up space and attracting flies, odor, and runoff risks.
But with the right tools and know-how, you can turn that pile into a powerful soil amendment that boosts your pasture, garden, or landscape. Composting is a practical, sustainable way to recycle manure, and with a Tow and Collect machine, managing the process is simpler than ever.
Why Composting Horse Manure Matters
Composting isn’t just about reducing waste. It’s about creating a valuable resource from what would otherwise be a daily burden.
Benefits of composting horse manure:
- Improves soil health by adding organic matter and nutrients
- Reduces parasite risk by removing manure from grazing areas
- Cuts down odor and flies, especially near living spaces
- Minimizes runoff and protects nearby waterways
- Saves space compared to storing raw manure
- Sell or distribute excess manure to your neighbors or other farms
Instead of fighting the manure mountain, why not make it work for you?
How Tow and Collect Helps You Get Started
Before you can compost, you have to collect. And that’s where the Tow and Collect system changes everything.
Rather than spending hours pushing a wheelbarrow and wielding a fork, the Tow and Collect lets you sweep up manure quickly and efficiently. Whether you’re managing a few paddocks or several acres, this machine is designed to take the hard manual labour out of manure collection.
What Tow and Collect does for composting:
- Collects clean, compost-ready manure from your pasture in minutes
- The tines on the Tow and Collect help to break up the manure, which helps to speed up the process.
- Helps maintain pasture hygiene, reducing the parasite cycle
- Gathers manure into a convenient collection catcher for easy transfer
- Allows for frequent collection, which is critical to composting success
Step-by-Step: Composting Horse Manure
Step 1: Estimate Your Volume
Begin by understanding how much manure you’re producing. A single horse can generate over 9 tons of waste per year. Multiply that by your herd size and factor in any bedding used in stalls. Knowing the volume helps you plan your composting space and system effectively.
Step 2: Pick the Right Spot
Choose a location that is:
- Well-drained and flat
- Easily accessible year-round
- Away from streams, wells, or low-lying areas where runoff can cause contamination
If you’re using a UTV, tractor or Tow and Collect, be sure your access path stays dry enough to reach the site during wet seasons.
Step 3: Choose a Bin or Pile Setup
There’s no single “right” way to compost. Some owners prefer an open pile system, while others build a multi-bin system for tidier, staged composting.
A simple three-pile or bin system works well:
- Pile 1: Fresh waste added daily
- Pile 2: Actively decomposing, turned regularly
- Pile 3: Curing or finished compost
Each pile should be at least 3 feet x 3 feet x 3 feet to generate sufficient internal heat.
Step 4: Keep it Covered
Rain can turn compost soggy and leach nutrients into the environment. Sun can dry it out and halt decomposition. Use a heavy-duty tarp or a simple roof to protect your pile. Secure coverings well if you’re in a windy area, and make sure they’re easy to pull back when adding fresh material.
Step 5: Add Oxygen by Turning
Composting is an aerobic process—it needs air. Without oxygen, the pile becomes compacted, slow, and smelly. Use a tractor or loader to turn the pile every couple of weeks. If you’re composting at a larger scale or want less hands-on involvement, aerated systems with blowers are another option (though more expensive and complex to install).
Step 6: Check Moisture Levels
For compost to break down properly, it needs the right moisture content—about the feel of a wrung-out sponge. If it’s too dry, microbes slow down. If it’s too wet, the pile can go anaerobic and start to smell. Adjust by adding water or dry materials like shavings or straw as needed.
Step 7: Monitor Internal Temperatures
The composting process generates heat, and that’s a good thing. To kill off parasites, fly larvae, and weed seeds, the pile should reach internal temperatures between 130°F and 160°F for several days.
We recommend using a long-stem compost thermometer (20″ or more) to monitor the pile’s core. Rising temperatures signal microbial activity. If the temp drops, that’s your cue to turn the pile and reignite the process.
Step 8: Allow Time to Cure
After several weeks of active composting and turning, the material will begin to cool. At this point, it enters the curing phase—where worms and helpful insects complete the breakdown and nutrients stabilize.
Let it sit for at least a month (or longer) before using. Cover the pile to prevent nutrient loss and keep weed seeds from settling.
Step 9: Spread the Finished Compost
When your compost is dark, crumbly, and smells like rich soil—it’s ready. This finished product is known as “black gold” and is packed with nutrients that help grass, gardens, and pasture soils thrive.
We recommend using a Conestoga Manure Spreader to evenly distribute the compost across your property. Conestoga’s ground-driven spreaders are compact, rugged, and ideal for small-acreage farms and horse owners.
Why we recommend Conestoga manure spreaders:
- Spreads compost and raw manure
- Ground drive (no PTO needed)
- Easy to tow with an ATV or tractor
- Made in the USA and built to last
Spread no more than 3–4 inches per season on any one area, and aim for ¼–½ inch at a time to allow for proper absorption.
Final Thoughts: A Cleaner Farm, Healthier Soil, and Less Work
Horse manure doesn’t have to be a nuisance. With a little structure, and the right equipment, you can turn your daily cleanup into an opportunity to nourish your land.
- Tow and Collect helps you collect manure fast
- Composting lets you recycle nutrients and reduce waste
- A manure spreader like Conestoga puts your compost back into action
It’s a full-circle solution that saves you time, improves your pastures, and keeps your farm running clean and green.
Ready to Start Composting?
Whether you’re new to horses or looking to upgrade your manure management system, Tow and Collect is the ultimate time savings tool when it comes to collecting your manure for composting.
👉 Browse our models to find the Tow and Collect that fits your property
👉 Talk to our team about integrating manure collection and composting on your farm
👉 Composting 101 via o2 Compost – A great read, Peter knows his stuff!
👉 When & How to Apply Manure – read more.
