“It makes a non-glamorous thing glamorous. It’s clean, efficient… and sexy.”
What began as a hesitant, sight-unseen purchase quickly proved to be a game-changing decision. Maria and her foreman now use the Tow and Collect 1220 several times a week, clearing manure and even stray debris like twigs across multiple pastures.
Dr. Maria Katsamanis is a globally recognized horse trainer, author, and psycho-physiologist known for her ability to create harmony between horses and humans. But when she relocated to a new farm in Hopewell, New Jersey, she found herself faced with a very down-to-earth problem: how to efficiently manage manure on a smaller property without sacrificing her time, her staff’s energy, or her horses’ wellbeing.
“When we moved to this new farm, one of the things we had to grapple with was a smaller acreage… our previous setting was quite a number of acres. I could rotate fields and move horses. But here, we needed a better way to manage manure—and fast.”
With limited space, increased labor costs, and high standards for equine care, Maria needed a solution that wouldn’t just “get by”—it needed to be efficient, durable, and time-saving. She began researching options across industries, evaluating everything from golf course sweepers to estate landscaper tools. But nothing fit quite right.
“I went through the motions of looking at all the equipment—anything from what golfers were using to remove duck and swan manure, to what large estates used for cleanup. I evaluated everything.”
Despite not being able to trial a Tow and Collect unit locally, Maria took the leap and purchased a 1500 Pro unit sight unseen—after just one phone call.
“I literally bought it kind of ‘tried unseen’ because of two things. First, I needed excellent customer service. I’m way too busy to be chasing equipment fixes. Second, I needed to trust the brand—and after talking to Brigitte Tolley, I instantly did. She knew the product, she knew her client base, and she understood the land.”
From that point on, the Tow and Collect quickly became one of the most essential tools on the farm.
Maria is the first to admit that managing manure isn’t the glamorous side of horse ownership. But with the Tow and Collect, it doesn’t feel like a chore anymore.
“So you’re driving around with a red attachment behind you, and it just makes it so sexy. I’ll put it out there—if you’re kind of like, ‘Oh god, I have to do manure,’ this is definitely a sexy machine.”
What used to be a time-intensive and physically demanding task now takes her foreman just 30–45 minutes to complete, up to four times a week.
“We have a system now. He goes out with the machine, and it picks up everything—manure, twigs, leaves. We even adjust it by season. It’s just that easy.”
The machine isn’t just about saving time—it’s also about improving outcomes. Maria noticed the difference in her horses’ health almost immediately.
“We just did our fecals, and everyone came back negative. That’s a testament to how effective this equipment is. It keeps flies away and breaks the parasite cycle.”
Because of the property’s slope, Maria and her team compost the collected manure and use it strategically, creating a cleaner, healthier cycle that’s better for the horses and the land.
“Wet manure is a breeding ground for bots and flies. But when we collect it and compost it, we avoid all that—and our fields are better for it.”
As someone with a packed schedule and high physical demands, Maria also appreciates how the Tow and Collect reduces strain on her body—and her staff’s.
“There’s no physical lifting. It’s just a slight bend to turn the wheel. That’s it. For people who have physical limitations but still have farms to manage—this is the perfect equipment.”
“It’s absolutely necessary. I couldn’t do without it on this property.”
Even assembling the machine when it arrived was refreshingly simple.
“Brigitte told me there were some videos that could help. I thought, ‘Oh god, here we go…’ But actually, they were super helpful. My foreman and I had it put together in half an hour. Just the two of us.”
Maria’s Tow and Collect has never let her down. No breakdowns, no issues—just consistent performance.
“Nothing has broken. The wheels are durable. The horses get used to the clicking sound as it moves. It’s easy to adjust, easy to clean, and easy to use.”
And the best part? The way it transforms one of the most dreaded chores on the farm.
“People wonder what I’m doing. All they see is a red attachment and a cloud of dust. But it’s efficient, clean, and sexy—for something that in this industry can be so practical and unsexy.”
For Maria, the Tow and Collect has been more than just a piece of farm equipment—it’s been a solution that saved time, improved health outcomes, reduced stress, and made daily life smoother for her and her team.
“It’s absolutely worth it for us. Totally.”
To learn more about Dr. Maria Katsamanis visit her website: https://www.mariakatsamanis.com/