Ecological and Economic Benefits of Resource Conservation on Horse Farms

This project builds off of a previous Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) initiative and will monitor the ecological and economic effects of resource conservation on equine operations that participated in that program, therefore quantifying the impact of the practices from the RCPP project and then determining the transferability of these practices. The project’s objectives are to: 1) Assess the ecological impacts of resource conservation on horse farms, including improved soil and pasture health, control of noxious species, improved nutrient distribution and enhanced grazing management. 2) Quantify the potential monetary savings when improved pasture management is implemented on horse farms, such as allowing farms to spend less on stored feeds and synthetic fertilizers. 3) Determine other benefits of conservation practices: a. Reduced operating costs. b. Improved horse health. c. Improved soil health. 4) Describe these benefits in online and print educational materials that encourage horse farm owners to adopt conservation practices. 5) Conduct field days on project farms to demonstrate to horse farm owners the practicality and value of improved management practices.