Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) invites equine farm owners to participate in the Caring for Your Horse and Farm workshop on Saturday, November 21 from 10am to 3pm.
The workshop will take place at the Watershed Learning Centre in Terra Cotta Conservation Area located at 14452 Winston Churchill Blvd, Halton Hills.
“This workshop is a great way for equine farmers to assess their operations and create an action plan to make environmental improvements,” said Mike Puddister, Deputy CAO and Director of Watershed Transformation at CVC.
“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, Bridget 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. Not only has the pasture quality improved and reduced our need to administer dewormer, it helped protect our nearby streams and pond,” added Ryan.
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.
Conservation authorities are a provincial/municipal partnership. For 60 years, Credit Valley Conservation has worked with its partners to support a thriving environment that protects, connects and sustains us.
Credit Valley Conservation gratefully acknowledges financial support from our member municipalities for facilities, programs and services: the Regions of Peel and Halton; the Cities of Mississauga and Brampton; the Towns of Caledon, Erin, Halton Hills, Mono, Oakville and Orangeville; and the Townships of Amaranth and East Garafraxa. CVC is a member of Conservation Ontario.
