Sustainable Horsekeeping Workshop

International Expert to Speak on Sustainable Horsekeeping

Jane Myers, from Equiculture in Australia to speak in the Bay Area for the first time

The Resource Conservation Districts of Santa Cruz and San Mateo Counties, in partnership with Ecology Action, is excited to host Jane Myers, an internationally-recognized expert on environmentally sustainable practices for horse farms. This visual, entertaining and extremely informative presentation will include the following topics: horse grazing behavior, horse and pasture management, water and vegetation management, chore-efficiency and effective property planning.

Mrs. Myers has been in the horse industry in Australia and the UK for over 35 years. She is a Principal with Equiculture (www.equiculture.com.au) and is the author of Managing Horses on Small Properties, Horse Safe: A Complete Guide to Equine Safety, and co-author of the new Sustainable Horsekeeping series.

Jane is travelling in the U.S. on a Winston Churchill Fellowship grant to learn about our best practices and has generously offered to share her knowledge and experience with us in this one-time-only workshop.

The workshop will be held on Saturday, April 14th from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm at the Train Depot in Half Moon Bay located at 110 Higgins Canyon Road (depot is just below the Johnston House off Hwy 1 at the Higgins Purisma Rd turnoff). Snacks will be provided, please feel free to bring a lunch.

WHEN:

Saturday, April 14, 2012

9:00 AM to 1:30 PM

WHERE:

Train Depot

110 Higgins Canyon Road

Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

The Train Depot is located just below the Johnston House off Hwy 1 at the Higgins Purisma Rd turnoff. Note: Higgins Purisma Rd turns into Higgins Canyon Rd.

TOPICS:

horse grazing behavior

horses and pasture management

water and vegetation management

chore-efficient and effective property planning

This workshop, funded in part by the State Water Resources Control Board, offers horse and small livestock owners an opportunity to understand the Best Management Practices (BMPs) that can be applied on their properties. While all the practices focus on improving potential water quality issues associated with horse and small livestock facilities, the benefits are farther reaching. 

By applying practices that decrease erosion, reduce sediment, and lessen manure runoff to local water supplies, property owners will enjoy enhanced land esthetics, decreased maintenance costs, a safer environment for workers, land owners, visitors and animals, increased profitability and property value, and better community relationships.

For more information please contact Angie Stuart, at the Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County at 831-464-2950 x22 or astuart@rcdsantacruz.org or visit the Livestock and Land website at www.livestockandland.org.