by Maryland Department of Agriculture Office of Resource Conservation (first published in the April 2025 Equiery)

Got Mud?
As any horse farm owner knows, April showers bring more than just May flowers. Mud can be a common and major issue wherever horses congregate, such as gates, waterers, and hay feeders. The problems mud causes are worse than just a filthy horse that needs extra grooming; mud transmits bacterial and fungal diseases, including thrush, mud fever, and rain scald; creates unsafe footing that risks injuries from slipping, and is the perfect breeding ground for unwanted insects like mosquitos, which carry West Nile Virus. Mud also increases soil erosion and nutrient runoff, carrying sediment and nutrients from manure and fertilizers into the Chesapeake Bay. So what can we do to combat this? How do we win the war on mud?

Causes of Mud
There are several contributing factors to muddy areas on the farm aside from rain. Clay particles readily absorb large amounts of water, making soils high in clay more susceptible to mud. Manure also holds water, so areas with excess buildup likewise tend to become muddy. Mud is often found in low-lying fields with poor drainage. High traffic areas, commonly around waterers, gates, and feeders, lead to compacted soil restricting water infiltration. Insufficient plant roots from poor pasture management can ruin soil structure. Additionally, roof runoff from buildings without gutter systems contributes to the development of muddy areas.
Thankfully, there are many preventative measures you can take to mitigate this issue, some of which are eligible for state funding assistance.

Pasture Management
Proper pasture management is crucial for controlling mud. Test your soil every three years and follow lime and fertilizer recommendations to maintain healthy and vigorous grass stands. Controlling weeds by mowing or spraying also helps support growth. For fields in dire need of restoration, try overseeding and allowing the grass one season to grow to help with recovery. It’s also incredibly important to avoid overgrazing, which shortens and weakens plant roots leading to a reduced lifespan of plants.
An effective tool for preventing overgrazing is to implement rotational grazing, where horses are rotated through several pastures that have been rested to 6 inches or more and then moved to a pasture when they have been grazed down to 3 inches.

Sacrifice Area
It’s critical to keep horses off wet pastures, as it damages plant roots and compacts the soil, reducing infiltration. The best method for preserving the health of pastures during wet weather is to establish a sacrifice area or “loafing lot” where horses should stay during the winter, early spring, and whenever pastures are wet or overgrazed. The size of the sacrifice area is variable depending on the horse, but it is generally recommended to have at least 600 square feet per horse.

There are many footing options for sacrifice areas, but perhaps the most effective is a heavy use pad, where geotextile fabric is laid over an excavated area and covered with compacted layers of stone and bluestone dust.

Manure Management
Regularly remove manure from pastures and paddocks to prevent mud accumulation and reduce nutrient runoff. Collected manure can be composted and spread on pasture during the growing season to improve soil fertility. Manure piles should be covered during rainy weather via a tarp or roofed waste storage structure. For larger pastures, consider dragging the field to break up manure clumps instead.

Grass Buffer Strips
Grass buffer strips are natural filtration systems that help slow runoff. It’s a particularly good idea to place them around your sacrifice area, especially if it is located near a stream. Buffers should be at least 50 feet wide and can be grazed in the spring and summer.

Rain Gutters
Installing roof runoff structures on buildings in or near your pastures is another great way to control mud and reduce soil erosion and nutrient runoff. In addition to installing gutters on the buildings, be sure to include downspouts directing the water away from the area.

Planning and Financial Assistance
While implementing some of these methods may seem daunting and expensive, the Maryland Department of Agriculture offers technical assistance and conservation grants through the Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Share Program (MACS) for Best Management Practices (BMPs). Grants provide cost-share for projects including interior fencing for rotational grazing, heavy use areas, waste storage structures, and roof runoff structures. Farms with at least 1 animal unit, or 1,000 pounds of live animal weight, are eligible for this funding. Contact your local soil conservation district for free technical assistance and help applying for cost-share grants.