In the end, less mud and dust, composted manure and productive pastures will be a major payoff for you, your chore-efficient small farm and your healthy horses, as well as for your neighborhood and the environment. | Photo: iStock

I always recommend this process:

• Prioritizing where to start
• Determining resources available
• Establishing possible lines of financial assistance

First, sit down with paper and pencil (or at your computer) and list out all the improvements you’d like to do to your horse property. These might include:

• Building a sacrifice area with geotextile fabric and gravel footing
• Installing gutters and downspouts on barn
• Building compost bins
• Installing drainage around barn
• Cross fencing pastures

With your list in hand, determine resources available. Conservation districts are one place to start. Conservation districts are local units of government established under state laws to carry out natural resource management programs at the local level. They work with millions of cooperating landowners and operators to help manage and protect land and water resources on all private lands and many public lands in the United