A day-long course is being offered this fall to give Virginia horse-farm owners the opportunity to learn about conservation practices that can benefit farming operations and local water quality.

Healthy Land for Healthy Horses: A Short Course on Pasture and Manure Management will be held in four locations across Virginia. The course will cover conservation specific to horse farms. Topics such as soil fertility, grazing management, plant identification and nutrient management will be discussed. Hands-on activities will complement classroom lectures.

The course is $35 per person and includes lunch. Advance registration is required. Online registration is available at www.vaforages.org.

Dates and locations are as follows. Each course covers the same material.

Sept. 25
9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Virginia Tech MARE Center
5527 Sullivans Mill Road
Middleburg, VA 20117

Oct.10
9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Virginia Cooperative Extension
3738 Brambleton Ave.
Roanoke, VA 24018

Oct. 11
9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Durbin Arena (Albemarle County)
4429 Catterton Road
Free Union, VA 22940

Oct. 30
9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Hickory Ruritan Club
2752 S. Battlefield Blvd.
Chesapeake, VA 23322

The course is sponsored by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Virginia Cooperative Extension, and the Virginia Forage and Grassland Council.