Mounted search and rescue

["Chuck Daniel" <iwhound@voyager.net>]

Subject: Re: [MSAR] Feeding SAR horses certified weed free


> Irv is right about the  problem with weeds, or non native plants, 
> spreading
> through animal droppings, although since I am a "horse person" I prefer to
> blame birds for spreading the "bad seeds".  ;-)

Your are actually right,  a study that I can't seem to find now indicated 
that hikers, birds and fur bearing animal lead on passing seeds into the 
environment.  One other study from envirohorse@yahoo.com  entitled Horse 
Trails and Other Environmental Issues by Adda Quinn notes that there is 
little research on the complex mechanism of weed seed dispersal by horses.

The article summary stated:


"The impact of the horse on trails offers very little risk to the 
environment. The risk of horses eliminating and impacting groundwater or 
surface water is very small. Best management practices are available for 
stream crossings. Horses may be the user class of least impact to wildlife. 
The role of the horse as a disperser of weed seed is not known. Most food 
passes through the horse gut within 48 hours. While seeds can survive gut 
passage, they face formidable odds of survival. Two studies of horse impacts 
on trails were reviewed."

Chuck