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- 1). Scoop the horse manure into a single pile, or create several small mounds. Use the blade of a sturdy garden spade to smash any large pieces of dung. While it is not necessary, mixing other organic materials into the manure will enrich the finished product. Add shredded leaves, tree bark or other plant materials and blend them into the manure with a garden rake, creating a homogenous mixture.
- 2). Smooth the pile with a rake so that the height is approximately the same as the width. Cover the finished manure heap with a tarp to help keep the compost moist and help the mixture to retain heat.
- 3). Turn the manure pile at least once a day. Slide the blade of a garden spade into the manure and flip it over, exposing new material to the open air.
- 4). Add water, if needed, to keep the manure heap moist. Sprinkle the water over the compost, 1 gallon at a time, until the materials are evenly damp. When the manure loses its distinctive aroma and looks like soil, it is ready to apply to the garden. The aging process takes two to three months, though it varies according to the quantity of manure being processed and the local weather.
- 5). Spread a 4-inch layer of composted horse manure over the garden area. Work the compost into the soil of newly turned plots with a tiller or garden rake; around existing plants, work the compost in with a small hand trowel taking care not to disturb the plant's roots.
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