TOWN OF BOURNE

BOARD OF HEALTH

BOURNE MASS

 

HORSES AND PONIES

THIS REGULATION ALSO PERTAINS TO BOVINE ANIMALS (COWS), MULES DONKEYS, SHEEP AND GOATS.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 31 AND SECTION 155 OF CHAPTER III OF THE MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL LAWS:

 

A)  A stable shall be defined as any building or structure where a horse or horses are kept or maintained for any purpose.

B)  No individual, partnership, company, or corporation shall maintain a stable within the Town of Bourne without first obtaining a permit from the Board of Health.

C)  Such permits shall be issued for a period of time not to exceed one year and may be renewed.

D) Only a person who complies with the requirements of the following regulations shall be entitled to receive and retain such a permit.

E) A stable must be provided for every horse.

F) The definition. of "stable" also includes any building, lot, structure, enclosure, premises or portion thereof where farm animals are kept or maintained for any purpose.

1) LOCATION

A. Stables shall be located not less than 200 feet from any building or structure used for human habitation, any church. or meeting house erected or used for the public worship of God, school, public building, playground, hospital, nursing home, or rest home except upon written permission of the Board of Health. In the case of any church or meeting house erected and used for the public worship of God, written consent of the religious society or parish worshipping therein is also required.

B. Stables shall not be located less than 50 feet from any adjoining property lot lines or the line of any street, court, or passageway.

C. Not less than 250 feet from the high water mark of any source of drinking water supply or tributary thereof or less than 250 feet from the high water mark of any open waters flowing directly or ultimately into any source of water supply.

D. Not less than 50 feet from any room where milk is handled.

2) CONSTRUCTION

Stables shall be of durable construction to protect the building from the deterioration or damage by rodents, termites and dampness and shall have stalls of adequate size so that a horse will have room to comfortably lie down or stand up.

3) FLOORS

Floors in horse stalls shall be paved with wooden blocks sealed in asphalt or other materials approved by the Board of Health and shall be sloped to facilitate proper drainage of liquid waste and designed to permit easy cleaning. The stable floor for a horse must meet the M.S.P.C.A. requirements: It must be wood (any heavy planking two (2) inches or more in thickness) spaced to allow for drainage, and have sand underneath the flooring.

4) DRAINAGE

The stable building shall be provided with a sanitary drainage system connected to the public sewerage system; provided that if because of distance or ground conditions connection to the public sewerage is not practicable, any other means of subsurface disposal of sewage approved by the Board of health and in compliance with D.E.Q.E., Title 5, Sanitary Sewage, may be installed.

5) HOSE BIB WATER OUTLETS

The stables shall be provided with a sufficient number of hose bib outlets so that the stable can be hosed down and maintained in a clean condition.

6) LIVING AND SLEEPING QUARTERS

The stables shall not be used for human habitation.

7) WATER TROUGH

A drinking trough shall be provided in the corral area for the animals.

8) CORRALS AND PADDOCKS

Corrals ard paddock areas should be gently sloping to minimize standing pools of surface water. Horses that are allowed to roam on land shall be provided with adequate fences so constructed as to safely confine the animal and prevent the animal from eating shrubbery from abutter's land.  No horse shall be allowed to be pastured on any unless said area is at least 200 feet from a dwelling house.

9) FEED STORAGE

Grain feeds shall be stored in covered metal or metal lined bins or containers.

10) INSECT CONTROL

Whenever necessary, insecticides should be applied to the interior walls, ceilings, and stall area. Insecticides should also be applied to the exterior of the stable building in order to control fly populations. Space sprays and resin strips impregnated with insecticide may also be used.

11) SCREENING

Openings to outer air shall be effectively screened against the entrance of flies and other flying insects.

12) MANURE STORAGE

A ventilated, watertight storage facility constructed of concrete or other durable material shall be provided for the storage of manure from inside the stable. Manure shall be removed from the stable at least daily and shall be placed in the manure storage container. No manure or bedding shall be permitted to remain outside the stable for more than 48 hours. Any person allowing a horse or horses to roam on land shall remove waste matter periodically in a manner commensurate with the area involved.

13) WATER SUPPLY

An adequate quantity of water of safe sanitary quality shall be provided for each stable.

14) LIGHTING AND VENTILATION

Each stable shall be provided with adequate light (2 windows for sunlight) and ventilation.

15) RESTRICTION TO PREMISES

Horses, bovine animals (cows), mules, donkeys, sheep, and goats shall be kept either in an approved stable or in an enclosure or stake and chain of adequate size. Said animals shall not be permitted to be at large outside the premises. Any animal shall be deemed to be at large when it is off the premises and unaccompanied by the owner, agent, or employee of the owner or caretaker.