Snohomish County (and Camano Island) has one of the largest and diverse horse populations in the United States. While larger livestock operations such as dairies receive more regulatory attention and financial assistance, the Conservation District has concluded that the cumulative effect of thousands of over-stocked and degraded equestrian properties may have a larger, more sustained impact on water quality in this county. The purpose of the Sound Horsekeeping program is to educate and encourage horse owners to implement Best Management Practices that reduce the impact their horses have on water quality, soil health, and riparian habitat. This is to be achieved through removal of identified barriers to BMP implementation including personal site visits and technical assistance, workshops and seminars, loans of equipment such as a manure spreader and lime spreader, soil tests, and funding for project implementation.