If it is mostly composted, not hot, no stink and you are done harvesting the asparagus then the patch will love it. Personally, I always prefer to add it to the compost pile and then add the compost to the gus bed.

Dave

If it is 'mostly powdery' it may become hot with the addition of water. It may also be mostly saw dust or other bedding material and the clumps you are finding are the manure.
As long as you have finished harvesting, you can use it as mulch on your asparagus bed. I mulch my asparagus beds every fall, after I cut them back, with composted horse bedding. Of course, I know that my neighbors, who supply me with the bedding, don't use vast amounts of drugs on their horses. I wouldn't want some of the residual drugs in my garden compost.

Thanks. I think I'll put some in the compost and also see what the crazy California rain does to it (heats up or ?) and spread it in the fall. I'm still getting artichokes out of that bed. Nancy

Hi - why does it need to be "not hot" and have no odor? If it is used in a more raw or organic (fresh) state, what will that hurt? I have access to some fresh horse manure, but no compost pile. Can I just let it sit for a while until it dries out and stops smelling? I was going to use it now, but then stumbled on sites that say it has to be "cool". Thanks!

Jenni, HOT manures such as horse, chicken and cow manure can easily burn your plants if they haven't been aged or composted. Letting them sit around for a year or so is usually just fine. Nancy

I would spread it 6-8" thick and solarize with clear plastic if you have the room. My brother got some free "compost" that was just piled up horse manure mixed with sawdust bedding from a commercial stable and it turned out to be CHOCK FULL OF WEED SEEDS.