This page is to teach you how to do your weekly or for some two to three times a week chore: Cleaning out the stall. Although you may think this task is simple, its really not.
While using concrete and rubber mats is a good idea, the best idea is to have a layer of gravl, covered with hard packed dirt and then a layer of sawdust. Sawdust is the most comfortable bedding for your horse. It is soft, warm, and very comfortable for the horse. That’s why HLH recommends using sawdust.
After about a week of not cleaning the stall, you must clean it. Otherwise your horse could catch the hoof fungus, thrush. what you are about to read are step by step instructions on how to clean out your horse’s stall.
What you need
- Wheelbarrow
- Pitchfork
- Large Shovel
- Manure Pick
Using the large shovel, get out as much sawdust out of the stall as you can. After a while, you won’t be able to get anymore dust out of the stall, but there is still dust. You need to take the pitchfork and start to dig into the “wet stuff” Now you will know exactly how much sawdust is still in there. Your stall should be loking fairly decent, but you should try to get all of the horse “apples” out of the stall.
If at all possible, let your stall air out for a while before putting the sawdust in. By putting two planks together (about 5 1/2 inches wide) you can create a ramp to allow you to get your wheelbarrow into the stall. this will help you put the sawdust in the most important place, the middle. You need to put all of your sawdust into the middle of the stall and spread it out from there. If a horse’s stall gets “bowled out” and they lay down to roll, they can colic, which in some cases in fatal.
Do your best to make the stall as flat as possible. This will help prevent your horse from colicing.
If you pick out your horse’s stall everyday with the manure pick, it will be easier to clean out your horse’s stall when all of the sawdust must come out.
