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Easy Ways to Maintain and Clean Horse Stalls

Those who are looking to purchase a new horse and who are looking for horse stalls for sale may not know how to maintain and clean horse stalls.  This is an important part of a horse’s life and where they are going to spend their time when they are not out in the pasture or in the corral.  The horses’ stall can be viewed as their room.  No one wants to live in a dirty room and a horse is no different.  For this reason, it is important to keep the stall clean and fresh every day.  The health of the horse can deteriorate when it is forced to live in a dirty stall.

A horse stall is necessary when purchasing a horse.  While a horse is going to spend a good deal of time in the pasture, they are also going to need a place where they can sleep and eat.  This is what the stall is for.  You can get horse stall kits that come with everything that is needed to maintain and clean the horse stalls.  These kits include horse stall mats as well as horse stall flooring.  These items can help to keep the stall clean for the horse.  Other necessary items are hay, shovels and rakes.  All of these can be used together to maintain the sanitary conditions of the stall.

The hay is used for bedding for the horse as well as collecting the droppings from the horse.  Hay also helps when cleaning out the stall as it also soaks up the urine.  When the horse is released into the pasture or the corral first thing in the morning, the stall should be cleaned out.  Rake out all of the dirty hay and put it in the compost heap.  If you do not already have one, you should start one. Horse manure is a great fertilizer and the compost is great for plants as well.  This can either be given away or sold to neighbors for their gardens.

After removing all the hay, the entire stall needs to be washed down to get any bacteria that are found on the walls of the stall out.  The horse stall gates should also be hosed down.  This should be done with soapy water.  There are even products that are sold specifically for washing them out.  Once it is clean and dry, new hay should be put down.  You can use the rake to get the hay to cover the entire floor.  Put a bit more hay where the horse prefers to lay down.

If there is a mare that is close to foaling, more hay should be put and kept in the stall at all times to aid in the birthing process by making the mare more comfortable.  The stall can be cleaned once a day if the horse spends most of its time during the day in the pasture or corral.  Horses that spend more time in the stall than out of it should have their areas cleaned in the morning and in the night.

Those who travel a good deal with their horses may want to invest in portable horse stalls.  These can be seen at many rodeos where many horses are housed for a short period of time.  It is just as important to keep these types of horse stalls clean as it is to keep their permanent ones clean.  Most horses are going to be more relaxed when they have a clean area even if it is away from their home.

Miniature horses are also very popular and require the same care that a full sized horse is going to need.  Those who are planning on purchasing miniature horses are also going to need to purchase miniature horse stalls as well.  While they are many times smaller than a large dog, they cannot in any circumstance live in a house with people as a dog does.  They need to have their own space where they can be comfortable.  The same process for cleaning a full sized horse stall can be used when cleaning a miniature horse stall.  It is just going to be a bit easier as the dropping are going to be smaller and the amount of hay needed is going to much less than a full size horse is going to need.

Taking care of a horse is more than just mucking out the stalls and keeping fresh hay down.  There is a good deal of work involved.  It is vital that there is someone who can spend time working with the horse and cleaning out their area every day.  They love the interaction with their human owners. The joy and love that the horse can give you is going to be more than worth the work that is involved!

Filed Under: Boarding, Horse Care, Stalls Tagged With: custom horse stalls, horse stall, horse stall flooring, horse stall fronts, horse stall gates, horse stall kits, horse stall mats, horse stalls for sale, miniature horse stalls, portable horse stalls

Tips and Guidelines for Horse Boarding

Not everyone that enjoys the ownership of a horse has the property or facilities to keep one close at hand. There is the barn, corral and general pasture area that require more room than most people have. This is where horse boarding comes in. This will allow the average person who wishes to own a horse to not only have one, but have him well looked after when they are not around. This is particularly advantageous if you live in a city and it is but a short drive to the country to enjoy a day’s riding.

When researching horse boarding facilities, be sure to get references from current boarders if possible and previous ones if any are accessible. This will give you some opinions on the care and treatment their horses received. Also request that a horse boarding contract be drawn up and signed by both parties if they do not have one on hand. The more reputable ones will, and this will let you know what you are entitled to as far as service for your horse while it is being boarded, so there are no doubts as to what you will have to do for your horse there.

The people that operate and work at many horse boarding stables not only take very good care of your horse, but more than likely own one or more of their own. Horse boarding is a business built on love of horses as the responsibility of caring for someone else’s is great and most definitely a full time job. It is very rare that you will find someone running this type of establishment that does not have their own horses being boarded right alongside of your own and others.

As part of horse boarding on someone else’s property, the issue of insurance may come in to play. There is more than provider of horse boarding insure that can be found online after just a brief search. Make sure that the facility you are considering has a policy in place and ask to see the certificate. This protects not only you and your horse, but the horse boarding stable as well and insures the best quality care for your horse and the protection in case of any mishaps or accidents.

Inspect the overall looks of the boarding site before signing any contract, as this is binding to both parties. Make sure that the general look is neat and clean.  There should be no piles of tack or tools laying around as a neat stable area is a very well kept one and reflects on the attention that will be paid to your horse. When you come across one that is not well kept, the fences falling down in spots or the barn and stall area messy, this sends a message that if they cannot keep something as simple as these in order, how will your horse be treated if he should fall ill or need attention.

When boarding a horse, one should look to what they will get for the money that they will be spending. Check to see if feed and grain is included or if you need to purchase and drop this off on a regular basis, most will include this in the overall function, but some will request that if you want something special for your horse, that you provide it. Also inquire about farrier services and grooming, how many exercise periods that the horse will receive on a daily basis and training for the horse if there is any available.

Horse boarding services for the most part feed, groom and exercise your horse on a daily basis. The training of the horse for either saddle breaking or show jumping and the like is usually extra above the standard boarding fees. If you are lucky enough to find a trainer/boarder combination where you have your horse, you can greatly accelerate whatever the use for the horse is that you intend. If just for riding purposes, then odds are your horse, unless new, is already saddle broken and therefore requires no extra training. If you are moving in to the dressage or show jumping arenas, then you may want to find a boarder that can assist you in training your horse for these events, at an extra cost of course, but well worth it in the long run.

Boarding horses is a responsibility very few will take on without knowing full well what they are getting into. By this token, when researching a boarding facility, be sure and look at the owners’ history and check with other local horse people regarding him or her. Odds are, as horse people in local areas are a very tight knit group, they will be able to tell you if you are making the right decision or not.

Filed Under: Boarding Tagged With: boarding a horse, boarding horses, horse boarding contract, horse boarding facilities, horse boarding insurance, horse boarding services, horse boarding stable, horse boarding stables

What Type of Bedding Should You Use?

With so many factors to consider it can be difficult to choose what type of stall bedding is best for your horse and your pocketbook, not to mention your back after a hard day of mucking stalls!  Here’s a rundown of the most popular choices.

  • Stall Mats.  Although initially costly, these are excellent for providing good comfort to your horse and for preventing damage to your barn floor.  Stalls with mats tend to be easier to clean and go though less bedding.  If you can afford them, they are highly recommended no matter what your situation.
  • Sawdust or Shavings.  Probably the most commonly used, this type of bedding is both cheap and easy to clean.  If you use a manure fork, you can pick through the shavings and take out only the soiled bedding, keeping costs low.
  • Straw.  Another common traditional bedding, this is most often used when mares are foaling.  There are some drawbacks however, as some horses will want to munch on it.  Also, soiled straw can be heavy to muck out and is difficult to pick out only the dirty bedding, making it a more wasteful option.
  • Pellets.  A relatively new product on the market, wood pellets are dehydrated wood shavings.  Once moistened, they grow into soft, fluffy bedding that is very easy to clean.  Although much more expensive than most other bedding options, some horse owners feel that the lack of waste more than makes up for the cost.

Consider your horse’s individual needs when looking at bedding, for instance if he has respiratory problems you will want to stay away from anything dusty.  Never use old hay as bedding, as horses will nibble on it no matter if it is soiled or moldy.  Your horse spends much of his time in his stall, so finding the right bedding is an important job that should be done with care.

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Things to Consider When Choosing a Boarding Facility

With so many boarding stables available, it can be a tricky job to pick the right one for you and your horse.  Here’s a list to help you discover what you and your horse will need.

  1. Price.  As much as we hate to admit it, price usually plays a factor, just as it does in where we choose to live with our families.  Look at your finances to see how much you can reasonably afford each month.
  2. Location.  You will need to decide how far away from your home or work you’re willing to board your horse.  Some horse owners don’t mind driving long distances to their barn, however if you go there often, or if there is an emergency requiring you to do daily doctoring, this could prove difficult.
  3. Your horse’s special needs.  Does your horse require special food?  Does he have special housing needs, like the need to be kept outside to prevent an episode of heaves?  Is he used to being turned out on pasture, or will a paddock make him happy?
  4. Riding opportunities.  Is it important that the barn have an arena for you to use?  If so, consider the benefits of a covered arena.  Without good drainage, an outdoor arena will be useless through periods of heavy rain.  Are trails more your speed?  How easy is it to get to the trails from the barn and are the trails suitable for you and your horse’s trail experience?
  5. Competitive opportunities.  Are you looking for good trainers and lots of showing?  If so, a larger, more competitive-focused barn may be right for you.  Or are you looking for a quiet place where you and your horse can bond with minimal distractions? 

Once you have a list of priorities in hand, the prospect of stable hunting won’t seem so overwhelming.

Filed Under: Boarding Tagged With: Boarding, Horse Care

How to Choose the Right Boarding Stable for Your Horse

If, like many horse owners, you are unable to care for your horse on your own property, then you will need to search for a boarding stable that can house your horse and give him the daily care that he needs. 

The first thing to do when looking for a new boarding facility is to make up a list of needs, for both you and your horse.  Once you have your list, you can begin your search.  Don’t just check the local yellow pages - talk to other horse people such as owners, vets and farriers.  They will likely be able to refer you to places, and may even have inside knowledge as well. 

Once you are ready to start visiting farms, the most important thing to keep in mind is your horse’s health and safety.  When you are touring a potential barn, be sure to check for clean and dry stalls, well ventilated barns, a good insect control program, clean water buckets, and stalls and paddocks that are free from dangerous debris. Find out what kind of feed you can expect your horse to get, and also what the turnout is like.  Try to talk to other boarders if possible, as they will likely fill you in on the pros and cons of the stable without much prodding.  Do the horses there look happy and in good condition? 

Finally, when you are ready to make that all important decision, go over the contract with a fine toothed comb.  Be suspicious if the barn doesn’t have a contract – this could result in board fees being raised or even you and your horse being evicted without warning.  Finding a new home for your horse may seem like a daunting task but with some patience, planning, and a lot of common sense, you’ll find that special place in no time.

Filed Under: Boarding Tagged With: Boarding, Horse Care