The horse has been a friend to man since the beginning of time. They have provided a means of transportation as well a work mate to man while he labored in the fields. For all this animal has given their care should be optimum and that includes their stall bedding. It should provide them with comfort and safety at all times.
The more natural a stable floor is the better it is for the health of the animal. It should offer support to their legs when standing and protect them from the cold and dampness that can emanate through the floor. Materials that are easy to clean offer the owner a much less labor intensive chore when it is time to clean the area.
The most important thing that stall material should do is provide a layer of absorbency for the horse. The animals waste, in the form of feces and urine, will produce much less odor if the material is able to absorb these elements. It is this attribute that will be the most labor saving of all.
In past years, and even in today, some farms will use sawdust as a bedding. It is highly absorbent but the dust it gives off is inhaled by the animal and will often result in respiratory problems. If you are looking for cost effective material, look into the use of wood shavings. It works as well as the sawdust with none of the harsh side effects.
Another option is the use of straw. Although it is not as popular as it once was, straw provides a soft bedding for your horse. The ability it has to decompose makes it an ideal product for composting. It is one of the most inexpensive of choices but if cost is a factor shredded cardboard and paper can also be used.
Large farms are ones that care for a vast numbers of animals at one time. Even with hired workers, keeping that many stalls clean requires a lot of time. Installing rubber matting can be the solution to savings hours of labor each day. Simply sweep the mats and them hose them down using a mild detergent. They give a horse the warmth it needs and adds to their safety by being a nonslip surface. Nothing can work better.
Foaling stalls are common on horse breeding farms. These enclosures can be made up of any of the above mentioned materials, again with rubber matting being the best choice. If this is not used, both limestone and clay work well. They can be worked into a hard, flat surface providing safety for both the mare and her foal.
Regardless of the kind of stall bedding you choose there is one thing that you have no choice in. The stall has to be cleaned every single day and new bedding placed inside. This may seem like a lot of work for the average person but the people who operate horse farms take the work in stride and have it completed in no time at all.
The more natural a stable floor is the better it is for the health of the animal. It should offer support to their legs when standing and protect them from the cold and dampness that can emanate through the floor. Materials that are easy to clean offer the owner a much less labor intensive chore when it is time to clean the area.
The most important thing that stall material should do is provide a layer of absorbency for the horse. The animals waste, in the form of feces and urine, will produce much less odor if the material is able to absorb these elements. It is this attribute that will be the most labor saving of all.
In past years, and even in today, some farms will use sawdust as a bedding. It is highly absorbent but the dust it gives off is inhaled by the animal and will often result in respiratory problems. If you are looking for cost effective material, look into the use of wood shavings. It works as well as the sawdust with none of the harsh side effects.
Another option is the use of straw. Although it is not as popular as it once was, straw provides a soft bedding for your horse. The ability it has to decompose makes it an ideal product for composting. It is one of the most inexpensive of choices but if cost is a factor shredded cardboard and paper can also be used.
Large farms are ones that care for a vast numbers of animals at one time. Even with hired workers, keeping that many stalls clean requires a lot of time. Installing rubber matting can be the solution to savings hours of labor each day. Simply sweep the mats and them hose them down using a mild detergent. They give a horse the warmth it needs and adds to their safety by being a nonslip surface. Nothing can work better.
Foaling stalls are common on horse breeding farms. These enclosures can be made up of any of the above mentioned materials, again with rubber matting being the best choice. If this is not used, both limestone and clay work well. They can be worked into a hard, flat surface providing safety for both the mare and her foal.
Regardless of the kind of stall bedding you choose there is one thing that you have no choice in. The stall has to be cleaned every single day and new bedding placed inside. This may seem like a lot of work for the average person but the people who operate horse farms take the work in stride and have it completed in no time at all.
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