How to improve the quality of horse care? This is a question that most barn stable workers have pondered over.
In a narrow sense, stable cleaning can be divided into two categories: those that do not require bedding replacement and those that do.
The horse keeper cleans the horse stable three to four times a day, and the bedding doesn't need to be replaced every time.
When we begin cleaning the stable stalls, we first prepare tools such as a manure fork, broom, and shovel on a cart or electric tricycle.
During the morning initial cleaning of the horse barn, as we opened the stable door, one task had already begun: inspection.
Check whether the stable door closes securely, and stand at the entrance to inspect the facilities for any damage.
Greeting the horse with a kind voice not only helps to earn its trust and respect but also allows for an assessment of its basic health condition.
If after being greeted, the horse remains lying down, with drooping eyelids, unturned or only slightly turned ears, and exhibits slow response to auditory signals, special attention is required.
A preliminary assessment should be made based on the horse's recent physical activity and health status, and reported to the stable manager.
Then, secure the horse with a bridle, preferably in another area outside the horse box.
Next, we used a manure fork to remove any leftover grass and feed from the stable, as these residues are prone to spoilage and could adversely affect the horses' health after consumption.
At the same time, inspect the remaining grass, leftover feed, and drinking water for the horses.
Next, we need to clean the horse manure and contaminated bedding by circling around the box stall in either clockwise or counterclockwise direction.
Move the horse manure and contaminated bedding from the interior stable to a corner near the entrance, and wait for subsequent loading onto the vehicle.
During the cleaning of horse manure and contaminated bedding, we must inspect the horse for any wounds and assess its mental status.
Additionally, we need to examine the consistency and quantity of the horse's feces. Horse manure falls onto the bedding material, with three to four fecal pellets detaching, indicating normal dryness and consistency.
In cases of excessively dry or loose feces, it is essential to investigate the cause by examining the horse's water intake and feeding habits.
Clean the horse manure and contaminated bedding in a fixed direction to allow a full view of the horse's entire body.
Before leaving the stable boxes, we need to level the bedding, remove the horse's bit, and close the stable gate securely.
The stable barns cleaning conducted between 9:00 PM and 10:00 PM follows a procedure similar to the morning cleaning, which will not be elaborated further here.
For the second type of equestrian stables cleaning, when preparing tools, it is essential to bring new bedding and a small amount of slaked lime.
The inspection process still requires repetition, with the additional tasks primarily involving replacing the padding material, cleaning horse urine, and leveling the padding.
After repeating the cleaning procedures for the first type of equine barn, we used a manure fork to scrape the uncontaminated upper bedding layer toward the wall side of the stable, then transferred the moistened bedding onto a cart or tricycle.
The stable floor should be exposed; if urine is present, absorb the moisture using dry bedding material.
Then, use a broom and shovel to sweep away the contaminated bedding material and load it onto the vehicle.
The bedding beneath drinking troughs or water bowls inside equine stable is often soaked during horse hydration, and this area requires special inspection during stall cleaning.
At this point, spread the remaining dry bedding evenly across the entire equine barn, then unpack and place the new bedding inside.
The bedding thickness along the three wall sides should be approximately 45 cm(18’), while the central section should measure 15 cm(6’).
The use of the "three highs and one low" bedding method facilitates easy manure removal and prevents injury incidents caused by horses becoming trapped in wall corners due to lying down or rolling.
The bedding covers approximately two-thirds to three-quarters of the modular stall's area, leaving ample space near the door for stable sitters to clean the interior.
For stables smaller than the standard size, covering the entire surface with bedding provides horses with ample space to rest.
However, the thickness of the bedding should not be less than 15 cm(6’), ensuring urine infiltration, reducing the upward diffusion of ammonia, maintaining dryness of the horse's body surface and hoof bed without moisture, and lowering the risk of injury from lying down or falling.
The stall box does not require daily bedding replacement as long as each cleaning ensures the absence of visible fecal particles and contaminated bedding.
However, when cleaning the stables, the horse keeper must develop a thorough plan, regularly replace the bedding, and replace the bedding in all barn stalls within one cycle.
A stall kits using rice husks as bedding generates black pollution, indicating that the bedding needs to be replaced promptly.
Taking rice husks as an example, after replacing the new bedding material, a small amount of water should be sprinkled to suppress dust.
Efficiency means that a horseman completes more work per unit of time.
In my understanding, efficient modular horse stall cleaning means not only completing routine cleaning procedures within the scheduled working hours, but also monitoring and assessing the horses' health status while promptly identifying potential safety hazards in the stable, thereby enhancing the overall quality of horse care.
Regular removal of manure and soiled bedding, combined with proper stall maintenance, keeps horses healthy, enhances stable hygiene, and boosts overall care efficiency.
