31 July 2010

HORSE Website

FORUM

Your vote

Has the hard ground affected your riding?





HORSE Magazine



How clean should your stable be?

Clean stable

Thursday 5 February 2009

Most people want to do the best for their horse. For many, that means providing him with a clean stable, enough food, and fresh water.

But other owners go to extreme lengths to make sure their horse's home is as hygienic as possible. And it's not just scrubbing feed and water buckets – some will disinfect wheelbarrows and even put empty haynets through the washing machine!

To find out exactly how clean you need to be, we asked vet Karen Coumbe and yard owner William Baines for their advice.



How often should you clean feed buckets?

WB: We scrub them with a brush twice a day. We also clean our feed bins and scoops regularly, otherwise they can go mouldy.

KC: Dirty buckets attract flies, which carry all sorts of diseases and are a nuisance. Plus flies will increase the likelihood of wounds festering, are commonly linked to eye infections and insects can carry a variety of nasty diseases – for example the mosquitos that are incriminated in the rapid spread of West Nile virus across the USA in recent years.


What about water buckets?

WB: We empty them morning and night, and scrub them inside.

KC: It is really important that horses drink plenty of water. Some will be put off by dirty water. You need to know your horse because it is important that they do not dehydrate. Colic and many other problems can occur if they do not drink sufficient water.

Do you need to disinfect your stable floors?

WB: We brush our floors dry in winter, and disinfect three or four times a year.

KC: It is always good to keep a stable really clean. It is most crucial if you change boxes to minimise the risk of infection between horses. Also, rubber mats can get pretty mucky and smelly underneath, depending on the type and design. Manufacturers and common sense will tell you what is best, but rubber mats can be very useful to help minimise stable dust.


How often should you clean your tack?

WB: Each time it has been used. I don't know of any horse that has the saddle directly on his back, so it is not so important. But bridles should be stripped down and cleaned every time they are used.

KC: Frequently – dirty tack can cause saddle sores and girth galls.


How often should you wash numnahs, string girths, saddle blankets and fleeces?

WB: Ours go in the machine once a week.

KC: Regularly. Dirty or damp numnahs and blankets can cause saddle rubs.


How scrupulous should you be about the cleaning of boots and bandages?

WB: Every time you use bandages you should wash them in the machine. Leather boots should be scrubbed and polished.

KC: Dirty boots can cause sores and are more likely to rub.


How often should you clean water troughs?

WB: They should be cleaned regularly, especially in summer. Otherwise you get bird droppings and algae.

KC: If there has been an outbreak of strangles then bacteria will linger in wet areas like water troughs so they can certainly harbour infection. But in normal circumstances it should be done when they start to look dirty. Remember that dirty standing water will attract midges.




This is an extract from a horsecare feature in Horse magazine. To read the article in full, buy the March issue, on sale from 5 February.