A question for the more senior* members of the forum - mucking out tools

[Pikachu]

What tools do you find best for mucking out?

My mum is late 60’s with health concerns who used to use gloves and skip bucket to pick up poo but this was getting too much bending over for her back.

So she now uses the poop-a-scoop/skip (whatever you call it) but struggles to lift and tip into the barrow and now has a sore elbow which the Osteo thinks is RSI.

So I’m trying to think of other options so thought I’d throw the question out here as know there are quite a few senior* members on here to see what you guys use.

*hoping the choice of the word “senior” is the least disrespectful way of asking what I needed.

 

[VRIN]

Has she thought of wearing an elbow support like they do for playing tennis/padel for the elbow??

 

[PurBee]

I’m probably not senior enough for your enquiry…but funny as I’ve just come from the ‘what makes you feel old’ thread!….but, regarding the elbow pain - I’ve also had that niggling me on and off the past year , making lifting a shovel with a whole poop on it to empty into the barrow painful. I have done 3 things to try to resolve it - take magnesium and vit D (lowish dose), that helped with the most severe pain, and what has really helped moreso, increasing protein in my diet.

I was shocked to work out my daily protein in grams per day was about 30% lower than what it should be. At the very least 1g per kg bodyweight is the aim. More if you are active. So effectively I was consuming an ever decreasing ability for body repair which needs protein (amino acids).
So I’ve made a concerted effort this month to up the protein, by having it with every meal, and I definitely have noticed there’s barely any pain in my elbow now. It got to the point 2 hands were needed at its worst. Now I’m back to shovelling shit with vigour!

 

[kerrieberry2]

I'd suggest letting her younger fitter child do the mucking out hahahah!
but in all seriousness on my 40th B.day I work up with the worst pain in my elbow, I couldn't even lift a fork or tooth brush to my mouth. I had to get some help poo picking for a couple of weeks but even 3 years on the pain didn't 100% go until I started taking a GLP1. now my elbows are fine! but my problem was I used to fill the poop a scoop as full as it could go, and would carry it back to the barrow. so maybe if she can do lighter scoops that might help? or just the old fashion shavings fork?

 

[Pikachu]

Not yet, she had a wrist one so might look at elbow ones too. This is a newer development so worth trying.

 

[ihatework]

What type of bedding is she mucking out?

 

[smolmaus]

Has she thought of wearing an elbow support like they do for playing tennis/padel for the elbow??

I don't think I count as senior either but I did find a wrist support invaluable for a while!

From a biomechanics POV the lifting of the poop scoop into the barrow has a lot of twisting involved. I know several (I will NOT call them senior!) people swear it's easier but it doesn't look it or feel it when I do it! The method that I think keeps my body straightest is just a regular fork, but it has to be a plastic one as the metal ones are too heavy. You do get repetitive twist but it's a trunk twist rather than a small-joint twist, if you know what I mean. Fork into a bucket then lifted with TWO HANDS into the barrow is the "least twisting" method I have found. As I say, I'm not senior but I am fairly busted for my age wrist, neck, lumbar, knees have gotten better!

 

[luckyoldme]

What tools do you find best for mucking out?

My mum is late 60’s with health concerns who used to use gloves and skip bucket to pick up poo but this was getting too much bending over for her back.

So she now uses the poop-a-scoop/skip (whatever you call it) but struggles to lift and tip into the barrow and now has a sore elbow which the Osteo thinks is RSI.

So I’m trying to think of other options so thought I’d throw the question out here as know there are quite a few senior* members on here to see what you guys use.

*hoping the choice of the word “senior” is the least disrespectful way of asking what I needed.

I'm not sure if this would be any help but the garden centres sell contraptions for picking up leaves..might be worth a look?

 

[Pikachu]

Quotes aren’t working on my phone today.

Magnesium - Osteo did recommend this but think it’s not recommended with one of the tablets she takes, will look further into.

Younger (not fitter) child - I have offered to go back to doing morning stables as she took over when retired to save my silly o’clock starts but keeps saying no. All are on straw so not sure if a shavings fork will work but again, will look at.

 

[Pikachu]

What type of bedding is she mucking out?

Straw mostly, with a tinkle sprinkle of pellets underneath. It’s the poo mostly causing the issue rather than forking the wet.

We have a combination of pony nugget poos that roll everywhere and my horses giant pile that often are too big for the skip!

 

[3OldPonies]

I’m probably not senior enough for your enquiry…but funny as I’ve just come from the ‘what makes you feel old’ thread!….but, regarding the elbow pain - I’ve also had that niggling me on and off the past year , making lifting a shovel with a whole poop on it to empty into the barrow painful. I have done 3 things to try to resolve it - take magnesium and vit D (lowish dose), that helped with the most severe pain, and what has really helped moreso, increasing protein in my diet.

I was shocked to work out my daily protein in grams per day was about 30% lower than what it should be. At the very least 1g per kg bodyweight is the aim. More if you are active. So effectively I was consuming an ever decreasing ability for body repair which needs protein (amino acids).
So I’ve made a concerted effort this month to up the protein, by having it with every meal, and I definitely have noticed there’s barely any pain in my elbow now. It got to the point 2 hands were needed at its worst. Now I’m back to shovelling shit with vigour!

Thanks for this tip. I've been struggling with elbow pain for a couple of months when it comes to emptying the poop scoop. I know my diet hasn't been the best for about the same timeframe, juggling too many things to do so easy to grab and eat quick rubbish rather than cook healthily. I'll have a go at adding a bit more protein. Fully suspect it's just an RSI but I'll try anything rather than face my grumpy, impossible to get hold of GP.

 

[Pikachu]

I don't think I count as senior either but I did find a wrist support invaluable for a while!

From a biomechanics POV the lifting of the poop scoop into the barrow has a lot of twisting involved. I know several (I will NOT call them senior!) people swear it's easier but it doesn't look it or feel it when I do it! The method that I think keeps my body straightest is just a regular fork, but it has to be a plastic one as the metal ones are too heavy. You do get repetitive twist but it's a trunk twist rather than a small-joint twist, if you know what I mean. Fork into a bucket then lifted with TWO HANDS into the barrow is the "least twisting" method I have found. As I say, I'm not senior but I am fairly busted for my age wrist, neck, lumbar, knees have gotten better!

It might be worth getting her to try to combine the old method of skip bucket and the scoop, so lifting bucket into barrow.

 

[smolmaus]

It might be worth getting her to try to combine the old method of skip bucket and the scoop, so lifting bucket into barrow.

Yeah! Anything to avoid hoisting the long handle of the scoop nearly to head level to get it into the barrow.

You can get scoops with wee short handles as well, can't you?

 

[Horseysheepy]

I use a plastic shavings fork or a plastic shovel the ones with the long wooden handles to muck out my straw beds. I find them easier and lighter than a metal fork.

 

[suestowford]

I use a scoop & rake to heave out wet shavings into the barrow. Using both hands to heave the full scoop up to the barrow puts less strain on each arm.
Interested to read about the protein. I suspect I'm a bit short on that too.

 

[Pikachu]

Yeah! Anything to avoid hoisting the long handle of the scoop nearly to head level to get it into the barrow.

You can get scoops with wee short handles as well, can't you?

It is my big barrow too, although also hits the side of the small barrow as well.

Think you can get short ones but I’m tall so all scoops on are yard are currently the larger ones.

Did consider the shorter ones with the little sprung metal rake thing but think the scoop is bigger size so not sure if will work better or worse.

 

[Pikachu]

I use a plastic shavings fork or a plastic shovel the ones with the long wooden handles to muck out my straw beds. I find them easier and lighter than a metal fork.

I might look at plastic shavings forks. I only have a really rubbish metal one I had from years ago that was designated to not damage rubber mats that has rounded ends so doesn’t work at getting under stuff.

Maybe a trip out to RB to get her to go crazy with the tools might be on the cards.

 

[PurBee]

I use a scoop & rake to heave out wet shavings into the barrow. Using both hands to heave the full scoop up to the barrow puts less strain on each arm.
Interested to read about the protein. I suspect I'm a bit short on that too.

Definitely worth trying extra protein per day. If a meat eater that’s an extra burger for @23g of protein. Meat is dense protein. I’m veggie so have to be really aware of dense protein foods. I’m likely now at that 1g per kg dose, some days still a bit under, but even then I’ve felt the benefit. I was consistently much lower, even dipping to half the RDA for my weight. Over months/years I guess that adds up. I thought my elbow was RSI from poop scooping, I’m late 40’s and shouldn’t have these joint pain niggles. The protein increase has given me a boost I never imagined it could.

 

[ihatework]

Straw mostly, with a tinkle sprinkle of pellets underneath. It’s the poo mostly causing the issue rather than forking the wet.

We have a combination of pony nugget poos that roll everywhere and my horses giant pile that often are too big for the skip!

I’d probably try a large lightweight snow shovel for the big poo, pop underneath and kick on with a foot. The plastic wide head shovel with aluminium pole.

For small poos probably plastic and aluminium shavings fork

 

[rabatsa]

Long handled tools to reduce the bending. Do not fill to the brim so less weight to lift. Tubigrip bandage for support.

 

[Traks]

This is an incredibly lightweight shavings fork, my daughter has one and I use it all the time as its much lighter than your average fork, could you try that?

https://www.oldmillsaddlery.com/en/gb/Falsterbo-Fork-Junior/m-49179.aspx

 

[smolmaus]

This is an incredibly lightweight shavings fork, my daughter has one and I use it all the time as its much lighter than your average fork, could you try that?

https://www.oldmillsaddlery.com/en/gb/Falsterbo-Fork-Junior/m-49179.aspx

Everyone who tries my Falsterbo wants to steal it I don't know how it would work with straw though. I've only had to muck out straw with it maybe twice and hated it but I am a shavings girly so that was a lot of user error.

I’d probably try a large lightweight snow shovel for the big poo, pop underneath and kick on with a foot. The plastic wide head shovel with aluminium pole.

For small poos probably plastic and aluminium shavings fork

I like snow shovel idea. But kicking on with foot very bad for the hips. Bounce it on then have one of the little leaf scrapers for the little scraggly bits?

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Waves to OPs creaky mum
Try getting a plastic 2 step mounting block, easily dragged around and useful to sit on when poo picking a stable with gloves and bucket (especially small pony droppings), fork the wet after.
I had to resort to this one winter after my back went, worth a go as can be picked up pretty cheaply.

 

[Pikachu]

Waves to OPs creaky mum
Try getting a plastic 2 step mounting block, easily dragged around and useful to sit on when poo picking a stable with gloves and bucket (especially small pony droppings), fork the wet after.
I had to resort to this one winter after my back went, worth a go as can be picked up pretty cheaply.

Oooh I do have one, although might not be so stable on the straw as it may have been slightly run over by the carriage wheels one day as they use it to help get in which took out the cross member support at the back but can try it and if works, pick up another one for her.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

When I injured my elbow my doctor told me to use a rolled/folded up piece of tubigrip round my forearm just below the elbow so it is round the largest part of the muscle. Worked amazingly well.

 

[Traks]

Everyone who tries my Falsterbo wants to steal it I don't know how it would work with straw though. I've only had to muck out straw with it maybe twice and hated it but I am a shavings girly so that was a lot of user error.

I like snow shovel idea. But kicking on with foot very bad for the hips. Bounce it on then have one of the little leaf scrapers for the little scraggly bits?

I use it to muck out straw, its really good to be fair! Yes everyone steals mine too!!

 

[Marigold4]

I might look at plastic shavings forks. I only have a really rubbish metal one I had from years ago that was designated to not damage rubber mats that has rounded ends so doesn’t work at getting under stuff.

Maybe a trip out to RB to get her to go crazy with the tools might be on the cards.

Lightweight plastic shaving fork is definitely worth a look. I have right elbow pain and used to use a poop scoop and scraper for doing stable. Although I feel that I'm throwing away more bedding than I would with a poop scoop, the fork action is much better for me. I am not scraping poo towards the scoop and that is what sets it off.

 

[Highmileagecob]

Maybe no help at all, but would dropping the muck into a skip bucket, for someone else to empty into the barrow work? Then she isn't lifting or pushing weight.
I did this when I broke my arm a few years ago.

 

[ihatework]

Also muck out from both sides - my physio got me doing this, yes it feels weird and is slow to start but you get used to it and it really helps even loading on the body

 

[honetpot]

I have several types of fork, and depending on the bedding change them. Straw muck fork, shavings and wood pellet a fine tine shaped shaving fork and a shovel. I also throw or scrape the muck into a pile against the wall and then throw it in to a barrow with a snow shovel.