Anti-cast strips?

I haven't used banks for years, and never had a horse get cast. I used to find banks very useful for horses that were prone to getting cast - as a comfy place to sit whilst waiting for assistants with lungelines.
 
Depends on whether you have the squidgy mats or the hard mats! Either way, you need a metal straight edge, a broom handle and a new blade in a Stanley knife.

Lay mat on floor, position straight edge and stand firmly on it, run knife firmly, but not so hard that you struggle, along the straightedge. Run knife along a second time with similar pressure, if you started in the same place the knife will cut in the same slot but a little deeper. Then put the broom handle under the mat about an inch to one side of the cut and along the length of the cut and stand on the mat on the side away from the broom handle, this will open up the cut, slide the blade firmly along the groove to complete the cut. For safety's sake stout boots should be worn!

It's fairly easy to get a neat and tidy edge with minimal effort.

Or of course you could make up your traditional large and solid banks but using a base of plastic wrapped shavings bales so there's less material that needs pulling through each day or for even more traditional banks you could make them once and only repair as necessary, leaving them in situ for months.
 
Shilasdair said:
Thanks - does it speed up your mucking out?
S :)
Click to expand...

Not having banks? Yes - very much so. I like the look of a bed with banks, but am too OCD to leave them alone - can spend forever fiddling with them.

I am a bit of a soft touch, so when Alf is in, he gets one corner bank, which he uses as a pillow
 
Corner banks? Never heard of them. Are they just what it suggests, a pile of straw in one corner?

I love banks, and if you have a horse that pees in the middle of the stable, then they aren't too much hard work. Mind you, I only ever muck out bank once in a while, as they will be a lot firmer and more useful if they are "deep littered"
 
Lippyx said:
Corner banks? Never heard of them. Are they just what it suggests, a pile of straw in one corner?
"
Click to expand...

They are my own invention! I gave Alf banks once when I absentmindedly gave him two bales of miscanthus instead of one, and created a monster bed. There was a head shaped imprint in the bank in the same corner each morning, so once I'd reduced the bed to a manageable size, I made a little corner bank for him to rest his weary head on
 
Shilasdair said:
Robust enough to do the job of helping 750kg of stupid Shire self right?

S :)
Click to expand...

Auslander said:
More than man enough for my 650kg half Shire, who staggers and stumbles round like a drunk at a wedding when getting up and down, so probably!
Click to expand...


I'm loving the fact that it's us with the Shires and Shire Xs that are trying to get the damned things upright:D Mine is only 1/4 Shire although she's still near the 700Kg mark!
 
jemima*askin said:
I'm loving the fact that it's us with the Shires and Shire Xs that are trying to get the damned things upright:D Mine is only 1/4 Shire although she's still near the 700Kg mark!
Click to expand...

Blimmin great hairy lumps! Mines out 24/7 now, and far happier, as am I - never known anything eat quite so much hay, or produce such epic volumes of poo!
 
Auslander said:
Blimmin great hairy lumps! Mines out 24/7 now, and far happier, as am I - never known anything eat quite so much hay, or produce such epic volumes of poo!
Click to expand...

Excuse me, are you calling me a lump ? I have a foolproof theory, never stand when you can sit and never sit when you can lie down.


2013foal024_zps565d2e37.jpg


Here are the wooden kick strips in place. Please excuse the horse, he had just had his first rug, boots and roller on, he is a baby.

MGandTED006_zps27444e83.jpg
 
AdorableAlice said:
Excuse me, are you calling me a lump ? I have a foolproof theory, never stand when you can sit and never sit when you can lie down.
Click to expand...

I love Shire X lumps, as you well know!
I have never seen Alf lie down - I see the evidence, just haven't been graced with a viewing. I nearly caught him once, checking him late at night after one of his many veterinary procedures, but he leapt to his feet when he heard me coming! S'not fair!
 
Auslander said:
I love Shire X lumps, as you well know!
I have never seen Alf lie down - I see the evidence, just haven't been graced with a viewing. I nearly caught him once, checking him late at night after one of his many veterinary procedures, but he leapt to his feet when he heard me coming! S'not fair!
Click to expand...

I rarely see Ted standing up !
 
AdorableAlice said:
Dream on, he has gone feral again. If we have the 80mph winds predicted for the Midlands he will be as high as a kite.
Click to expand...

I can send you a pic of Alf all trimmed and clipped to show him, plus a top secret,rarely revealed pic of what he looks like au naturel - for comparison. As soon as he realises what a transformation can be rendered, he will be trying to figure out how to clip his own legs!
 
I know this is a prehistoric thread but AA, do you still have those wooden strips in place, could you possible put a clearer pic up. Does anyone use carpet for the job. Never used anti cast strips before but have moved to a very slightly smaller box with a large pony who does like to lie down a lot!!
 
Top tip when cutting matts, works with the hard thinner type, not tried with others but squirt fairy liquid where you intend to cut. Makes it much much easier
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top