Earth stable floors

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whiteroom

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It is years since I had an earth floor, but I do remember it being pretty good as it drained well. I am moving and next winter will have the same again but this time I have a horse which cannot bed on straw. I was thinking semi deep litter shavings might work - anyone got experience of this?
 
I've got an earth floor in my traddie's stable: you will need to think about what you will lay as a base layer. I put down some gravel and knocked-up bricks and pebbles to start with, and then started to build it up by putting in some sand on top, then some bark, and went on from there to large woodflakes.

It really is a very easy stable to do, much easier than the other stables which are all concrete floors and hold the damp in.
 
I had mine on an earth floor for many years and found it very good. I deep littered during the week, just took droppings out each night(by torchlight as didn't have electricity) then took the wet out at the weekend and topped up with clean shavings... every so often I put powder disinfectant on the earth floor to keep it smelling fresh. I used to use stable boy but they changed the name some time ago I think to stable zone...
 
When I last visited Wyck Hall Stud at Newmarket, all the stable floors were made up of impacted chalk. Chalk is completely free draining, and there is no remaining smell of urine. I suspect that a degree of maintenance is vital, but it's certainly an idea.

Alec.
 
I used to deep litter Aubiose or shavings (preferred Aubiose) on a dirt floor. It was brilliant. I'd do the same again if I had the opportunity, I hate concrete floors.

Hold your nerve and let the bed build up - the first week or so was a bit difficult as the base needs time to settle. Mine was free draining and didn't smell, the top was always dry. I rarely disturbed the base - dug it up about twice a year when I felt I should do *something* but tbh it was not really necessary. If you don't go to the floor too often then you won't get holes or depressions in the earth :)
 
I kept horses on "dirt" floors in the States for many years. There are pros and cons, as with everything. There I was informed that horses kept on concrete were always going to be lame (interesting....), and that dirt floors were more natural. They are also quite smelly and prone to developing deep holes unless maintained very scrupulously. Rammed chalk seems to be the best job, but they do need pretty constant maintainance. I wouldn't choose an earth floor, I much prefer concrete with rubber mats and bedding.
 
I have some earth bases, we are on clay so the base is a good 9 inches of crushed stone/planeings and then a lot of woodchip, I use Giffords cushionbed. The main box is huge and cost a fortune to put in but once in I rarely top it up. I can muck out in a few minutes, no smells and healthy feet.

You do need to realise that the base will be more like the surface of a school than a deep fluffy bed. Horses are not nesting creatures and are quite happy to lie down on firmer surfaces as long as it is dry and warm.

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We have 3 earth floors and 2 concrete. We much prefer the earth floors and in fact intend to take up one of the concrete ones this summer. We have had a variety of bedding in them but shavings works fine, sometimes with a Megazorb base.
 
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