Gelding smells

[Lady Jane]

Mats aren’t and should never be a replacement for bedding. They make the stable warmer and decrease likelihood of injuries, but lack of bedding results in lack of REM sleep, which results in shorter lifespan.

I'll see if I can find a video of the flat out horse snoring! All 3 of ours just pass out particularly in the summer on that bedding regime. I do agree with the importance of REM but its def not a problem with ours. And when they start coming out of REM they sometimes start cantering (their legs go while they are lying down) and very occasionally they give a little whicker as though they are talking to another horse

 

[JBM]

Mats aren’t and should never be a replacement for bedding. They make the stable warmer and decrease likelihood of injuries, but lack of bedding results in lack of REM sleep, which results in shorter lifespan.

I bought my mare 34mm eva mats and had a big bed but she would chose to lay down on the mats without the bedding on it
They were very soft and spongy tho!! Bedding was for the toilet and mats where the bed ?

 

[Fieldlife]

Mats aren’t and should never be a replacement for bedding. They make the stable warmer and decrease likelihood of injuries, but lack of bedding results in lack of REM sleep, which results in shorter lifespan.

How does this apply to horses living out?

 

[teapot]

If he's on matting, when was the last time the box was fully jet washed and cleaned?

 

[SafeInSage]

I'm not sure, by the time I get to the yard on my days he is turned out so I bring in if riding and then muck out and head off. One to ask the owner, so thanks for that idea.

He has matts, shavings and straw on top. I'm very diligent with mucking out and get as much of the wet out as I can, then I make sure he has plenty of fresh straw on top.

Just a thought - do you have any days consecutively?

I only ask as I had a share horse who conveniently had a terrible bed on my days. I once had him for a week while the owner was away and realised the owner was doing a half arsed job mucking out because she knew I would do it perfectly the next day.

Other than that, I've never noticed a huge difference. Do any of his rugs smell? Maybe they're due a wash.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Mats aren’t and should never be a replacement for bedding. They make the stable warmer and decrease likelihood of injuries, but lack of bedding results in lack of REM sleep, which results in shorter lifespan.

It's a real bug bear of mine mats with a tiny sprinkling of bed it's awful how can you expect horses to lie on that?

 

[Barton Bounty]

It's a real bug bear of mine mats with a tiny sprinkling of bed it's awful how can you expect horses to lie on that?

Someone at the last yard was like this! Its rank. I waste an awful lot of bed but id rather that than have capped hocks

 

[Widgeon]

If he's on matting, when was the last time the box was fully jet washed and cleaned?

Mmm good point, that just occurred to me too. Most of our yard are on straw and never had a problem with smells - but if there is stale wee under the matting then the box will stink no matter how nice the bed is on top.

 

[ThreeFurs]

Check the roof/ceiling over head. Years ago when I first got my schoolmaster gelding I had him on DIY livery and he was stabled at night on shavings. His stable was end of the row of five in a breezeway style barn built from galvanized iron. [am in Australia, everything from houses to backyard dunnies are built with galv.]

I am by no means a good muckerer outerer; but conscientious; did it daily and used 10 bales of shavings every month or so so it was deep enough; but the under layer was always wet, smelly and bug ridden [earwhigs?]. One day I was mucking out and noticed a hole in the ceiling, above my boy's stable. The roof was leaking. I mentioned it to the Yard Owner who took such umbrage I thought we'd better leave. And so we did; next place was full livery, and she used the pellets you lightly water and it expands. Horse very cosy on that and no more problems.

I don't recall him smelling at the first place; but his rugs sure did.

 

[limestonelil]

I've got a friend (yes, really not myself) who had a lingering smelly problem despite brilliant looking beds. I eventually realised it was her old favourite yard boots causing part of the problem and when she reluctantly bought some new ones it did help a lot.

 

[ycbm]

- but if there is stale wee under the matting then the box will stink no matter how nice the bed is on top.

This isn't my experience. In my experience the wee under mats stinks only if you lift the mats. So i don't ?

 

[Pmf27]

If he's on matting, when was the last time the box was fully jet washed and cleaned?

Good point, last time this was done was back in the summer. When this frosty snap breaks I'll see about giving his stable a good clean!

 

[Pmf27]

Just a thought - do you have any days consecutively?

I only ask as I had a share horse who conveniently had a terrible bed on my days. I once had him for a week while the owner was away and realised the owner was doing a half arsed job mucking out because she knew I would do it perfectly the next day.

Other than that, I've never noticed a huge difference. Do any of his rugs smell? Maybe they're due a wash.

Very occasionally, but not often. I try to do beginning and end of the week so that I don't get my horsey fix out of the way all in one go ?

I'll definitely chat to owner though and mention the smell, I'd be amazed if they haven't noticed it themselves! In the meantime, I might try and buy some ammonia eating powder/pellets and see if that helps while looking into a proper fix.

 

[Shilasdair]

It's the straw. Straw plus wee equals ammonia. We only have one person on the yard who uses straw and the stable absolutely honks. Horse rolls in the bedding, rug and horse honk. Person poo picks with rubber gloves on, her boots and gloves honk, and also the muck fork and sweeping brush where she grabs it with the gloves on. Then the car mats honk, and the steering wheel.....Try bedding on shavings for a week and see if you notice a difference! Think you can tell I am not a straw fan.

I agree with the above - it's the straw.
In my experience, no matter how lovely and deep your straw bed is, the horse and you will stink of ammonia and so will all your clothes/possessions.

 

[Highmileagecob]

Good old Jeyes Fluid works to blot out the smell, but it will only return the next time urine comes into contact with straw. It breaks down and produces ammonia, which is perfect for starting off compost heaps, which is why gardeners love the stuff in the well rotted manure.

 

[DeliaRides]

My comment is a bit off topic now because the thread is focused on wee! But I do have always though that when sweating, mares and geldings smell different. Geldings when sweating can be a bit stinky but mares in my experience aren't. This is not at all scientific though, maybe I have just always ridden and looked after naturally sweaty and stinky geldings, and sweet smelling mares!