I stink!

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Pc2003

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After 2 winters of horse turned away living out etc he is now on livery and in at night. I turn out in morning etc and lift bed/muck out. He is on straw as free and not that messy but OMG I stink. It must be urine. I forgot how bad it can smell. I have to go straight to work after horse and I can smell it all day, lingering! Even if I change. Must be on my skin and hair! Any tips?!
 
My YO and I were talking about this the other day as i let the ducks/chickens out/feed them, feed 1 horse and hay 3 in the morning before work and if you don't move quickly when letting the ducks/chickens out you potentially get covered in poop and with all the rain at the moment the file gates have got to knee deep in mud already and 1 wrong step in a puddle makes it look like you fell in something. We came to the conclusion that thats why we either keep perfume in our cars or handbags. I spend some days wondering if its just stuck in my nose or if i smell of a mix of horse/duck/chicken poop
 
But it's freeeeeeeee!!!!
God dam it's free vs smell!
I have already bought a bale of shavings to sprinkle over the worst areas but I only have to be in the area and it lingers.
Do overalls help?
 
Wear a hat with your hair tucked in. If you can't shower, how about baby wipes for face, neck and arms. And wear gloves.

You could also try some hair freshener spray. And, obviously, some good perfume (being presumptuous - could be aftershave).

I'm lucky as I don't actually have this problem because I either get to have a shower or if I'm working from home I don't worry about it (cats don't seem to care!) Although slightly worried now as I don't notice any smell so what must people think when I call into shop on way home...
 
I could not put up with the smell and I get shavings from a local wood yard free and put a 10 inch base over the whole of the stable floor and wet it down slightly then I put straw on top and I dont lift the shaving till the spring but top up if needed-no smell at all till the bed is lifted
 
One reason why I hate straw you only have to muck out one box and you stink, I think over clothes do help but I also think it makes your hair stink, maybe a hat, hood or that spray shampoo stuff!
 
Hmm twiggy I feel I may go down this route. Cheap shavings underneath. I work 3 days a week and that involves being in a small space with general public. The other days I don't care lol. Tho couple of mums at school today looked a bit put off lol
 
twiggy2 said:
put some wood pellets or wood chipping under the straw, straw is the worst bedding for the smells and as you say it sticks to you
Click to expand...

This is what we do.....Verdo is finally good for something :D or just layer a bale of shavings under there for a week and skipper.out doing a.full.muck out at the weekend.
 
Just make sure you cover all your clothing and change boots after.

I think you either love or hate straw. I have to use straw as my girl eats her bed, even when it's not edible. I used to hate it but now I love it and wouldn't change it even if I could.

It's cheap. You can make a huge fluffy bed and the horses can have a nibble on it if they run out of hay.

A friend has just moved onto some pellet things and boy do they stink!
 
One of the reasons I'm glad I've stopped using straw. If you can't shower before work, I'd wear a shower cap over hair (yes, I've done it!) and take a change of clothes
 
I have to say I love straw beds and I don't think they smell too badly (or maybe I'm just immune now :lol:)

Would it be an option to muck out at night rather than morning then the smell won't be on you?

If not then semi deep litter? During the week I don't take much wet out at all just take out the poo and put clean on top. Other than that overalls for your clothes and febreeze - and yes it freshens hair up as well :)
 
I feel your pain! I would try overalls/change of clothes, hat with hair tucked in and gloves. Dry shampoo is great for refreshing hair and febreeze comes in pretty handy too. x
 
I think waterproofs are the best thing to go with to avoid smelling before work! Last year I mucked out before work every day, I found that waterproof trousers, wellies, waterproof coat, hat and gloves did the trick. NEVER have your hair down whilst mucking out - this only makes the smell stick better!! I used to get to work 15 mins early and straighten my hair at my desk lol
Dry shampoo is also your friend, as well as deodorant and body spray!
 
I could never go back to straw again, even thought its 100 times cheaper, even after washing my jackets and gloves, twice they still stank of pee!!

Shaving last winter were better but this year I'm going for wood pellet as I've heard they are even better!
 
We're on straw too. I like the big fluffy bed it makes, and it's quite easy to muck out. It does stink though when it's saturated with wee. Unfortunately a couple of the stables at the yard don't have quite level floors, so if you don't keep on top of it there can be a little wee puddle. However, straw soaks it up brilliantly and after a bit of graft you can have a lovely clean bed again.
In terms of getting the smell out - I agree with others. Dry shampoo (batiste - don't bother with any other brands) is your friend. I tend not to try and mask with other smellies as it just mixes together to make a half wee half perfume smell and it's not great. If you need to use anything, a bit of body spray is good.
 
Wash your hands with fairy liquid when you leave the yard too. A bit of soap won't be enough to get rid of the smell. As horse people we're a bit immune to the smells so if you can smell it chances are everyone else can smell it more. I'd muck out after work if I was you.
 
hat and overalls, gloves and obviously change boots. I have them at home now and tend to muck out after work or shower-I dont wash my hair every day though (dry shampoo is great).

I've gone onto chopped straw, don't think you can beat straw as a bedding and I have tried just about everything I think. loathed pellets of all descriptions and straw rots quicker than shavings.
 
Can you do a semi deep litter, maybe shavings or pellets underneath, a very thick straw bed, remove as much of the droppings as possible, top up the straw if needed then full muck out at weekends. When mucking out I put the good straw in one pile, slightly damp in another, and get rid of the wet, I find the slightly damp straw makes a nice firm non slip absorbent base, with the good straw on too and top up again as needed. I only use straw, the bed needs to be thick.
 
- over trousers
- over jacket

(Wash them also, when you get chance, say once weekly if poss)

- hat of sorts / even a woolie hat
- disposable gloves

- liberal spray of nice smelling perfume etc after!

Remember don't deal with rugs etc without above on, as smell clings to them also!

:-)

I prefer shavings, but if straw free and suits your horse fine, it's a no brainier !!!!
 
My list for turning out/mucking out en route to work:

- Baby wipes.. lots of!
- deodorant
- perfume or body spray
- overalls (to wear whilst mucking out, not to hide the smell once at work!)
- Dry shampoo to freshen up hair. I always tie it up or tuck it in hat when mucking out
- change of underwear (change of clothes are obvious... hopefully!). I find the straw smell really lingers EVERYWHEREEEE.

Totally agree with the deep littering too. definitely helps only having to take worst out in week and then having a good clear out when you haven't got to turn up at the office after!
 
Try not to use a mucking out skip if you can help it. As you lift them, they tend to press against your legs/body and impregnate your clothing with mucking out juices, which often go through to the skin. Try to muck out straight into the barrow if you can, but if that is difficult at least wear waterproof over-clothing that the mucky stuff can't soak into.
 
A good layer of sawdust from local timber merchant works a treat. Dig out wet once a fortnight and top up, no smell!
 
It is a truly horribel smell. If your horse goes out in the field could you not just muck him out after work? A boiler suit and a woolly hat and wellies cover a multitude of sins.
 
Yes, I'm giving up on my beloved straw bed this weekend after 3 years of it, just can't cope with the smell anymore :(
 
Someone else brings him in for me and puts him to bed on the days I work so stable had to be done in morning.
I think the hair point is a valid one as I have long hair so made a point of scraping right up and will put a cap or hat on top. I have Ordered some overalls today so will give that a go. And again things like not touching rugs/ tools until fully suited and booted. It really sticks to you tho!!!
 
WOOD PELLETS! :D
Agree with everyone else, before when I was on shavings I used to take dry shampoo with me(superdrugs own brand) it smelled really strong so covered up the urine hair smell! - And took some Charlie red(body spray) for the body.. obviously! But the biggest godsend was overalls and gloves.
Also ditto the hair- it goes up inside a hat.. but somehow it still smelled so bad.
 
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