mucking out stables, please help!!

[irishcob123]

hi
i know this might sound a really, really stupid question, but how do you muck out a horses stable? and have you got any tips to do it quicker and make it neat? it sounds really stupid that i don't know, but my loan horses live out 24/7 so i havent had to do stables for years (just poo picking) and have completely forgot!! last time i did it i was about 12! (now 18)
i'm asking as i've just got a part-time job at a livery yard and this is one of the duties it will include, so don't want to sound like i dont know what i'm doing! lol and the woman has really high standards and her beds are perfect lol also how do you make the banks? btw i will have to do shavings and straw!
thanks everyone! sorry if i sound like a really bad horse owner!
xx

 

[Super_Kat]

Simple answer........Ask her to show you

 

[irishcob123]

well i just wanted to get some idea of what i'm doing before i start, i know she probably will show me, but only briefly and i don't want her to think i don't have a clue on horse-care! and i want to have some-sort of idea before i start. i know you basically clear all the wet and poo, but i'm not so sure how to make the banks!

 

[ThomasTank]

Straw: Put clean straw up around sides of stable and take out poo and wee and sweep floor. Bring down straw leaving some around the sides then just using the fork pat the banks on sides and top lightly. more straw = thicker banks. if deep litter just remove poos and level.
Shavings: with shavings fork pick up poos and shake off clean shavings and remove wet then put shavings back down add clean if needed.
You will be better explaining that you would like her to show you how she does it as you havent done it for a while. Better to be honest

 

[brightmount]

There are also so many "ways" of mucking out, and personal preferences, that you won't look a fool for asking what way they prefer mucking out to be done on the yard

 

[irishcob123]

hi
ok i will ask her and just say i haven't done it for a while! lol thanks for all your replies everyone!!
xx

 

[vicm2509]

Im on straw. When I muck out I take out the obvious poos with gloves but you can use a fork. Then I pile all the clean straw at the front of the stable and chuck all the wet and poo into the wheel barrow as I go along. I have huge banks so I just neaten them up and put a small amout of straw from the bed on them each day and neaten the sides and level tops. Then once the floor is sweeped I start to lay the bed from back to front of stable and add clean straw to the top.

To check the bed is thick enough drop the fork into it vertically, if the fork hits the concrete the bed is too thin (if the stable is rubber matted this may not be the case as you dont need the bed to be as thick).

Then I sweep the front part where his hay and water go to make it all neat.

Mucking out us usually done once a day but they may expect you to skip out a few times aswell. So if you skip out just remove the poo and maybe tidy up the bed a little just to even it out.

Good luck x

 

[SusieJane]

I'd be like, can you show me...
next day

nope, still don't get it, show me again, and again, and again!!!

Straw is sooo easy, and cheaper too!

 

[Chex]

I just lift the poos, chuck the clean straw up into the bankings, left the wet then bring the clean straw back down again. But I'm sure there will be a specific way they like it done, I know I'm very fussy!

 

[matthew]

Sorry- am i a slut- but you muck out every day???

 

[Rachel_M]

[ QUOTE ]
Sorry- am i a slut- but you muck out every day???

[/ QUOTE ]

Pardon?

You are a what?

I personally deep med- deep litter. So firstly, I will remove the wet/poo away, dump that, then take up the bed to clean floor then put back.

 

[irishcob123]

lol weigh_hay i think im going to be like that!
tizzy i dont really understand what you mean sorry??
thanks everyone for your replies, its given me a better idea, i just have to put it into practice!
i'm a pro at poo pickin tho lol i can whizz through that in no time!!
xx