Overnight stabling at shows

[Trubie]

Having not stabled overnight at a show before, is it reasonable to expect to find a bed already down (if previously used as we are arriving mid week, and only staying one night) and then muck out before we leave, leaving a clean bed down/thrown up?

Just been shot down elsewhere for not suggesting that I will remove all the existing bed, disinfect the stable and they lay a new bed down before my horse goes in. Of course this is ideal but not really realistic or common practice at overnight shows?

 

[PorkChop]

I have stayed over a fair few times - tbh different places have different rules and arrangements.

If you are asking whether I would get rid of all bedding that was in my allocated stable before I put my horse in it - no I wouldn't.

I have been to places where you arrive to an empty stable, you bed down, then before you leave you have to empty the stable.

 

[Trubie]

Fabulous, thank you.
Wasn't sure what the 'done' thing is if no rules are in place

 

[Shay]

I always clean the stable right out and disinfect with Virkon. You have no idea what was in there before you - and indeed they may have no idea if they have picked something up which hasn't shown yet. If there was a bed down on arrival I will leave what remains of our bed (mucked out of course!) If not then I'll remove all of what we've used. Different places have different rules - but I always disinfect. It also gives you a chance to get "up close and personal" with the walls - temp stabling can be flimsy and it is better to find the bits which might give way or on which the horse may catch himself before they do it!

 

[Fuzzypuff]

My first stay away show was the BD Winter Champs the year we had the big EHV outbreak. As part of the measures they were disinfecting all stables between horses, and we managed to grab the guy doing it to give ours a second going over to be sure! I think that really hit home the risks of stabling away to me, so I do now disinfect stables before putting my horse in. At the shows I've been to there hasn't been bedding in the stable anyway so I've had to buy some and put some down. I do muck out before I leave and then I usually bag up some of the clean shavings to use on the lorry, given it is clean and a day old!

Whether you disinfect before your horse goes in - I don't think it matters what is common practice, only what risks you are prepared to take, that's a personal decision. Obviously as long as you do what the organisers require of you.

 

[conniegirl]

Sorry but unless you are stabled on your own (not next to anything) and disinfect the whole stable block, taps and floor around your stable and every person in the block keeps their hands to themselves (let's face it if a horse is friendly how many people give a second thought to a stroke on the nose as you walk past) there is very little point just doing the one stable.
Most things that are contagious can be passed on horse to horse and over stable walls etc. even just standing horse outside stable to tack up can pose a contamination risk as can grazing horses on show grounds. If an infected horse has been in your stable, it will have been stood outside, it is likely that the owner has touched the stable either side at some point and that some one will have petted infected horse and then moved on to their own horse.

When I arrive at shows I unload horse and let him graze whilst my oh holds him.
I then muck out any dirty bedding left in the stable and shake up any clean stuff to make sure there is nothing untoward hidden inside it. Then I put my beddin on top of old bedding, go over stable love owing for nails or sharp objects horse could catch himself on, check structural integrity of door and frame (I have had a horse Lean over a door and the whole frame collapsed) and then pop horse in it.

 

[Prince33Sp4rkle]

depending on state of bedding left in, either make that up in to banks(if reasonable) and put our own clean down in middle, or take it all out if minging and make up a new bed.

before we leave we bag up every last clean shaving in huge industrial plastic bags and bring it home-damned if im paying £50-£80 for a stable for one or two nights and leaving someone else £25 worth of shavings behind! we then remove all wet and droppings and bank up the original bedding that we dont want to take home and sweep the middle clear so its neat and ready for the next person.................we seem to be the only ones that do this however as no stable we ever go in to has been left neat and ready for our horses!!!!!!

 

[Trubie]

Thank you everyone, my opinion is that the risk is worth taking as my thoughts were along the same lines as Conniegirl in regards to infection control. I suppose I was after some practical experience of what people usually do when stabling over night , especially for 1 night only so I can plan what I shall take. Unfortunately I have limited space in my trailer and 4x4 (so will have no room to take shavings to and from show), I will also have my 10 month old in tow so the thought of totally clearing out a clean, but previously used, bed with only a tub bucket is rather daunting!

 

[BraidedTail]

I've only done it a couple of times recently - but stable had bed ready in and down, well mucked out but not necessarily new. If you needed more bedding you either provided it yourself or bought from stables. When leaving you had to muck out thoroughly and leave banked up or you were charged extra. These were permanent stabling at a college though and regularly used, ie different comps going on almost all the time. Years ago I once used temp stabling and you had to buy the bedding and put down yourself, and clear out completely afterwards. If you're unsure maybe contact the venue and ask?

 

[AdorableAlice]

depending on state of bedding left in, either make that up in to banks(if reasonable) and put our own clean down in middle, or take it all out if minging and make up a new bed.

before we leave we bag up every last clean shaving in huge industrial plastic bags and bring it home-damned if im paying £50-£80 for a stable for one or two nights and leaving someone else £25 worth of shavings behind! we then remove all wet and droppings and bank up the original bedding that we dont want to take home and sweep the middle clear so its neat and ready for the next person.................we seem to be the only ones that do this however as no stable we ever go in to has been left neat and ready for our horses!!!!!!

Seconded.

I stabled off side for the RI, would not even consider putting a horse in there. Addington regionals I had a brick box and it was disgusting. Addington Festival of the Hunter I had a temp box, 10x10 for a 17.2, half of the wall had been eaten away, the door did not close and had to be tied and the floor was a sea of mud. £60 per night, cheers !

 

[Pinkvboots]

Seconded.

I stabled off side for the RI, would not even consider putting a horse in there. Addington regionals I had a brick box and it was disgusting. Addington Festival of the Hunter I had a temp box, 10x10 for a 17.2, half of the wall had been eaten away, the door did not close and had to be tied and the floor was a sea of mud. £60 per night, cheers !

I agree about Addington they are terrible I found a lovely lady with a B &B down the road who will also let you keep your horse there while you compete, and they have a small paddock you can use its so much cheaper as well.

 

[Trubie]

I've only done it a couple of times recently - but stable had bed ready in and down, well mucked out but not necessarily new. If you needed more bedding you either provided it yourself or bought from stables. When leaving you had to muck out thoroughly and leave banked up or you were charged extra. These were permanent stabling at a college though and regularly used, ie different comps going on almost all the time. Years ago I once used temp stabling and you had to buy the bedding and put down yourself, and clear out completely afterwards. If you're unsure maybe contact the venue and ask?

Thank you At this show I believe if the stable has not been previously used then you provide your own bedding which is fine and I will buy onsite, I intend to muck mine out and leave up after use (my girl is quite clean so shouldn't be a major job). I believe beds are left down at the venue if previously occupied to be used again but was wondering what others did with these ready made beds, clear out or use.

 

[Trubie]

I agree about Addington they are terrible I found a lovely lady with a B &B down the road who will also let you keep your horse there while you compete, and they have a small paddock you can use its so much cheaper as well.

Glad its not Addington I'm off to then but Equifest if anyone has any stabling experiences? So far I have been given a blue and a pink stable (for one horse ) so need to contact them anyway.