Stable Care!

[Savvykid]

I have a small Dartmoor Hill mare on permanent loan, from a women who also owns a section D gelding. We have one stable, to keep all our equipment and rugs, except saddles and bridles. My mare, will only come in VERY rarely! The gelding, may or may not come in over winter. My problem is that the stable is a mess. I recently returned from a 3 week holiday, to find all the equipment spread in the straw, which hasn't been changed since December, and a birds nest in the light. Beneath the best is a huge pile of droppings. At the back is a small pile if straw, which looks like something has buried in. My mare previously came down with colic, very unexpectedly, and we couldn't put her in the stable because she would eat the straw. When I owned my horses, I always used shavings, and tidied my stable once a week! How do I approach the situation, considering winter is approaching, and I want it ready for them? Is straw or shavings better? Do I need a mat? I really need to know EVERYTHING I could possibly know about stable care!

Thanks!!

 

[hnmisty]

How did your equipment end up all over the place? It doesn't manage that on its own.

If your mare can't go on straw then obviously you will have to use a different type of bedding. I'd just keep it unopened waiting for if and when it's needed. Obviously if your gelding will be in then put the bed down.

I keep rugs in my stable, I've got a rack that hangs from the ceiling atm and used to keep them over the partition at home. You'll need to make sure that both of yours won't trash anything you keep in there with them. I wouldn't want to store everything in my stable if it'd be in use. Could you get a small shed to keep it all in? Stuff could get trashed (even accidentally) too easily, and your feed bins could get raided. Far easier and safer to keep stuff separate.

A mat would save some money on bedding, but you've got to factor in buying it. I'm not a fan of the whole "a mat means I only need to throw down a handful of bedding" school of thought.

Take out the poo and wet stuff daily and top up as needed.