Trying to maintain cobbles in a stable

[Katrina L]

Hi Everyone,

I need to declare at the outset that I'm a novice horse owner....

We have a stable block which was built in 1710. It originally had four standing stalls. We are in the process of refurbishing all of the out buildings at our house and I really want to maintain the original cobbles if I can but I need to house two horses in this stable block in winter ( its in the west of Ireland where we can get a LOT of rain ). I'm having two stables installed within the stable building but the cobbles are on a relatively steep gradient - I have had to install concrete bases to enable the stables to be secured. I've been advised that I will run into some problems with regard to the horses being in these stables;
1) standing on cobbles for extended periods in wintertime will be uncomfortable
2) due to the gradient the horses hind quarters will be higher than their front quarters as they would typically stand with their heads towards the front of the stalls
3) urine will run out from the stables and pool against the outer wall of the stable block.

I would appreciate any thoughts on what I could do to preserve the cobbles and have happy horses... a friend has mentioned using a deep litter bed... any thoughts on this or any other advice would be much appreciated.

I'll just comment also that the horses wouldn't be in there 100% of the time in winter but certainly overnight and perhaps also for a period of time during the day in really inclement weather.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts ...

Katrina

 

[Diamore]

If the stables were level you could rubber mat over the top, but personally i wouldn't want my horse in and on a gradient tho whole time over night.

 

[paddy555]

standing on any hard stable floor be it cobbles or concrete is hard on a horse for extended periods. I wouldn't let mine stand on concrete. I would want it to be either matted or have deep bedding. Have you cleaned out stables on a daily basis with a cobbled floor. I have and it is a nightmare. Very difficult to clean and to keep clean.

If horses pee on a hard surface be it cobbles or concrete the urine has to go somewhere. So unless there is sufficient to absorb it it could well run out and pool somewhere.

I also wouldn't want to keep horses stabled on a sloping floor. I don't know if you could build a deep litter bed to deal with the sloping floor problem

what were you planning to do for the bedding if you kept the cobbles and how often would you clean it out? You would need a reasonable thickness of bedding to compensate for the uneven surface of the cobbles.

 

[Katrina L]

Hi Paddy,

I agree with all of your points. I guess I'm asking the forum to comment on deep litter bedding - is it a viable solution ? I think you are suggesting this as a solution. I'm assuming that I would just have to build it up higher at the front where the floor slopes - but I don't know. Someone also mentioned having urine pellets in the bedding ? So - also advice on the makeup of the bedding would be welcome !!

I do have "help" in the yard so wouldn't have to do everything myself regarding cleaning out of the bedding.

Thank you

Katrina

 

[be positive]

Deep litter is probably the only option to reduce the slope and cover the cobbles which can be extremely slippery especially when damp, if you can put a board inside the door to keep the bedding from collapsing out it should be possible but the horses will need to step up in and down to get out, I have seen this done with deep litter shavings and it works well, they soon learn.

 

[Katrina L]

...the joys of working with old buildings.. hopefully I'll find a solution

 

[Katrina L]

Thank you Old Nag... any thoughts on the make up of the litter ?? One of the horses is 16'3 so likely to produce a lot of urine...

Apologies - Be Positive... I'm new to the forum... no offence intended with the Old Nag reference...

 

[be positive]

Thank you Old Nag... any thoughts on the make up of the litter ?? One of the horses is 16'3 so likely to produce a lot of urine...

Apologies - Be Positive... I'm new to the forum... no offence intended with the Old Nag reference...

No problem, there is a user named old nag on here, we are not easily offended.

I would use all shavings or wood pellets as the base with shavings on top, you need a really deep bed to start and must avoid any digging as it settles, once it has really settled and become firm any urine should be absorbed by the bed, regular top ups will be required but mucking out should just be a case of removing the droppings and any loose damp bedding, leveling the top and banks every day then once or twice a week pulling the banks into the middle and using new bedding to make the banks.

I have not deep littered properly for many years but it is a good way to keep them if you can manage to get it started well and can cope with digging it out at some point.

 

[Katrina L]

Thanks so much Be Positive. That's very helpful.

 

[Buddy'sMum]

My stables are in a very old yard too and have poorly draining, stone flagged floors. My horses live out as much as possible
If I were you I'd try wood pellets. Much more absorbent than shavings and very little dust. And once they've settled, they stay put. And they're a doddle to muck out.

 

[paddy555]

Deep litter is probably the only option to reduce the slope and cover the cobbles which can be extremely slippery especially when damp, if you can put a board inside the door to keep the bedding from collapsing out it should be possible but the horses will need to step up in and down to get out, I have seen this done with deep litter shavings and it works well, they soon learn.

I would try the board idea as the only way I can think of for coping with the slope. I deep littered one shed with 4 messy ponies last winter with equinola. That worked well and seemed pretty absorbent. I think it was probably better than shavings. Just a case of considering that or wood pellets. The urine problem and providing a comfortable bed are easy, the slope may be the bugbear.


I think it will just be a case of trying and seeing if you can make it work and if you have help to clear it out so much the better.

 

[Katrina L]

Thank you Buddys Mum !

 

[Katrina L]

Thank you Paddy

 

[GirlFriday]

Honestly deep litter is pretty disgusting, especially in an enclosed space, which it sounds like this will be... I've seen it done with a variety of substances and all were pretty horrid.

How big will the stables be? Will there be interaction opportunities between them/stable mirrors/option to put hay away from the front/windows at the back /... Basically anything that will get them moving around? Have you got a yard area they could go in when it is muddy?

You have three problems...
Slope will be one if they really are static, but that isn't good for horses anyway so things to do/yard option might be better.

Pee - consult the people installing the stables for advice on where to improve drainage channels / get a hose installed for regular washing

Hardness honestly I'd be tempted to try rubber mats with shavings taken out daily/washed weekly.

 

[Beausmate]

I had an enzyme bed, it was based on shavings and used the set up from here http://www.bioanimalhealth.co.uk/index.php/4 It was fantastic, but a bit of a faff for the first two weeks while it settled. The bed was soft, firm and solid (a bit like the ground in a pine wood - sort of springy), there was no smell at all, even when my horse had colic and dug the bed up and it lasted nearly 18 months. It was about a foot thick when it was settled and took around five minutes to muck out daily. Big job to clear it at the end though!

 

[Maesfen]

It all depends what degree the slope is TBH.

All old stables used to slope to some degree exactly for the drainage problem and if they were stalls then that would make sense that it would drain behind them. If you make them into boxes, can they have an opening on the back wall for them to look out which would keep to the same principle? If they can, I would be inclined to shut the top door on the front to encourage them to use the back one. Failing that, I would either use rubber mats over them with wood pellets as a base or the pellets alone. They will level out and providing you do not disturb them at all they will absorb it all. You could use shavings on top to give a springier cushion. Wood pellets are by far the easiest to muck or skip out.

You could also take just the one row of cobbles up (at the 'bottom' of the boxes and install a proper drainage channel all along so that you don't get any pools for the horses to stand in.

 

[ihatework]

I'd agree with the retainer board at the stable door and Id definitely use wood pellets as a base managed on a semi deep litter basis.
Then you could use shavings or straw as a top layer if you wish or just keep it as wood pellets.

 

[Katrina L]

Hi Thursday Next, Thanks for your feedback. I do have a yard and also an arena so they would get out every day. Hay will also be at the back but the walls of the building are so thick that they wouldn't get their head out a back window ( we explored that already ). Mirrors are a good idea. I can't remember exactly how big the stables will be but they are a good size. I've explored the drainage thing and have been told it's a no no due to how our drainage is set up in the yard.

Somebody mentioned equinola which I've googled and I'm wondering - could I have a base of that under rubber matting with shavings on top ? So basically bring the floor up to be level with the equinola and then have the matting over it ?

 

[Katrina L]

Thanks Beausmate - Ill look into that.

 

[Katrina L]

Thanks I hate work ..

 

[Ladyinred]

Hi Thursday Next, Thanks for your feedback. I do have a yard and also an arena so they would get out every day. Hay will also be at the back but the walls of the building are so thick that they wouldn't get their head out a back window ( we explored that already ). Mirrors are a good idea. I can't remember exactly how big the stables will be but they are a good size. I've explored the drainage thing and have been told it's a no no due to how our drainage is set up in the yard.

Somebody mentioned equinola which I've googled and I'm wondering - could I have a base of that under rubber matting with shavings on top ? So basically bring the floor up to be level with the equinola and then have the matting over it ?

That was going to be my suggestion. Level the base and then cover with mats and bedding.

 

[LCH611]

at work we have rubber mats that are basically laid onto a sort of lilo of rubber, then there is rubber crumb and then sealed rubber mats on top. You might find that rubber crumb or similar would even out the cobbles and then you can seal over the top with rubber mats that are fitted rather than just laid?

 

[Maesfen]

If you don't mind losing sight of your cobbles you could always use self levelling cement over them or you could use gravel to do the same thing and put mats over that before bedding. The board by the door is a good idea.

 

[Katrina L]

Thank you Maesfen..

 

[Katrina L]

Thanks to everybody for the really helpful input. I've got lots of options to explore now and know what to watch out for. I guess we will go for one option this winter and then perhaps change it as necessary next year if it needs tweaking.

 

[mytwofriends]

It'll be interesting to hear what you decide upon. Good luck and keep us posted!