What do you put in your Field Shelter ... when a horse Wees in it ....

[Eaglestone]

My TB has his own 'half' of a field shelter and does not look after it at all

... my other horse is very clean and neat and tidy

What do you peeps put on the floor when the horse insists on weeing in it, rather than in the field and finds it 'just right' to crib on, thus spending a fair bit of time stomping on the bits he has wee'd on and therefore incouraging the flies, which was one of the reasons I wanted one for him, so that he could seek solice from them

I have used wood bark up until now and that has been fine, but now I am fed up with removing the squelchy slimy mess

I thought about rubber mats, but he goes in at such speed I can see him slipping into the back wall

Thank you

 

[scotsmare]

What about mats with a covering of straw / shavings?

 

[Eaglestone]

[ QUOTE ]
What about mats with a covering of straw / shavings?

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks Scotsmare .... I think I that may be the answer in the end, however I am all matted out at the moment, what with the stables having them ....

 

[Stinkbomb]

Eaglestone, i can relate to this totally having spent yesterday clearing out my squelchy mess from my field shelter too!!! Inky will only wee in his shelter, in his stable or the paddock but not in the field!!!! I think he's worried about splashing his legs but my shelter also resembles the smell of the boys bog

I have resigned myself to the fact its wood chip for me with a regular clean out. He would just eat straw and shavings is just as bad

 

[Eaglestone]

LOL Stinkbomb ... I thought that shavings would resemble much more of a mess as well ... he is stabled on straw and that works ok for him, but I know that shavings would be a complete nightmare with him

Sounds like I need to get some more bark and not keep it too deep and remove it regularly. I really don't like him standing in slimy wee ridden bark, (and yes boys bogs sounds just about right

) especially as his feet are not that good anyway

I don't think he is worried about splashing, as he is quite happy to wee on the yard every time he comes back from a ride .... AND he will always wait to have a poo until he gets back from a ride, however long he is out .... must be a hangup from his racing days

Thank you

 

[Twilight]

How about field matts. They are about half the price of stable matts and much lighter to move around. They are kind of a honey comb design, with holes in the middle of the honey combe (if that makes sence).

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RUBBER-GRASS-MAT-D...bayphotohosting

if the link works it shows you what i mean.

The wet can run through them into the soil, but the matts prevent the wet from being churned into mud. If the smell is a problem sprinkle a handful of 'stable zone' over the floor of the shelter on a regular basis. This neutralises the ammonia (so no attractant to flies).

 

[jaffs]

I have a good layer (about 6"-8")of Limestone (5-20 size) then Rubber Mats on Top not completely to the edge of the Shelter. The Urine drains through the small gaps between the Mats and if you have a mare using it, they wee around the edges and again it drains away. The mats just protect the Limestone. It works really well as the limestone compacts down, but still allows liquid to drain away. I use Sirrocco (SP) to keep control of the smell and put a layer of either Straw or shavings if they need it.