Mucking & Stable Work Equipment

Why is stable hygiene so important for horses?

As a running and former steppe animal, horses have a high need for fresh air. Fresh air is essential for their large lungs, which can process up to 6 litres of air per breath. A poorly ventilated stable with ammonia and high humidity in the air can affect the lungs and limit their performance, so that the horse may even develop a chronic cough.

Ammonia is produced by the mixing of urine with faeces, which can be prevented via regular mucking out. If you want to know what good manure management looks like, you can read about it in our Guide on Stable Hygiene.

Regular or daily mucking out can be very strenuous. After all, a warmblood can produce up to 30 kilograms of droppings per day, and up to 10 litres of urine. This amount must be removed daily. To make the hard work easier and save your back, it is necessary to have the right equipment for mucking out. There are different tools for this:

• Shavings fork with 16 or more tines
• Manure fork with 4-5 tines
• Manure scoop
• Shovel
• Broom

Increasingly popular among horse owners are multi-tined shavings forks. Originally designed for mucking out shavings or finely cut bedding, they are also finding more and more favour with straw bedding. In particular, plastic shavings forks with light metal handles fit well in the hand, do not weigh down the arm and thus make the sweat-inducing work of mucking out easier. A grip at the end of the handle is extremely practical for turning the fork.

Kramer Equestrian makes it easier for you to muck out your stable with useful tools. You can buy shavings forks with different numbers of tines in plastic or metal. The Shavings Fork with Side Wings from Kramer makes it easier for you to move more manure at once without individual droppings falling off the side. Our product range is rounded off with non-slip Working Gloves from STEEDS, which give you a secure grip and can prevent blistering.

What is the best way to keep the stable clean?

A clean stable is a hygienic stable, which can keep horses healthy. A clean stable doesn't just involve mucking out the stable regularly or even daily:

• Horse droppings and damp areas should be dealt with using a shavings fork, manure scoop and shovel.
• Mangers and automatic drinkers must be wiped out regularly with a sponge.
• It's advisable to use a disinfectant for the basic cleaning of the stable.
The barn aisle should also be swept at least once a day.
• Mice and other unwanted guests will stay away if feed is stored in sturdy feed bins.
• With stable hooks, rug racks, etc., you can neatly store horse accessories, thereby avoiding chaotic corners that could otherwise provide shelter for rodents.

  You can find out how often you should carry out a basic cleaning of the stable and which other points are important for good stable hygiene in our Guide on Stable Hygiene. Here you will also learn how to maintain basic organisation in the stable once you have established it.