We clean once per day but horses aren’t stuck.in box stalls- they all have oversized stalls with attached paddocks. I do not allow boarder’s to clean extra because of potentially wasted bedding and manure/ urine output is one factor I use to monitor for health changes.
Once here as well, though I always try to muck out after I ride.
I don’t understand the use more product comment. A horse poops what they poop; why would a second pick take out more shavings? The way I see it, you’re actually helping by getting it out before it gets churned in?
1 Like
My horses go out regardless of the weather. The only time a horse is in for extra is if it is vet prescribed rest, in which case the owner is welcome to pick the stall as much as they want. I will clean it in the morning, and before night feed. And I will charge extra for this, if it is for longer than just a few days.
Once per day at boarding facilities.
Do my own clean up at nite if he was in. I would NEVER stay at a place that told me I couldn’t pick my own horse’s stall!
Horse’s are at home I clean stalls once a day. If in for more than a day, I’ll sometimes clean Am & PM. Stalls have very little bedding so easier to clean.
Our horses are generally out about 10-11 hours per day, stalls done in the AM after they are turned out. When they stay in for weather, stalls are mucked in the AM as usual and then picked before PM grain. Any horses on stall rest or whatever have stalls done 2x a day.
If our horses are in due to inclement weather, stalls are cleaned - manure and urine once a day and then picked another 5 times. They also get free choice hay.
I was at a very nice facility that picked out once daily, no matter what. The barn worker was trained to that rule and no variation was allowed. We could not clean our own stalls at any time. Too much regimentation for my taste. There exists judgement and critical thinking in other areas…
You have clearly never watched anyone clean a stall that does not take into account the fact that shavings cost money.
A careful person picking just the manure and the small amount of bedding it touches is probably not going to cost that much extra bedding. An owner that has no clue and does not know what shavings cost per bag who dives the fork in and tosses whatever is on it (even if it is one manure ball and a huge pile of clean shavings) into the manure pile is going to cost the barn a ton of money in bedding.
In my experience, more often picking saving bedding or costing more bedding depends on the horse, how messy it is.
4 Likes
Our barn does full stall cleaning/adding bedding if necessary each morning. Stalls picked again early-mid afternoon after horses in for a while and again early evening. This is standard irrespective of weather. Also pastures picked daily. Place is not cheap but it is clean!
Daily, right now at PM after being in during the day out at night. Twice daily if for some reason (weather) they are in.
What does your boarding contract say?
I would not expect the weather to change how often the stalls are cleaned, unless the contract says otherwise.
