I know MAG flakes are commonly added to arena footing to cut down on the dust. So presumably they’re non-toxic/horse safe. So could one theoretically add them to stalls when a load of shavings is unusually dusty or for a horse who’s unusually sensitive?
Why/why not, or any concerns?
I’m sure you could… but why. I’d cry every time I cleaned a stall even more money going in the muck bin. Just dampen the shavings with the hose before the horse goes in.
My only possible unreasonable and unfounded concern would be sucking the moisture out of feet if in the stall for a long time.
1 Like
I would sprinkle water or try out different bedding types if you want to reduce dust/help a sensitive horse before sprinkling chemicals in their stall.
Safe for one application doesn’t translate to safe for other applications. Generally you ride a horse in an arena, or let them have a quick run around/roll; you don’t usually feed a horse off of an arena floor, or let them spend 12+ hours a day in there. While some people take Magnesium Chloride as a supplement, it has a laundry list of side-effects (namely, digestive upset), and MAG flakes could have contaminants that are ok for having in the footing but not ok for ingesting.
I have sensitive skin and breathing, and I personally wouldn’t add more chemicals to try and calm down irritation.
I would worry that such close contact is potentially risking irritation or allergic reactions. Plain water may be a better choice for you if the shavings are that dust - can you try misting them with a fine spray of water to encourage the dust to settle back in to the stall?
Your other choice is better bedding. Flax bedding is absorbent and almost 100% dust free; some people find wood pellets or different types of shavings (large flake? Quick Pick?) to be better. Might be better - cheaper and easier in the long run - to pay a bit more up front and not have all this end up in their lungs.
The Mag Flakes that I aware of is Magnesium Chloride in flake. Magnesium Chloride is very corrosive to metals even aluminum…it is the chloride that attacks the metal molecules
I’ve found Mag Chloride to be corrosive to human skin, and when I used it in my arena floor for dust control I was very careful every day to clean the horses’ legs and feet thoroughly with brushes, not water. If you sweat when you apply it you’ll know whereof I speak. I cannot imagine using it for dust control in stalls, the potential for disaster (think mucous membranes) is far too great.
1 Like
If a hose isn’t handy, keep a watering can handy and sprinkle lightly every time you finish cleaning the stall before the horse comes back in for the night/day.
I would not use Ca/Mg in a stall. Too expensive and too much risk of getting too much in there and irritating the horse. It’s one thing to ride on in, it’s another to have the horse sleep on it.
For a horse that’s unusually sensitive? Yeah, absolutely not. Why add one more thing to irritate them? Mag can irritate sensitive horses when used in an arena they’re ridden in for an hour a day, never mind asking them to live on it.
Very much agree with all of those above. To expensive, too irritating, too corrosive. There are so very many options for dust sensitive critters, adding a salt to the bedding just sounds like a recipe for disaster.
1 Like
Id look at Dusthalt also. Let me find the link… here it is . Dust Halt
Im in Arizona north of Phoenix and tried Mag … once. It rusted the crap out of my indoor and wanted something for the round pen. Found this product to use in both. So far so good. There was some other product similar I think Premier Eq. had but didnt really see any reviews on it and was quite a bit more than this. Anyway, an option.
