Sweeping barn aisles: alternatives?

[keysfins]

What alternatives have you used for sweeping barn aisles?

We have an area that includes two tack stalls and two wash stalls, facing each other, with a barn aisle in the middle which leads to the indoor arena. The aisle is about 12 feet wide by 50 feet long. Sweeping this area is labor intensive, and it is done several times a day. While some workers like the ‘zen’ of sweeping the area clean, it can also be the last, tiring chore of the day.

Using a leaf blower is not really an option with the horse traffic in and out of the tack stalls, and the layout.

Is there an industrial type Roomba? What other tactics have you tried? What would you design if you had to create something for this type of daily cleaning?

I’m trying to brainstorm creative solutions to save labor and time.

[Jealoushe]

A leaf blower is always an option!

[baytraks]

I was trying to solve this problem years ago, primarily because young employees did not seem to know how to operate a broom, and it was costing as many man-hours to sweep the aisle as to clean the stalls.One thing I picked up was the Hoover spin-pro http://hoover.com/products/details/l1405---/hoover-commercial-spinsweep-18-pro-outdoor-sweeper/
It was not a perfect job, but it was good for a general sweep. We finally gave in to the electric leaf blower, but only when horses were all outside.

[showmanship]

We use a leaf blower - with caution of course. This is really only used first thing in the morning when there’s no real traffic, and the horses that may be coming/going at that time are very used to it. When we see a horse coming or someone needs to get by, it’s shut off so as not to tempt fate The rest of the day for the minor messes, it’s a just a broom.

I am loving that thing that baytraks posted! Looks like a fun “toy”

[SuckerForHorses]

I also use a leaf blower when it needs it. In between clean ups are done with a broom but after a good grooming or when there a lot of stuff tracked in, I just fire that bad boy up and the aisle is SPOTLESS in no time flat!

[Equibrit]

They make outdoor vacuums - I think the brand is Billy Goat !

[Manahmanah]

I have met very few horses in my career that could not be acclimated to the noise and action of a leaf blower, even blowing through their legs as they are tacked up in the aisle. Make sure you sprinkle with a watering can to keep down the dust so the horses aren’t breathing it. If you add a tiny bit of pine sol to the sprinkling can your barn will smell delightful.

[atlatl]

Our barn uses the dreaded leaf blower. Unfortunately, the barn staff is not always paying attention or careful and we end up with a load of debris blown into the horses’ waterers. The horses are all pretty much “broke” to the blower because it happens whether they are coming in or out of the their stalls, standing in the cross ties, walking by, you name it. At least they don’t use it directly in front of the horses in the cross ties, but they did blast a couple of my friends standing in the barn aisle once.

I will admit that when they are blowing the driveway next to the arena, it can be a nice motivator for Mr. “Let me lay down in this half pass”

[keysfins]

Yes, the horses are all familiar with the leaf blower, as it is used in the main barn aisles where the stalls are located. That’s easy, because the blower just herds everything out the main barn doors back to the wild! (Most are also used to being vacuumed with the GroomVac.)

Between the noise of the blower, the configuration of this particular area, and debris getting blown under the doors to tack rooms, laundry and restrooms, I was hoping to find another option.

I’ll have a look at the items that Baytracks and Equibrit mentioned, thank you!

[winter]

We use a leaf blower and the shop vac. The shop vac takes about as long as sweeping but does a great job.

[Scarlet_Gilia]

What type of surface is the aisle?

An industrial vacuum sweeper might work.

[AmarachAcres]

This is one of those threads where I ask…

“WHY have I not figured this out in 20 years???”

*Leaf blower purchase incoming.

[keysfins]

[QUOTE=Scarlet Gilia;8135947]
What type of surface is the aisle?

An industrial vacuum sweeper might work.[/QUOTE]

It is the hard rubber pavers. Will look at the link, thank you!

[horsepoor]

I’ve been at a couple of barns that had vacuums that they use to clean the debris from the aisles. Big and noisy, but they did a good job and don’t blow dust all over the place. These were on concrete or asphalt floors. The ones I’ve seen in use were super old and I don’t remember the brand, and I think they might have been gas powered as I don’t remember a cord. Kind of looked like a mower, with a bag at the back.

[moving_to_dc]

I wouldn’t be able to do anything other than sweep (or shop-vac) the aisle. I want the stuff in the aisle GONE, not blown all over everything else.

I sweep it, shovel it up, and dump it on the manure pile (or in the nearest wheelbarrow).

[keysfins]

[QUOTE=baytraks;8135729]
I was trying to solve this problem years ago, primarily because young employees did not seem to know how to operate a broom, and it was costing as many man-hours to sweep the aisle as to clean the stalls.One thing I picked up was the Hoover spin-pro http://hoover.com/products/details/l1405---/hoover-commercial-spinsweep-18-pro-outdoor-sweeper/
It was not a perfect job, but it was good for a general sweep. We finally gave in to the electric leaf blower, but only when horses were all outside.[/QUOTE]

This looks like a winner! Can you tell me the good, the bad and the ugly of it?

The outdoor vacuums/sweepers are massive, and far beyond my budget, but would suit the job if I won Powerball.

And as Moving To DC said, I want the stuff gone, not just moved around.

[dotneko]

Our aisleway is 200’ long and 12’ wide. We use a battery powered leaf blower. Always have extra batteries charging. We do it 3 times a day.
I do a much better job with it than with a broom in 1/4 of the time.
Keep it low to the ground and start in the middle and blow 100’ at a time
and there is very little dust.

[Guilherme]

With hard, rubber pavers would a pressure washer be an alternative?

G.

[Equibrit]

http://www.amazon.com/Shop-Vac-4050010-Indoor-Outdoor-Vacuum/dp/B00018ALEQ

[keysfins]

[QUOTE=Equibrit;8136434]
http://www.amazon.com/Shop-Vac-4050010-Indoor-Outdoor-Vacuum/dp/B00018ALEQ[/QUOTE]

Thanks!! This could work!

And Guilherme, thank you for the thought. A pressure would work for hard cleaning, but we just need to sweep up the shavings trails, mud and dirt from picking hooves, general barn crud, etc. We are also on well water, so we wouldn’t use a pressure washer as a first choice for daily chores. (Even if we HAVE had a week solid of rain, with more every day—seems the monsoons are a month early this year. Yay for the farmers and hay growers!)