Using stall refreshers: yes or no?

[taylorelaine]

I’ve recently started using PDZ when cleaning my horses’ stalls, but after a couple of weeks of using it, I noticed the stalls are getting dusty from it. Is that bad long term for their respiratory systems? I also don’t strip their stalls because I do a really thorough cleaning twice a day. On the PDZ bag, it mentioned that the PDZ can be removed when you strip your stalls, but since I don’t strip mine, is it okay that it’s just building up in the stalls?

Also, should I be stripping the stalls even if I clean them thoroughly, and how frequently should I do it? I wasn’t having any problems like ammonia smells or anything like that before using PDZ—I just started using it because I thought it wouldn’t hurt to use a stall refresher. But now I’m nervous because the stalls are looking a little dusty from it, and I’m not sure if that’s bad for them to be breathing.

Before, I was just letting the part of the mat under the pee spot air dry for about 10–15 minutes before putting the shavings back on top. Do you really need a stall refresher? Is it better to use one, or is it okay to just let the mats air dry a bit? And if you do use PDZ, should you be sprinkling it on the mats every time you clean a pee spot, or only when the mats are wet?

[Simkie]

No, you don’t need to use something like that. Just skip it unless you find an actual need.

[cayuse]

I’ve never used it, I just clean really well every day, bed fairly generously and sweep the pee spots.

[taylorelaine]

Okay, thanks! So if the part of the mat under the pee spot is wet, it’s okay to just let it air dry for like 10-15 minutes before putting the shavings back over it without having to worry about using something like PDZ first? Do I need to even wait for the mats to dry a little first before adding back shavings or can I just add them back if the mat is a little wet? And, is it okay if my stalls are a little dusty from using the sweet PDZ every day for the past couple of weeks? Like, if they’re breathing it in?

[Annie10]

I found the dust issue with the regular PDZ, but not with the granular. I like the granular much better.
I clean very thoroughly and put a liberal amount of PDZ on the wet spots and leave them uncovered while the horses are out. I cannot stand a barn that stinks like a cat box, or that has flies everywhere and the PDZ helps with both. YMMV.

ETA I’ve found the horses pee in pretty much the same area so the PDZ gets removed with it . I dont bed super deep, so my stalls are pretty much “stripped”’every week or so and I add more shavings. Mine are only in from about 10 am until about 6, which it’s hot, unless there’s another reason .

[LCDR]

Which form of PDZ did you use- powder or granules?

[skip99]

I spray the pee spots in my heavy pee-ers’ stalls with PineSol diluted a bit before letting them air dry then putting shavings back over. Seems to help with smell and no added dust.

[trubandloki]

I think you are going to have to try things to figure out what works in your part of the world (humidity and such can make a difference).

It is very hard to have a totally dust free stall considering they are bedded in shavings/saw dust.

In your case I would move forward with what you have (residual dust) and see if it resolves when you do not use the PDZ for a bit but continue to clean your stalls the same way.
If it does not resolve you might try watering it a little or stripping the stalls.

I never found PDZ to make things dusty, but I never used it every day, just when things were wetter than I wanted to leave them. I used the granules.

As far as air drying - some days I leave the wet area open all day to dry. Some days I just clean it the best I can (broom involved) and then put new bedding on top and it is what it is.

It sounds like you are being very critical of yourself about your stalls being totally perfect. I get it. I like my stalls to be totally perfect too. But somedays I have to settle for simply clean and comfy for the horse.

[clanter]

PDZ was acquired in April by Standlee. It appears that the Standlee product called Horse Fresh which was a direct competitor to PDZ and was about 25% or more cheaper than PDZ might have been discontinued as the products were the same.

I have used both and there is no difference in between the two products