As a horse owner, there is nothing worse than your foul-smelling horse barn that you just can’t seem to get under control. To make matters worse, that ammonia smell isn’t just obnoxious to your nose.
High levels of ammonia can be detrimental to your horse’s health by causing respiratory issues and other health problems. Therefore, it is not a problem you want to ignore or simply throw a bandaid fix over by covering up the smell. You want to eliminate the odors but how can you accomplish this in your horse stalls and barns?
Horses are large animals that produce many odors on their own and secrete waste, which calls for time and effort to care for them properly. With the right information and careful efforts, you can reduce all the unwanted smells and enjoy those nostalgic barn smells of leather and hay that take you back to long days spent on the trails.
Here are four ways you can implement odor control in your paddock or horse stall:
Stick to a Regular Cleaning Schedule
Many horse owners have a regular cleaning schedule they believe is sufficient, but if they were to kneel and try to eat their lunch on the stall floor with their horse, they would find the smell overpowering. The smell of ammonia is just as dominating for your horse’s nose and proves that more cleaning may be necessary.
The truth is that owners should clean most horse stalls daily with an extra pick cleaning in between. A thorough cleaning that involves hosing down stall mats and allowing the floor to air dry before adding the next bedding layer should also occur regularly. Though this type of routine may take more time and effort on your part, it will lead to a happier, healthier, and longer life for your horse.
Establish Air Flow
Air circulation is crucial for eliminating barn odors. If your barn does not have proper windows or ventilation shafts, they will trap and stagnant the smells. Open windows and airflow will contribute to controlling odors because the odors have somewhere to escape.
A central aisle barn with openings on both ends is best for funneling fresh air through the structure. If your barn only has one entrance, consider installing fans that circulate the air through windows or vents.
Fans are also a solution for cold winter months when you may not want as many windows and doors open for extended periods. Turning fans on for a few hours during the warmest part of the day will help shift unwanted odors to the outdoors.
Use Deodorizers
Implementing deodorizers into your stall cleaning routine is a great way to trap and control unwanted smells. Many products are available for purchase that equestrian CEOs market precisely for this purpose. You can purchase many of these options in bulk 25 lb bags, but these are not the only options available to you.
Natural elements such as baking soda and vinegar are excellent odor neutralizers that serve many purposes in a barn. Adding vinegar to a spray bottle and spraying down horse tack after use can help eliminate sweat smells. Likewise, mixing baking soda into stall bedding can also be a simple stall refresher that keeps odors at bay.
Select an Odor-Blocking Bedding
An essential element of odor control in a horse stall is ensuring that you have selected high-quality horse bedding that absorbs urine and odors. This step aids in odor control and keeps your horse dry to avoid poor hoof health. Many horse bedding options are available, but the most absorbent options are wood pellets and hemp bedding.
If your stall bedding is not highly absorbent, you may want to consider making a switch to a more absorbent material that aids in odor control.
At Canapa Oro, we use the highest quality Italian Hemp bedding for our horses and are available to answer all of your hemp bedding questions.
We’re Equestrians That Understand Nasty-Smelling Horses
While nasty horse paddocks and barns can reek of ammonia gasses, there are solutions to the problem that preserve your animal’s long-term air quality and health. We are firm believers that you and your horse deserve a training space you can breathe easy in.
Our office is open for you to give us a call at (866).322.5989 or we can talk by sending us an online note. Our equestrian staff would love to tell you more about different odor-control options for your horse and their barn.