by Toby Raymond

Created on: December 22, 2008   Last Updated: January 02, 2012

Keeping a barn clean . . . paramount to your horse's health - and your own, especially when you consider that a 1,000 pound horse produces roughly 50 pounds of manure and anywhere from six to ten gallons of urine a day. Between the manure and the soiled bedding, the resulting waste is estimated at 20 tons a year. And, when you include the accompanying pests, from stable flies to parasite larvae, it's a sure bet that you need to keep your barn clean to keep your horse healthy.

Effects of Waste

The daily accumulation of waste from horses living in a stabled environment opens the way for bacteria and parasites to do their worst. And, if horses are left to stand in urine soaked bedding and manure, the adverse affects can wreak havoc with delicate lungs and hooves as well. This is because urine contains urea and hipppuric acid, which as it breaks down, produces a volatile gas containing ammonia that can irritate sensitive tissues in both the eyes and lungs of horses and people alike. If you walk into a barn and feel comfortably warm, chances are you'll also feel a sharp stinging in your eyes and nose from the by-products of ammonia and manure - that's what your horse is living with all the time. As a consequence, it's not surprising he may experience a host of health issues.

Experts recommend you always keep fresh air circulating, even in the winter, but be careful to avoid creating drafts. The idea is to establish cross-ventilation that will get rid or odors and stale air, not create a drafty environment, which can kick up dust that can contribute to eye and respiratory irritations. Two methods of air exchange include ridge vents and soffit vents, for example.

Plus, there are products on the market especially designed to eliminate odors and control moisture. One in particular, made from minerals known as zeolites, contain properties that will effectively absorb ammonia and associated gases by "locking up" the offending molecules, as well as de-moisturizing manure to arrest the development of insect larvae. Even though it may be more expensive than lime, for instance, the benefits far outweigh the costs. On top of having an odor free barn, you will also be inhibiting the fly population with a non-toxic, economical, environmentally-friendly product.

Hydrated lime on the other hand, while effective as well, should be applied with caution. While its caustic nature aids in the decomposition of urine and manure, it can cause irritation to soft hoof tissue if it isn't

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