How to Clean a Horse Barn

Cleaning out the horse barn is vital to the health of the horses and humans alike. A 1,000-pound horse produces about 50 pounds of manure, and six to nine gallons of urine each day. If the barn is not managed, urine begins to produce ammonia, and manure attracts flies and other pests. The smell itself is enough, but ammonia and flies can also damage the horse's lung's, hooves, and general health. Learning how to properly clean the horse barn is an important part of owning this animal.

Things You'll Need

  • Zeolite odor eater
  • Wheel barrow
  • Pitchfork
  • Hay
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Instructions

    • 1

      Minimize odors and cleaning frequency by taking a few precautionary measures. Establish a cross-ventilation system in the barn. This keeps air moving through, decreasing the smell of the waste without bringing in too much harmful dust. Applying ridge vents, or soffit vents, to the barn's ventilation system help produce this cross-ventilation effect.

    • 2

      Spread out an odor eater made with zeolites. These products aren't harmful to the horse's hooves, unlike many harsher chemicals. Zeolites absorb odors and remove moisture from manure and hay alike.

    • 3

      Remove feces and soiled hay daily with a pitchfork and wheel barrow. Take the horses out of the stall for this process to make sure the entire area is cleaned. A good time to do this may be when they're out in the field or the corral, so removing the horses isn't an extra step.

    • 4

      Replace soiled hay with clean hay. Spread it evenly across the surface and then fluff with the pitch fork.

    • 5

      Remove and replace all the hay once a week. Hay becomes stale and builds up toxins, so it's important to replace it. Keep the hay level consistent with the amount that was there before. Replace the zeolite odor eater at this time as well.