Cleaning (and keeping clean) the Filthy Grey Horse

[Smay]

Well, at least his diarreah is gone, right? I have no idea how to clean THAT out of a straw bed if he's laying in it. Do you guys spread all that straw on your farms? How do you dispose of so much straw on a daily basis?

[jleegriffith]

I would also suggest sawdust for the absorbing factor. I HATE straw but that is just a personal opinion from someone who has done a ton of stalls. I hate the way it smells when wet and some horses are just piggy no matter how much straw you put down. I am bedding two down on straw right now because there was no sawdust at the local mills and the floor is always soaked under the straw (mats underneath) and smells horrible. They seem to grind it into a wet mess. The same horses on sawdust are much more neater, easier to clean and smell better.

He wasn't to bad when he stayed at my place for the week but he was on the sawdust. I think clipping would help a lot and having industrial washers to wash his blankets frequently ;D Good thing he is so easy to deal with but that is just a mess to deal with!

I have some tail bags over here but with this weather I doubt I can get them to you That would really help and of course you are always welcome to use my wash stall for a full body clean.

I passed along the bran/mineral oil tip to my mom who is dealing with the same issue. Not sure if she got out in time to get the bran before the storm hit.

[BabySonny]

Seconding the dawn with OxyClean. I've used it many times. Works just as good as the more expensive "grey" shampoo.

being a veteran of the grey piggiest horse at the horse shows ;D

[hfhopper]

Instead of buying a tail bag, you can make one with 2 pairs of queen size nylons. Just cut them in half at the waist to crotch and you've got the "tubes" for the 3 parts of tail. Much cheaper and works exactly the same as the expensive tail bags. Learned this trick from working at the arab breeding farm.

We bed our dry/soon to calve cows on hard pack which is a thick layer of sawdust tamped down and then covered by straw. Granted, we don't clean that area (20' x 60') like a horse stall, but it is both soft and very absorbant. And if one is diligent about daily cleaning it would be great for a horse, especially one on stall rest.