HOW TO DISINFECT A STABLE
How to disinfect a stable by Aqueos
Disease prevention – it’s a crucial aspect of horse care. You follow a strict vaccination programme, worm your horse regularly, have his teeth checked and his feet trimmed – all aspects of maintaining his health and welfare.
Yet many carers overlook a vital part of disease control – disinfecting stables.
Consider for a moment the diseases that can hibernate within the walls of your stables. These diseases can not only survive outside living animals, but can multiply on moist surfaces, or in organic material. Included in this group are strangle, salmonella, Equine influenza, Equine herpes virus,Equine viral arteritis, and ringworm.
However, with the right disinfectant, it is possible to win the war, but you will need to put some work into it.
Preparation
These bugs love organic matter, so throwing some disinfectant over a dirty surface just won’t cut it. You are going to have to get down and dirty, and scrub out the stable first.
Remove all the bedding, including rubber matting (which will need disinfecting separately), then get a long yard brush and scrub down all surfaces, including walls and ceiling, to remove cobwebs and loose dust and dirt. Brush all the debris out, and cover up all the electric fittings with thick plastic and electrical tape.
When as clear as you can get it, hose it down, preferably with a pressure washer, being very careful with electric fittings. Brush the floors again, to get rid of all the further muck that the water has brought down from the corners.
When your stable is as clean as you can get it, it’s time to disinfect.
Choose your disinfectant
Some heavy-duty disinfectants are very effective at killing off pathogens, but may not be the safest products to use. You’ll have to kit yourself out with protective gear before applying, which makes you wonder the effect they will have on your horse.
Instead, choose a disinfectant that is safe to use, yet kills bacteria, fungi and viruses in seconds, as well as inhibiting the growth of mould and fungi. Not only that, but one that goes on working after you’ve applied it, keeping your stable germ free for longer.
Disinfecting
Dilute the disinfectant as instructed, or use a ready-prepared product. Some disinfectants now come with a hose fitting at the top, ensuring that water and product is mixed at the right ratio. Whichever method you use, spray or brush your stable thoroughly. Do not forget the internal and external drains (having cleaned them thoroughly first). If spraying the ceiling, make sure your wear protective googles to stop splashes getting in your eyes, even if using a gentle product like Aqueos.
Long term protection
To offer long-lasting protection, leave the stable to dryand then fill in any big gaps were germs love to fester, using a suitable grout. Then apply a waterproof light varnish, which will make the surfaces muchmore repellent to dirt, and easier to clean.
Finishing off
Make sure rubber mats are also scrubbed in the same way before returning to the stable. Bed down with clean and fresh bedding, before standing back to admire your handiwork. Never mind putting the horse back in – you’ll want to curl up in it yourself!
But when your equine friend does return, you’ll be comfortable in the knowledge that you have done your bit to add an extra layer of protection to his health and well-being.