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Maximising the stable environment - covering aspects such as ventilation, flooring, bedding, lighting and the use of therapeutic tools for the stabled horse

Article by Adam Jackson

Horses stay in their stables for different durations based on their care, training regime, health status, and seasonal changesEnsuring your horse's comfort and well-being in their stable is crucial, as inadequately designed facilities can lead to injuries, health issues, and fire hazards. With horse welfare under the spotlight with the focus being on the keeping and protection of animals under the European Union review, there is no better time to look at how we can maximise the stable environment.

Ammonia

Ammonia is a serious irritant that can harm the respiratory tract and cause breathing difficulties.  Lower concentrations of ammonia can irritate a horse's upper respiratory tract, while higher levels may skip this area and lead to inflammation and fluid buildup in the lower lungs.  Ammonia triggers inflammation, which increases mucus production and disrupts the function of cilia in the respiratory tract, negatively impacting the immune response.  When cilia malfunction, dust and dirt can accumulate in a horse's lungs, causing health issues and decreased performance.

Monitoring ammonia levels in stables is crucial, as levels should ideally be below 10 ppm, and an odour of ammonia typically indicates levels are dangerously elevated at 20-30 ppm, which can harm horses' health.  

Bedding

Ammonia can be managed effectively through proper stable management in addition to ensuring good ventilation. To improve the absorption of urine and faeces and lower ammonia levels, add extra dry bedding in the areas of the stable where the horse often soils.  A recent study has shown that even with regular cleaning, elevated ammonia levels can remain near the floors.  Using a combination of highly absorbent bedding materials and an ammonia-neutralising product can help lower ammonia levels.

Bedding made of pine shavings is excellent at controlling the ammonia levels.  The pine oil in the shavings tends to inhibit the bacteria that converts urine into ammonia, thus keeping the ammonia levels low.  In addition, bedding that has strong shavings provide cushioning rather than compacting together.

Stable floor setups

The type of surface on which a horse stands for extended periods can significantly influence its comfort, movement quality, and overall soundness. Consequently, it is essential to invest time and resources in choosing the appropriate flooring for your stables. Moreover, selecting the right flooring can enhance operational efficiency and lower costs associated with hygiene management and stable cleaning. Finally, conduct routine inspections of your flooring to guarantee safety and avert potential hazards.

There are two main categories of flooring: permeable and impermeable.

Permeable or porous stable flooring can consist of either conventional packed clay or a specially engineered geotextile membrane. In the case of the latter, the membrane layers act as a barrier between the horse and bedding and the underlying base material. 

In both scenarios, it is essential to install pervious materials on a foundation of well-graded crushed and compacted stone.  There are disadvantages associated with the use of pervious flooring. While packed clay is softer than cement or asphalt, it is prone to becoming uneven when exposed to additional moisture, particularly if deep bedding is not utilised. 

Membrane layers can also contribute to urine accumulation, leading to an increase in ammonia levels that negatively impact the respiratory health of horses. Furthermore, this moisture can permeate the underlying base material, resulting in the development of unpleasant odours. Another significant issue with this type of stall construction is the potential for groundwater contamination.

Stable flooring that is impermeable or impervious is specifically engineered to stop urine and moisture from seeping through. To facilitate the elimination of urine and faeces, it is essential to either grant the horse access to an outdoor space or to supply bedding that can absorb moisture and offer cushioning.  

It is essential to have a solid foundation beneath for the entire system to function effectively. Stall flooring consists of a base layer and an upper layer of material. If the base is not properly established, the overall performance will be compromised. 

Additionally, rubber matting is regarded as an ideal durable choice due to its ability to mitigate hardness, alleviate fatigue in the horse's legs, and simplify the cleaning process. Rubber mats may require a significant initial investment; however, they offer long-term benefits by facilitating consistent cleaning, lowering bedding expenses, and enhancing the health, comfort, and overall wellbeing of horses.  

A correctly installed rubber mat should be even and stable while offering a degree of cushioning. The market offers a range of matting options, including custom wall-to-wall installations and interlocking mats. It may be beneficial to explore mats that are thicker and more cushioned to provide insulation against cold floors and to minimise the risk of pain in the hip, stifle, hock, fetlock, and pastern areas.  

In certain circumstances, it may be necessary to install a drain in a non-porous stall to facilitate the collection of liquids. A drain is particularly beneficial in veterinary or maternity stalls that require regular washing. Drains should be situated near a wall, and the stall should be graded appropriately. If drains are installed, ensure that cleanout traps are included to capture and eliminate solid waste.

Ventilation

Good ventilation in stables is essential for removing bad odours, improving indoor air quality and humidity, which supports horse health, while also controlling temperature and condensation to extend the building's lifespan.

Horses are obligate nasal-breathers and grazing posture hinder their ability to effectively clear dust and debris from their respiratory systems.  Prioritising good ventilation is essential for maintaining horses' health, as it mitigates the risks of respiratory diseases caused by airborne pollutants. Failure to minimise airborne particulate matter like mould, mildew, and dust-borne bacteria can lead to serious respiratory diseases, including asthma, allergic reactions and upper respiratory tract viral infections (i.e. herpes, influenza).  

Another source of moisture is the condensation that develops within the barn.  Inadequate ventilation, especially from closed doors during cold weather, can lead to increased moisture buildup indoors.  The horses themselves are a source of moisture and with the more horses kept in for longer periods, the more condensation that is generated. Therefore, it is vital to refresh the air inside the barn constantly to ensure the health and well-being of the animals.

Natural ventilation offers the most affordable solution with minimal initial investment, zero maintenance expenses, and no energy consumption.  However, a combination of natural and mechanical ventilation can enhance air quality and comfort in a stable block. 

Installing air inlets low and outlets high in the barn harnesses the natural tendency of warm air to rise, improving ventilation efficiency.  To optimise ventilation, high outlet vents should be installed at the roof's ridges, where warm air naturally accumulates. 

During winter, the barn doors may remain shut to retain heat, while strategically placed vents ensure adequate airflow, and in summer, windows and stable doors may be left open to promote ventilation and comfort.  Using horse body heat to warm a stable leads to very poor interior air quality due to inadequate ventilation and the accumulation of ammonia and other gases.  In a well-ventilated, unheated stable with good air quality, the air temperature typically stays within 0-5° C /  5-10° F of the outdoor temperature.

A well-designed mechanically ventilated barn allows for precise regulation of indoor air quality, surpassing the capabilities of a naturally ventilated barn.  Power ventilation systems in barns often incorporate exhaust fans and high-volume, low-speed units strategically placed in main aisles, barn ends, or between stables for optimal airflow.  Individual fans in stables or aisles primarily serve to disperse particulates and repel insects rather than provide significant cooling.

If you are designing a brand new stable, the steeper the pitch of the roof, the faster the stale air will exhaust through the top ridge vents. 

Vents and grates at the bottom of stable partitions help improve air circulation, effectively reducing ammonia fumes from urine.  Stabled doors should feature grated panels to ensure both security and proper ventilation.

Water Supply

A steady availability of clean, fresh water is crucial for preventing dehydration and colic.  You can provide water in your stable using either buckets or automatic drinking bowls, depending on your setup.

Automatic drinking bowls can be costly and require installation.  It's difficult to gauge your horse's water intake, but you can minimise physical labour in the yard and make sure your horse has constant access to fresh, clean water.

Water buckets are an affordable choice and you can track your horse's water intake, but it involves lifting and transporting the buckets to and from the stable.  

Lighting

Horses possess an internal timing mechanism known as a circadian rhythm, which regulates various physiological and behavioural functions.  This internal clock is controlled by the daily 24-hour cycle of light and darkness and operates in nearly every tissue and organ.  

Scientific research supports the use of lighting systems that emit blue light similar to sunlight is advised for daytime use and a soft red light should be utilised during the night.  Enhancing stable lighting can optimise the horse's health and wellbeing by supporting its natural circadian rhythm.  All elements of their physiology can function more harmoniously and in sync with the environment.

Social interactions 

Recent studies indicate that private stables may not promote health and well-being as effectively as communal environments.  The results indicated that horses housed in 'parcours' exhibited minimal abnormal behaviours like stereotypies, had the freedom to move throughout most of the day, engaged with other horses, and maintained positive interactions with humans.  

Although this may not always be viable within training yards, stable adaptations can be made to increase social interactions. Windows in stables with views to other stables or paddocks allow horses to see and interact, even if they are not in direct contact, stall partitions with bars allow for visual and olfactory contact and individual turnout paddocks or pens allow horses to graze and interact in close proximity.  

Feeding and entertainment

Horses should ideally have unrestricted access to hay; however, using slow feeders or automated feeders are also available to provide small portions throughout the day.

Entertainment devices can also help stimulate interaction and engagement, reducing the chances of stress and the emergence of negative habits (vices).  Stable toys, mineral licks, stable treats, spreading forage in different locations, visual stimulation such as mirrors and brushes affixed to walls or fences all offer enrichment.

Technology

A range of technology is increasingly accessible to facilitate continuous care around the clock.  Technology has the potential to staff, allowing them to redirect their time towards enhancing equine welfare.

The integration of camera-GPS surveillance with specialised software monitors the movements of individuals and determines the typical behaviour patterns for each horse within the herd.  This cost-effective technology can alert yard personnel if a horse exhibits unusual behaviour.

There are a range of therapeutic technologies that can be utilised in the stable environment such as massage rugs, leg wraps and boots and handheld complimentary devices; as well as additional training and rehabilitation systems such as spas, treadmills, combi floors and solariums. All of which can be considered for enhancing the horse's well-being. 

Conclusion

Ensuring the comfort and well-being of the horse within the stabled environment by adapting structures and utilising enrichment tools can help prevent injuries, health issues and fire risks. By promoting best practice for keeping the competition horse and ensuring natural behaviours are expressed as much as possible within the training regimes, will only benefit the horse thus increasing performance results.  

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TRAINING EUT Webmaster TRAINING EUT Webmaster

Does artificial lighting benefit the conditioning of a horse?

The claims of manufacturers of light therapy equipment for equines vary from the scientifically proven, through the scientifically dodgy to the downright bizarre. Trainers need to be able to sift through the advice and make financially viable judgements and weigh up the various proposed benefits against costs

Paul Peacock (19 October 2006 - Issue Number: 2)

By Paul Peacock

The claims of manufacturers of light therapy equipment for equines vary from the scientifically proven, through the scientifically dodgy to the downright bizarre. Trainers need to be able to sift through the advice and make financially viable judgements and weigh up the various proposed benefits against costs.

There is also the question of animal welfare to consider, comparing proposed benefits against the possible inconvenience of treatment. Certain forms of so-called light therapy, involving crystals and projected rainbows lie outside the remit of this article as much the same conclusions apply as in other forms of alternative treatment for equines.

However, there are many scientifically proven and highly practical uses for light therapy with thoroughbreds. Research by H. Kolárová, PhD, D. Ditrichová, MD, J. Wagner, PhD at three universities in the Czech Republic has conclusively shown that light penetrates skin tissues and there are a number of light receptors in the skin. These receptors have various functions including the production of more than one set of hormones and vitamins.

Mares at stud


Research in the USA showed that the day-length stimulated the pituitary gland to produce follicle stimulating hormone, thus bring the mare into season. This response is linked to the onset of spring, which in the natural world would bring the mare to foal at the appropriate time. However, this is not usually good enough to meet the cycle of yearling sales, especially in the US (much less so in Europe) and artificial light is used in the autumn and winter months to bring mares into season prematurely early. Up to 70 days of enhanced light, using medium intensity day-glo lighting, either in bulb or fluorescent form, is usually sufficient. More recent research has reduced this figure to les than a month with the use of the drug Sulpiride.


Implications of day length


Clearly, if the pituitary gland can be stimulated using artificial light, other benefits might be available to the horse if the onset of spring is artificially induced. These included increased energy, healthier immune system response, quicker and better recovery from injury and the vague yet important increased interest in life and work. This simple conclusion has led to a growing industry which in some cases uses pseudo science to market benefits that are simply not true.


The science


As far as it is currently understood, light has a number of effects under the skin, i.e. nothing to do with the eye. These effects are not fully understood, and consequently, in order to sell equipment, many companies resort to little understood, pseudo science in order to enhance the effects of light therapy equipment.
There are some compelling and intriguing reasons for looking in to light therapy, but there are not, as yet, any ‘double blind’ scientific studies to actually back up current claims.


Vitamin D


There are light receptors under the skin, but the production of this important vitamin does not need them. It is impossible for any mammal to get all its vitamin D from food sources. One of the many cholesterol molecules is broken down by a specific frequency of light to the vitamin. This only takes place under ultra violet B, and so ordinary bulbs and fluorescents do not produce the required frequency.
The effects of vitamin D deficiency used to be thought to be quite plain. However modern research has shown there to be a lot of problems directly or indirectly associated with lower amounts of the substance.
These can include depression, seasonal affective disorder, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, poor coat quality and other skin problems, periodontal disease and inflammatory bowel disease.
Consequently, Vitamin D being such an important molecule, the exposure of horses to an adequate amount of UVb light either in daylight or artificial form is important.


Endothelial light receptor cells


The science that might be at work in the other forms of light therapy shown by advertisers is detailed below, but these ideas are not particularly highlighted by many of the companies themselves. Usually you get the statement, “healing at the cellular level” or the “light heats up cells thus increasing their metabolism” or “the extra energy given to cells allows oxygen to become more available”. None of these statements can be attributed to factual evidence. However, current and possible areas for research include the following.
Horse skin, as in almost all mammals, contains a lot of light receptors. These use light to create a number of interesting effects.


First of all, nitric oxide synthatase (NOS), an enzyme which produces nitric oxide, is found more readily at higher light activity. This releases nitric oxide into the tissues which stimulates blood flow and has an effect on the nerves in the area. The interruption of morphine receptors can be initiated by nitric oxide, among other substances, thus providing an element of pain relief. In circumstantial evidence there does seem to be an increased immune system response directly associated to light receptors receiving extra incident light. This might be associated with oestrogens and their interaction with NOS, nitric oxide itself, and other as yet unknown substances.  In particular, wound repair and the healing of operation scars is becoming an interesting area of study which has been one of the favourite claims for using light therapy, particularly cold laser treatment.


Treatments


Cold laser treatments are supplied in hand held form in a little box. You simply shine the light at the treatable area for a short while. A number of companies say that this treatment works by somehow transferring energy to and from ADP to ATP. This claim is nonsense. However, the non-science of the claims does not have to mean that the treatment doesn’t work. Hand held lasers are expensive, possibly out of the reach of many small yards. LED infra red diode therapy is where a string of infra red diodes are attached to the affected part. There are receptors in the skin which respond to infra red energy, normally to increase blood flow to remove the heat from the area. This can, therefore, have some benefit at the local level, but it is not conclusively shown. Furthermore many companies suggest using this equipment at the acupuncture points on the animal, causing the prospective user to weigh up the relative pros and cons of alternative therapies too, something beyond the scope of this article.
 


SAD adjustments, as described earlier, are possibly the best use of light therapy. It has to be said that the best and most cost effective light source is the sun, and stables need to be as light and airy as possible. However the simple use of daylight bulbs or fluorescents is sufficient to compensate for day length initiated disorders, keeping the animal in general good health. There are companies that sell booths with banks of lights on them. You can alternate these lights for infra red banks which create a warm radiance on the animal. They are frequently advertised with benefits such as shortening warm up / warm down times, and drying the animal after exercise or otherwise. Trainers will have to make up their own minds about these benefits.  There are no studies which detail the combined effect of heat and light on the health response of horses, yet common sense might provide some hints to their possible use.


Un-synchronised fluorescent lighting


Some horses. Like a small but significant number of humans, respond negatively to fluorescent lighting that is un-phased. Older, or cheap, fluorescent lights can have a flicker associated with them which can affect some thoroughbreds. Examples of crib biting and walking and kicking have been eased by simply changing the lighting.


Conclusion

There is plenty of anecdotal evidence that light therapy has some basic scientific truth about it. However the studies to completely show benefits are few and far between. Particularly, trainer will have to make up their own minds whether expensive equipment justifies the proposed benefits. Perhaps the very best light therapy can be obtained by simply changing the indoor lighting to daylight bulbs and the maintenance of a fourteen hour regime of daylight type radiation in the yard.

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