Barn Management Tips to Defend Against Dust

the hay
In the Barn
Consider wood shavings over straw and always choose low dust absorbent bedding.
Turn horses out before mucking stalls.
Keep ammonia smells at bay with daily stall cleaning and control products as needed. If you smell it the ammonia is at a level which can put your horses airways at risk.
Proper drainage and the use of a nonporous flooring reduces odour retention.
Keep windows and doors open to improve air flow and ventilation.
Ventilation is a primary concern when building a barn but many stables lack adequate circulation of fresh air. A combination of inlets e g. vents and outlets e g. cupolas help provide ventilation especially once barn windows and doors are closed up to provide warmth in the winter.
Mechanical ventilation is another popular option e g. ceiling fans exhaust fans.
During stable design consider bars on the stall fronts instead of solid boards to improve the flow of air.
Proper insulation helps avoid condensation problems and damp conditions.
Do not sweep dust and debris from the barn aisle into your horses stall in fact dont sweep at all when horses are in the barn. Wet down the floor before you begin and wear a mask for your own respiratory health.
In the Arena
Choose footing wisely and replace as needed. Fine smooth particles are more prone to suspension than heavier angular particles.
Footing in the arena must be regularly maintained to remain moist and prevent dust from rising into the air.
Additives and environmentally friendly oils help bind particles and slow evaporation.
Always
Keep horses outside as much as possible unless medical conditions require stalling or the horse has an equine asthma issue associated with the pasture. If your horse begins to cough call the vet right away to investigate the cause. When dealing with respiratory ailments early diagnostics aggressive treatment and environmental management are of paramount importance