Air Quality In The Horse Barn

make for cold clammy and damp conditions.
Bedding
Choose high quality absorbent bedding with low dust levels. If you can smell ammonia your horses airways are at risk. Ammonia can also increase mucus production. More turnout time equals less urine in the stall. Daily proper cleaning of stalls is of course a must and an ammonia control product can prove useful in eliminating this noxious gas. It is recommended to turn horses out prior to cleaning the stable as bedding is the second most common source of dust in the barn. Savvy stable workers wet down floors before sweeping and also wear dust masks
Floors that allow urine to be absorbed and travel down through the flooring material layers can suffer from odor retention. Nonporous floors depend on slope for drainage andor adequate bedding to soak up urine.
Feed
Hay is the staple of the horses diet providing fibre which is essential for healthy gut function but is also the single most common source of dust and mould for horses. Even good quality hay will contain some dust. Sprinkling hay with water can reduce the dust by half. Feeding from the ground and not throwing hay over the top of stall door will also reduce airborne dust. All hay will have some mould present as there are many types of fungi in field crops. Hay that has been baled damp is the biggest concern as doing so provides an environment of moisture and heat for mould to thrive and multiply. Mould spores are very small and often undetectable to the human eye but can travel deep into the lungs of a horse. Avoid round bales which can become havens for dust and mould.
Footing
Fine smooth particles are more prone to suspension than heavier angular particles. Careful material selection and maintenance are required to reduce dust in
arenas. When coarse materials break down over time partial or full replacement should be considered. Check moisture content of footing weekly and water as required to increase the weight of footing particles. Consider additives and environmentally friendly products to help bind particles and slow evaporation.
Right Warm air is less dense and therefore lighter and more buoyant than cold air. A natural ventilation system removes heat moisture and contaminants from the barn during colder months by relying on the natural thermal buoyant properties of air. This system requires building orientation so that the length of the barn is perpendicular to the prevailing wind. As condensation can occur with this system and water dripping from the roof can be uncomfortable for horses and people and deteriorate building components a natural ventilation system should be designed with consideration to animal density and height of the roof to permit air buoyancy.