Stall Mats ... HELP!
For those of you who aren't aware, let me throw a little back story your way.
Cherokee moved to a new barn on December 1st. This is his first time in a boarding facility, and his first time living more in-stall than out of it. While I'm sure he'd love more time to roll in the dirt and lip at the grass, he does not act unhappy in his home. However, his stall is causing us some problems. (Yes, we're blaming the stall. Cherokee is an angel! XD)
Anyway, I have noticed lately that the ammonia smell in his stall is terrible. I am the one who cleans his stall, so I know I am digging out those pee spots as best as humanly possible. But every day it's the same story. Smelly stall, smelly stall...
The barn manager said something to me the other day, as she and a couple neighbors have also noticed the stall's morph into a urinal. She suggested stall mats as a possible solution. We both think this is due to Cherokee's bathroom habits...he goes in two specific spots, but he likes looking out his door, out his window, etc...so everything gets kind of sloshed around the stall. I keep telling him if he picked the far left corner neither of us would have to worry about it, but does he listen? :P Now I personally don't think that that specific factoid has much to do with his urine...but I do think that maybe my poor gelding has too much urine for his bedding to handle. The barn uses sawdust for bedding (the barn owners also have a construction company...I assume it's easier for them to get their hands on). Personally I'm not a huge fan, but I know that my options - at least for the time being - are limited.
Would a stall mat really help? Should I be looking into, like...importing my own fancy bedding? XD I assume that if a stall mat will help, it will be a better investment, right? I have never used a stall mat, not to mention purchase one. GAH!
Please, please help me! And forgive me if this post is a little jumbled...I'm still trying to not be sick. x_x
EDIT: Oh! I also wanted to ask about smell cover-up products. Brand suggestions? Are they safe? Effective? Etc...
Cherokee moved to a new barn on December 1st. This is his first time in a boarding facility, and his first time living more in-stall than out of it. While I'm sure he'd love more time to roll in the dirt and lip at the grass, he does not act unhappy in his home. However, his stall is causing us some problems. (Yes, we're blaming the stall. Cherokee is an angel! XD)
Anyway, I have noticed lately that the ammonia smell in his stall is terrible. I am the one who cleans his stall, so I know I am digging out those pee spots as best as humanly possible. But every day it's the same story. Smelly stall, smelly stall...
The barn manager said something to me the other day, as she and a couple neighbors have also noticed the stall's morph into a urinal. She suggested stall mats as a possible solution. We both think this is due to Cherokee's bathroom habits...he goes in two specific spots, but he likes looking out his door, out his window, etc...so everything gets kind of sloshed around the stall. I keep telling him if he picked the far left corner neither of us would have to worry about it, but does he listen? :P Now I personally don't think that that specific factoid has much to do with his urine...but I do think that maybe my poor gelding has too much urine for his bedding to handle. The barn uses sawdust for bedding (the barn owners also have a construction company...I assume it's easier for them to get their hands on). Personally I'm not a huge fan, but I know that my options - at least for the time being - are limited.
Would a stall mat really help? Should I be looking into, like...importing my own fancy bedding? XD I assume that if a stall mat will help, it will be a better investment, right? I have never used a stall mat, not to mention purchase one. GAH!
Please, please help me! And forgive me if this post is a little jumbled...I'm still trying to not be sick. x_x
EDIT: Oh! I also wanted to ask about smell cover-up products. Brand suggestions? Are they safe? Effective? Etc...