HOW TO - Instructions

Instructions for Maintaining your stall using Pine Stall Horse Bedding

Start with a clean, dry stall. (It is not recommended that you mix with shavings or straw. When foaling, a cushion of straw on top of the pellet bedding is advised for when the foal drops. Once the foal is stable, remove the straw and use Pine Stall exclusively to maintain a clean, dry, dust free environment.)

Use 4-6 bags to start a 12' x 12' stall. On initial application, lightly spraying the pellets with water softens them and allows them to expand, making it comfortable for your horse to lie down. However, leaving the pellets dry in the stall works fine in most instances. During the first week simply mix the damp areas with the surrounding dry bedding, which will absorb any excess moisture. Please note that the initial appearance and depth of the bedding is not representative of Pine Stall when it matures. Be patient during the first few days as the product absorbs moisture. It will continue to swell and increase in volume.

After the first week or so, the stall will reach the desired moisture content, which will be slightly damp to the touch, but does not adhere to your hands, clothing, or the horse's coat. At this point make a practice of turning over Pine Stall every two or three days to assist with evaporation.
Long-term maintenance requires picking manure each day, and removing saturated wet spots as they occur. When removing bedding, expose the floor of the stall before stirring any remaining damp product with the surrounding dry bedding. Removing unsaturated bedding is wasteful and defeats a major benefit of Pine Stall - Longevity.

Add fresh bedding as necessary (usually one bag per week, but sometimes less) to ensure adequate coverage and volume to maintain a comfortable environment for your horse. When adding new bedding, do so in areas the horse tends to urinate most often. Then mix with the rest of the stall allowing the new Pine Stall to draw excess moisture from the surrounding bedding. This process should only take a few minutes.

Complete stripping of stalls should not be necessary for a few months, or longer, depending on circumstances. Clumping of the bedding and/or its color turning to a dark red are indicators that the stall should be stripped.

NOTE: If you desire immediate depth when starting a stall, start with less bedding initially. Then over the first couple days add small amounts of water periodically along with an additional bag or two of Pine Stall. This will produce a deep bed quicker. However, this practice introduces unnecessary moisture and is not recommended. Do not over fill the stall with bedding. If the bedding is too deep it becomes heavy and difficult to maintain. Also, wet spots can be hidden under the dry bedding. Keep in mind that when a horse stands on shavings or straw the depth under their hooves is about the same as the depth you see in a Pine Stall bedded stall.

Following these instructions will result in the extended life of Pine Stall. You will greatly reduce ammonia and odor, keep stall floors drier (and your horse's hooves) and reduce flies. If you are new to this product, allow yourself a month to become accustomed to proper management. The most common error is removing too much product too soon.