Ok, you can call me stupid

[Bootyfulcobs]

but i have now not worked at a stables for over a year, and my memory is a litle rusty in places. The thing is you see, i'm starting part time at my local riding school - (how exciting!!!!) and he says they turn the banks (straw banks in the stable) everyday- now i can vaguely recall what i used to do, but i am still quite confused as to what this means - i have a week to find out - HELP!!!!!!!

[Maria]

Not a silly question at all. Every place has a different way of mucking out.

Sounds like they do a full muck out - taking out all the droppings and wet straw every day - including any wet underneath the banks. But best to get someone to show you their preferred method for mucking out on your first day.

Some places only take the wet out of the middle of the bed and leave the banks in tact to remove once in a blue moon - yuk.

Other places muck out and leave the bedding up against the back wall one day, the side wall the next day etc - so that the floor dries.

Some places muck out and put the bed down again - others put the bed down in the afternoon.

Maria

[Speedy]

Haven't worked on a yard for a few years, but from what I remember, this is how I mucked out straw (now have shavings and rubber mats)

Take out droppings, then sift through to find wet straw on the main floor and bank all the straw at the sides of the stables. Then, turn all the straw at the sides, including the banks into the middle of the box and work around the stable, doing one wall at a time. This shakes up the straw and stops it packing down and rotting. When all the floor and banks have been turned you re-set the bed. Level out the straw on the floor and then bank it along the sides - straighten it by pushing it with the back of the fork so it looks neat. A good rule of thumb for the floor is that you shouldn't be able to feel the concrete when you walk on the straw and that you should be able to stand your fork up in the bed!

Does this make sense?!

[Zingy]

I was always told to pull the banks down into the bed and put any new straw along the banks as this keeps rotating the bed. I was also told to bank along the door as this is where most og the draughts come from (but the only person I've ever seen do that is the person who told me to!). This lady was an absolute stickler and would check the beds after you'd done them - she reckoned if you stood on the floor and could see your ankles then the bed wasn't thick enough!

[Bootyfulcobs]

thanks for your replies everyone - i can remeber madly stuffing masses of straw into beds, and all the muck that used to come out prior to this and just couldn't remember rolling my banks lol.
One of the yard girls at the old school used to moan at us if the beds weren't basically pretty firm and packed with straw so deep you couldn't see half your lower leg lol....arr those were the days...:rolleyes:

[belle]

Hi,

Just wondered which stables you are going to work at?

[Bootyfulcobs]

Hi, i'm going to work at bentley riding school, part time at the mo - where are you working?

[lamprellsarah]

i thought the banks were so that the stable was aired during the day, stop draughts at night and stop the horse casting itself!! http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/smilie/proud.gif

[belle]

I have heard of Bently Riding School, its meant to be quite good!:)

I work at Pine Lodge in Norfolk.