The Ontario Equestrian Federation (OEF) feels it is the right time to begin a series of articles, in which we can all share, related to being more environmentally | friendly in the stable.

Zeolite

With the winter weather upon us, our horses are spending much more time inside. High traffic in the indoor arena and horses spending longer periods of time in stalls can create several health issues resulting from moisture, odour,and dust. This article will discuss [age the benefits of using Zeolite, a natural resource, to control moisture, odour, and _ dust specifically during the winter months.

Zeolite — What is it?

Zeolite is a unique group of minerals with an important basic property — it’s the world’s only mineral with a naturally occurring negative charge. Zeolite also has incredible porosity and therefore is able to simultaneously hold moisture, trap ammonia, and capture odors. Its ability to hold moisture and capture odours makes it an ideal resource to use in our horses’ stalls and riding arenas and it is 100% safe to our health, our horses’ health, and to the environment.

Stall Moisture & Odour Control

Our horses spend more time in their stalls during the winter resulting in more moisture and odour problems caused by ammonia found in urine. Ammonia Is a toxic, reactive and highly hazardous chemical that is harmful to our horses’ health. Excess ammonia in our horses’ stall can result in respiratory conditions (pneumonia, heaves, etc.), skin and eye irritations, and softens and weakens the hoof wall. It is very important that ammonia levels are controlled. Traditionally control agents such as lime or diatomaceous earth have been used in stalls, both of which can create additional irritation issues. Zeolite is safe to your horses’ health and is an effective control agent. Easily to apply — spread Zeolite on the bottom of the stall, lay down bedding and monitor moisture by sprinkling more on additional wet spots when necessary. The Zeolite holds moisture, traps ammonia, and captures odour resulting in dryer stalls, fewer odours, less flies, better comfort, better traction and healthier horses. In addition, when used bedding is removed from the stall, Zeolite is a natural compost and soil amendment creating healthier soil.

Arena Dust Control

Riding arenas, specifically indoor arenas, are beset with dust problems. The most common types of arena footing are sand, stonedust, wood products, and rubber. After time and traffic, these materials begin to break down resulting in a dusty tiding environment. Horses can breathe up to seventy-five times the amount of air that humans do and, obviously, a dusty arena can lead to a host of respiratory- related problems for everyone involved.

At one time, many facility owners would use waste oil to control dust. Most of the oils that were used were referred to as high tech, clean, safe, food grade, refined or synthetic organic fluids, etc. However, research has shown that waste oil is a health hazard, as it may contain carcinogenic substances. In addition, the heavy metal content of the oil is a threat to waterways and the environment. The standard arena can require up to 4000 " Dusty indoor arenas are a health risk to you and your horse, liters or more of oil to control the dust. That is almost 20 drums of oil! Applying waste oil as a dust control agent is no longer acceptable.

Today, water is a safe, cheap, and environmentally friendly solution, and although it is an easy and effective method in the summer, our cold Canadian winter climate makes it slightly more challenging to use. When water is not an option, there are several common environmentally friendly products that facility owners use as an_ alternative including: used bedding, calcium chloride (salt), polymers, etc., however; many of these products have side affects that are not conducive to our horses’ health or the footing in the arena.

Zeolite, when mixed with magnesium, is a safe and highly affective dust control product. Magnesium grabs the moisture from the ambient air in the arena, thus naturally wetting deep into the footings and the Zeolite acts as an automatic humistat, to store or release this moisture to the footing as required. This combi- nation makes an ideal dust control product in the arena. In addition, it absorbs odour, improves footing 1 aeration, “elms break down clumping and . ‘-« (manure), captures ammonia (uice 'y¢ maintain footing pH balance, anc as an excellent soil conditioner. Zev. 2 also works as a traction aid, and will prevent the arena footing from becoming slippery when wet. It is easy to apply — just spread with a standard spreader and allow the horses to work it in.

Mosquitoes do not travel very far during their lifetime; in fact, their life-cycle generally takes place over a number of weeks within a 100 sq yd_ area. Eliminating mosquito breeding grounds will help prevent mosquitoes around your farm. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, so it is important to check all sources of standing water around your farm and remove water that builds up in old tires, rain barrels, eavestroughs, blocked drains, etc. In addition, stagnant water troughs should be cleaned regularly and checked for mosquito larvae.

Zeolite is a safe, natural, and inexpensive solution to moisture, odour, and dust in your barn, especially during the winter months. For more information about the benefits of Zeolite please visit www .zeolite.ca or contact Bill Milne at alexmiln@idirect.com.

(Alex Milne Associates Ltd. is an OEF Industry Member and Silver OEF Partner. Partly owned by the Ontario government, Alex Milne Associates Ltd. is considered a leader in the global environmental industry and offers an equine line of environmentally friendly products called Just Add Horses.)