A clean, fresh-smelling stable isn't just more pleasant to work in — it's essential for your horse's health. Ammonia from urine is one of the biggest culprits behind respiratory issues, hoof problems, and general discomfort in horses. Here's how to properly disinfect your stable and eliminate that sharp ammonia odour for good.
Why Stable Hygiene Matters
Horses spend a significant portion of their lives in their stables. Poor hygiene creates a breeding ground for pathogens — bacteria, fungi, and viruses — that can cause serious illness. Ammonia gas, produced when urine breaks down, is particularly harmful. Even at low concentrations, it irritates the respiratory tract and eyes of both horses and handlers.
A consistent stable hygiene routine using the right products is the most effective way to protect your horses and your team.
Step 1: Remove All Bedding and Waste
Start with a full muck-out. Remove all soiled bedding, manure, and wet patches completely. Don't just top up — a thorough clean-out is essential before disinfecting, as organic matter reduces the effectiveness of any disinfectant.
Step 2: Dry Sweep the Stable Floor
Once the bedding is removed, sweep the floor and walls to remove loose debris, dust, and cobwebs. Pay attention to corners, feed buckets, and water troughs — these are hotspots for bacterial build-up.
Step 3: Apply an Equine Disinfectant
This is the most critical step. Use a purpose-formulated equine disinfectant that is proven to eliminate pathogens without harming your horses or the environment.
Stablemate Pro's Equine Disinfectant and Cleaner is an Australian-made 3-in-1 biosecurity solution that disinfects, cleans, and sanitises in a single application. It delivers 99.9999% pathogen reduction and is pH neutral — meaning it's tough on bacteria but safe for daily use around horses and handlers.
Dilute as directed, apply generously to all surfaces including floors, walls, and fixtures, and allow adequate contact time before rinsing.
Step 4: Tackle Ammonia Odour with an Odour Control Product
Disinfecting kills pathogens, but it doesn't always neutralise the ammonia odour embedded in floors and walls — especially in older stables or high-traffic areas. This is where a dedicated odour control product makes all the difference.
Stablemate Pro's Equine Odour Control & Dust Suppression is a chemical-free, pH balanced concentrate specifically formulated to neutralise ammonia and other stable odours at the source. It works on the urine compounds that cause that sharp, eye-watering smell — not just masking it, but eliminating it. It's also safe for daily use and doubles as a dust suppressant, keeping the stable air cleaner for horses and handlers alike.
Apply after disinfecting and allow to dry. For heavily soiled areas or stables with persistent ammonia odour, a second application may be beneficial.
Step 5: Allow to Dry Before Re-bedding
Always allow the stable floor to dry thoroughly before laying fresh bedding. Damp bedding accelerates bacterial growth and can undo your hard work quickly. Good ventilation speeds up drying time significantly.
Step 6: Establish a Routine
A one-off deep clean is great, but consistent hygiene is what protects your horses long-term. We recommend:
- Daily muck-out and spot cleaning
- Weekly full disinfection of the stable floor and walls
- Regular application of odour control, especially in urine hotspots
- Monthly deep clean of water troughs, feed buckets, and fixtures
Pro Tips for Ammonia Control
- Target urine hotspots: Horses tend to urinate in the same spots. Apply odour control concentrate directly to these areas for best results.
- Don't forget floats and trailers: Ammonia builds up quickly in enclosed transport spaces. Treat them with the same odour control product after every trip.
- Ventilation is your friend: Good airflow reduces ammonia concentration and speeds up drying after cleaning.
- Use the right dilution: Always follow the dilution rates on your products — more concentrated isn't always better and can be wasteful.
The Stablemate Pro Difference
All Stablemate Pro products are proudly Australian-made, non-toxic, and biodegradable. They're formulated specifically for the demands of equine environments — effective enough for professional biosecurity, yet safe enough for daily use around horses, foals, and handlers.
A clean stable is a healthy stable. With the right routine and the right products, you can eliminate ammonia odour, reduce pathogen load, and give your horses the environment they deserve.