Posted 2008-01-31 6:42 PM (#75769) Subject: Sand vs Salt
Member
Posts: 40 Location: Sullivan NY
What is best to put down for the horses to give them traction on the ice, sand or salt, I was going to go with sand, but would like to salt down. What does everyone else use?
Posted 2008-01-31 8:13 PM (#75777 - in reply to #75769) Subject: RE: Sand vs Salt
Expert
Posts: 2954 Location: North Carolina
I would use sand... The salt sold as ice melt is actually a blend of calcium chloride and sodium chloride (table salt) The stuff dissolves in water and leaves a white film on everything.
I used to be part of the NY council of Boy Scouts. Do they still have a camp around Narrowsburg? Called Ten Mile River when I was a tenderfoot.
Posted 2008-02-01 6:50 AM (#75801 - in reply to #75769) Subject: RE: Sand vs Salt
Veteran
Posts: 294 Location: Fort Worth, Tx
If you use salt it needs to be a special blend for animals, the regular stuff that they use on the roads is toxic for animals. Where are ou having problems-like in a barn entryway or what? Tear up your concrete and put down gravel :-)
Posted 2008-02-01 9:13 AM (#75808 - in reply to #75769) Subject: RE: Sand vs Salt
Expert
Posts: 1723 Location: michigan
we use ice melting salt in our barns for cattle and horses every winter without any animals getting sick. In fact- they don't even lick it ( and our cattle do have access to the area we use it on). It provides good traction and getting rid of the ice on steps. The whiteish residue is hardly a concern. Sand is ok but when it gets soaked it can be slick itself or loses its abiltiy to provide traction.
Sand vs Salt
