Posted 2008-06-11 8:51 AM (#85504) Subject: Slippery Ramp
Veteran
Posts: 270
Location: Roanoke IL
My trailer is a 2-3 horse straight load with a ramp. The horses basically poop on the hinge area while they ride along. When we get to our destination, the horses have no choice but to back out of the trailer over their own pile. The ramp is slicker than snot. The horses basically slide out the back. What can I do to make the ramp less slippery, aside from telling them not to poop in the trailer? I don't want one of them to fall on that stinkin' ramp. It already has a rubber mat on it. Even after you scoop the poo, the residual is still slick enough to cause an accident. I thought about some shavings, but I've heard you should not use bedding in the trailer. Do you guys use any? If so what do you use? I don't know that it would help the ramp situation any unless I sprinkled it on the ramp after I opened it up....
Posted 2008-06-11 9:12 AM (#85509 - in reply to #85504) Subject: RE: Slippery Ramp
Veteran
Posts: 150
Location: Farmville, VA
Dito ~ you know the rule, "don't believe everything you hear and only half of what you see". Scoop the poop and spread the saw dust before you drop the butt bars to unload. I would dare say that the "majority" of us use some sort of bedding, shavings or sawdust product in our trailers.
Posted 2008-06-11 9:25 AM (#85513 - in reply to #85504) Subject: RE: Slippery Ramp
Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA
We always use a bedding in our trailers; used to be shavings, now it is shredded paper. No dust, more absorbancy, endless supply. As was stated, clean the ramp before you use it, and apply some kind of bedding. It should help somewhat.
Posted 2008-06-11 11:31 AM (#85525 - in reply to #85504) Subject: RE: Slippery Ramp
Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA
We bought an industrial shredder that does a whole paper in one shot. (They demonstrate it by running nickels through the cutters) The bedding is disposed of as regular manure, gardens, fields etc. The urine and manure start to break it down in a few days. If you compost it for a few months, it works well as a potting compound, as there are no acids as found in the wood products.
Posted 2008-06-11 11:35 AM (#85529 - in reply to #85504) Subject: RE: Slippery Ramp
Expert
Posts: 1723
Location: michigan
Many years ago, we used shredded paper as cattle bedding in free stalls. Looked like heck,as if a paper factory exploded in the barn but it worked well. However, it didn't last as the people we got the paper from stopped doing it- time consuming and didn't make them much money. Wouldn't mind going back to it........
Posted 2008-06-11 11:40 AM (#85531 - in reply to #85504) Subject: RE: Slippery Ramp
Expert
Posts: 3802
Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
We used paper for about 6 years, we stopped when the cost caught up with pine shavings. It was messy looking and it didn't "pick out" as well as shavings. Most all of the news print now days use soy based ink.
Posted 2008-06-11 12:51 PM (#85534 - in reply to #85531) Subject: RE: Slippery Ramp
Expert
Posts: 2828
Location: Southern New Mexico
Most all of the news print now days use soy based ink. -----
So is that good? Or bad? This might be an good way to get rid of all the bills and such that you don't want theives to get hold of. Who wants to pick through a mucky, poopy mess?
Posted 2008-06-11 3:12 PM (#85537 - in reply to #85534) Subject: RE: Slippery Ramp
Veteran
Posts: 294
Location: Fort Worth, Tx
Soy based ink is good. ten years ago and back, many newspapers were printed with ink that contained lead and other heavy metals, toxins etc(not so great although it did keep the ink from bleeding onto your hands!) Just keep in mind if you use paper that it should be of course, staple-free...don't want a vet bill from the horse that finds the one staple and gets an abcess from it!
Posted 2008-06-11 8:38 PM (#85549 - in reply to #85504) Subject: RE: Slippery Ramp
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 368
Location: Georgia
If you want to use shredded paper, just check in with any major "office". Most all government offices (local, federal and state) shred their paper and will give it to you for free. I have been using paper in my trailer since reading about it on this forum. You do have to "clean up" when the horses drag it our while backing out of the trailer. I do not feel comfortable leaving it on the ground in trail ride parking lots or in camp grounds. But just a quick scoop with the pick, toss it in the regular compost pile and you are good to go.
Posted 2008-06-11 10:21 PM (#85553 - in reply to #85504) Subject: RE: Slippery Ramp
Veteran
Posts: 153
Location: Iowa
I know that some work centers that provide jobs to mentally challenged adults shred paper as a job skill. My daughters school gave the bags away to people who would come take them. That would be an avenue to call.
Posted 2008-06-12 8:40 AM (#85560 - in reply to #85504) Subject: RE: Slippery Ramp
Veteran
Posts: 150
Location: Farmville, VA
These mats are nice BUT they creat their own issues. You still need to clean first before backing onto the mats, as they get nasty very fast then your stuck moving them to close the ramp so you can tie the horse to the trailer. Then where do you put them, while they are nasty, to transport them? A $6 bag of bedding goes a long way!
If your ramp is truly too steep and slick with bedding, go to your local lumber dealer, buy some treated 1 x 2"s and have someone add them a few feet apart, going side to side. Be carefull that you premeasure to make sure of the clearance of your ramp when closed. Good luck!
Posted 2008-06-14 6:06 AM (#85653 - in reply to #85504) Subject: RE: Slippery Ramp
Veteran
Posts: 177
Location: East London South Africa
We use paper every so often when we do not have enough shavings - Im lucky in that I own a Timber Frame construction company so there is normally an abundance of it. Every 3 months we get a load of shreaded money from the reserve bank... it breaks my heart when I see all the millions shreaded... you goto see the grooms - they are horrified...
I do find that it is not that absorbent and is a bit more unsightly than shavings....
Posted 2008-06-14 3:18 PM (#85659 - in reply to #85504) Subject: RE: Slippery Ramp
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 434
Location: Brooksville, Fl
Have you considered a different type of rubber or covering for your ramp? Is the rubber smooth or ribbed? I have a 2-horse with a ramp that has sort of like an indoor/outdoor carpeting on it. At least, that's the best way I can describe it. My other trailer has ribbed matting on it which can be slippery if it is wet. I have also seen people add some slats across the ramp in a few places to give the horses a toehold. I haven't had too much slippage problem with my 2 horse and I attempt to push the poop over before I unload. One horse makes nice poops that are easy to move and one makes huge cow pies which are not so easy to get out of the way. Anyhow, good luck with your trailer.