News: Choosing the right bedding for your horse

Choosing the right bedding for your horse isn’t necessarily a straightforward decision, and can dependent on a number of factors including cost, storage, transport and disposal. Here we look at some of the options available:

Wheat straw

One of the most popular bedding choices. Provided in bales, wheat straw is heavily compacted which can affect its durability, however it is cheap, warm and easily available. It rots down well and is easy to muck out and can be used as fertiliser; but wheat straw is not advisable for horses with dust allergies or respiratory problems. Another drawback is storage; bales need a lot of space and should be kept in a dry area.

Wood shavings

Wood shavings are very absorbent and easy to muck out. However, you must ensure that you buy wood shavings specifically produced for use as animal bedding, as alternatives such as a by-product of a saw mill might include shavings that can be sharp and may contain rubbish.

Horse bedding wood shavings are ideal for horses with dust allergies. They provide warmth in the winter, and keeps your horse cool in the summer. Buy wood shavings online now.

Shredded paper

This is becoming a popular choice of horse bedding as its one of the cheapest options out there. Newsprint has the same insulation qualities as wood shavings or straw, but the stables will require more cleaning and maintenance. A downside of shredded paper is disposal - whilst it can be burnt, on a windy day this could prove quite tricky; and the dye from the newsprint can sometimes mark the horse’s coat.

Wood pellets

This is the result of white wood fibre products that have been heat treated and compressed into pellets. The absorbency of wood pellets is very good as when water is added the pellets expand in size, absorbing nine times more liquid than regular wood shavings. This dust free bedding also composts much quicker than straw or shavings; it is advisable to add water when initially laid to fluff it up to prevent slippages whilst in pellet form. Buy wood pellets online now.

Hemp

Hemp bedding is a natural fibre derived from the hemp plant, with good absorbency qualities and makes for soft bedding. However, hemp is initially expensive and could cause a horse’s stomach to swell if ingested.

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