Guest Author - Susan Hopf
Consider the following when choosing bedding for your horse.
Straw
Good points – green and renewable, comfy, cost effective, highly compost able, can be chopped to make it easier to work with (ask your farmer or dealer about this).
Bad points – bulky to store, can be hard to deal with if cut with long stalks, horses will eat it, can be dusty, horses with respiratory problems and/or allergies can have trouble with straw.
Cost and availability – this depends upon location but average about $4.00/bale. Ask your hay dealer as most usually deal in straw as well or will know of another dealer/farmer that does
Bagged shavings
Good points – readily available, easy to work with, some companies sourcing wood from sustainable sources.
Bad points – bulky to store, dusty, costly, some suggestion of negative health effects from breathing the chemical composition of this pungent smelling pine bedding has recently surfaced, short duration of absorbency, must dispose of bags (recycle please), can pack down reducing compost potential.
Cost and availability – between $6-$8.00/bale unless you buy it in large quantities. Most feed and tack stores deal with bagged shavings.
Pelleted Wood
Good points – very absorbent and efficient, easy to work with, compared to bagged shavings it is more cost effective, better for composting as it breaks down easier, less dusty.
Bad points – can be expensive to get started, must dispose of bags.
Cost and availability – between $6-$7.00/40lb bag unless you buy in large quantities, Most feed and farm stores deal with pelleted bedding.
Bulk shavings
Good points – easy to work with, not dusty, usually hard woods so no concerns of negative health issues as with the pine shavings.
Bad points – need a boxed truck or trailer to transport or arrange delivery, must have a large space to store bulk amount, must ensure that walnut is not cut at same mill (walnut is toxic to horses and can cause severe laminitis), very economical.
Cost and availability – very dependent upon locale. Check in your phone book for mills, firewood suppliers and/or pallet makers
Shredded paper
Good points – very absorbent, no dust.
Bad points – not readily available, comes in huge bales that need equipment to move around, storage can be a problem, heavy to work with.
Cost and availability – the only way to obtain baled shredded paper is to contact your local recycling plant and ask about it. You want shredded paper that was processed but not delivered – like extra newspapers. Paper that has been used is unacceptable for horse bedding at this time.
Check out http://ohioline.osu.edu/cd-fact/0123.html for more information.
Pelleted straw
Good points – this is the best overall choice of bedding from the standpoint of animal health. There is no dust, it provides a good cushion with low volume and is very easy to work with. Sustainable. Economical due to great absorbency and once the stall is initially bed it acts much like clumping cat litter – you can clean a stall just like the cat box.
Bad points – not readily available but this is an up and coming product so it may be more readily available soon. Search for pelleted straw to check for availability in your area.
Whatever bedding you choose cleaning daily makes barn life much easier, healthier for your horse as well as your own back.
Happy Mucking!
