Introduction
According to Matt Davies Harmony Communities, whether you’re on a farm, breed horses for a living, or train them for races, you need to provide a lot of care and attention to these animals to keep them healthy. Bedding is a big part of that care routine. Let’s check out proper bedding options for horses.
The Options
1. Straw – Straw beds are probably the most common option and have been used for centuries. They are usually made from oats, barley, or wheat straws. The greatest advantage of straw beds is that they are widely available due to the abundant supply of straw. They are easy to build and also quite inexpensive. However, depending on the quality of the straw, it may be more susceptible to trapping dust and developing mold in humid regions.
Straw beds can also get stinky quite easily and are difficult to keep clean. Sometimes, horses may start nibbling on their straw beds and that’s why they are not the perfect choice for all stables. If you want to get a straw bed for your horse, make sure you get bedding made from treated straw products. They are chopped for a consistent texture and treated with essential oils.
2. Shredded wood fiber – Shredded wood fiber is obtained from recycled white wood and that makes this option the “greenest” or most environmentally friendly of the bunch. This product doesn’t have as much dust as straw and is absorbent enough to keep your horse dry. It doesn’t move around as much and is less likely to cause injuries as your horse gets up or lies down. It doesn’t create as much waste as most other options on this list either.
3. Paper – Shredded paper from magazines, newspapers, and all kinds of printed matter is packed together to make horse bedding. The best thing about paper is that your horse won’t be chewing on it and there would be little to no dust when you build a bed from freshly shredded paper. However, you’ll be switching out paper bedding more often than the rest since it can get very soggy and is not very user-friendly.
4. Rubber matting – Rubber matting is the most expensive option you can get. However, it’s worth the price since it can last you for a very long time. Rubber is a pliable yet tough material and provides ample support to the hooves and limbs and minimizes the risks of injuries.
Rubber matting comes in the form of modular pieces that can be laid on the floor and interlocked with each other. However, make sure that you maintain high hygiene standards while using rubber matting. Rubber matting needs to be removed and thoroughly cleaned regularly to avoid the buildup of ammonia and dirty bedding.
Conclusion
Matt Davies Harmony Communities suggests that you assess the above-mentioned bedding options and choose one that best suits your horse. You can find all kinds of bedding options at local feed merchants and country stores. Some stores would also be happy to customize bedding opinions for your specific needs.