Alternative bedding?

[2K85]

With the cost of shavings in our area increasing steadily, I'm wondering about other types of bedding. I don't really want to use straw - my pony is very greedy - plus coughs on dry hay. What do you use and what are its benefits/downsides? Thanks!

 

[kerilli]

i use ecobed cardboard bedding, and swear by it.
i use it on top of rubber... if it was just on top of concrete it would need to be a deep bed so that it held together a bit and didn't move and let the horse scrape its hocks on the concrete, etc, though.
it's very clean, doesn't break down to dust with use (unlike shavings), inedible (well, none of mine have ever tried), easy to muck out, very warm, and absorbent.
it mulches well and can be used on garden or for wormeries (i've found they'll take it for nothing once they realise how much the worms love it!)
only downside is it doesn't look quite as nice as an immaculate shavings bed... having said which, how long do they stay like that for!

 

[nadinek82]

you also get shredded paper. It can be used as a sprinkling ontop of rubber matting or as a full bed

 

[RedRed]

Aubiose, which is a hemp bedding is fantastic, although a little more expensive it lasts longer.

 

[igglepiggle]

Has anyone ever tried Megazorb? I thought it looked good at the stand they had at Your Horse Live but wondered if anyone had tried it out? I think I might switch to cardboard when I go back to DIY. Thanks kerilli

 

[Would_I]

I use straw on top of rubber mats and used watered down jeyes sprayed on the beds of the greedy ones never had a problem with them eating it!!

the upside are

its cheaper
very easy to muck out
IMO stays cleaner than shavings etc
and always looks very comfy

 

[mcooper]

Sundown Red

50/50 mix of chopped straw and shavings with eucalyptus. A fair bit cheaper than shavings

Mark