alternative to straw, opinions/advice please

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wattamus

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My mare is currentley on box rest and is going through loads of straw at the moment because she pees quite a lot! Now straw where we are costs £2 a bale which isn't that expensive.
However its very short cut and doesn't seem to absorb much so when i arrive to muck out in the morning and on the night, im greeted by a stream running out of her stable :( Also because she's on a diet (15lb a day of hay a day) she's finishing her hay and then moving onto her straw.
So i'm thinking of shavings but theyre a bit expensive but straw pellets i think you have to buy in bulk and the yard owners won't let me store them there- any ideas?????
Thanks! :D
 
When I was on a yard that didn't allow straw I deep littered with wood pellets and shavings. I put 6 bags of pellets down and then a bale of shavings on top, shavings lasted a month and a bag of pellets every 6 weeks.
 
If you decide to do woodpellets, Can you order in bulk and maybe keep them in a garage at home or something? and just take a bag upto the yard when you need it??
 
I use miscanthus bedding (elephant grass!)

http://www.miscanthusbedding.co.uk/

Its really absorbant. Dust extracted (so not dust free) and you can semi deep litter with it. I had my horse on it when he was on 6 months box rest. I used to take the droppings out in the week then do a full muck out at the weekends which worked well. Both my horses are now on it. My TB is very messy (he digs a hole in the middle of the bed to sleep in!) so tends to spread the wet round a bit - but it clumps together quite well so is still easy to manage. It also makes a nice warm, deep bed.
 
You could also try putting a bag or two of pellets or shavings under the straw in the wettest part. I do this with my very wet mare and it certainly helps a lot.
 
Thanks, im trying her on shaving this week and see how we go, but ill not be paying more than £8.00 a week for shavings (1 bags worth :eek: )when i can get 4 bales of straw for that price :p
 
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