Bedding -advice on hemcore vs. shavings...

L

loopiesteff

Well-Known Member
Joined
12 January 2011
Messages
967
Location
Littleport/Soham
Visit site
I have 2 horses, Penny - 15.2hh TB, Bob - 16.3hh ID/warmblood.

I'm thinking of switching over from shavings to hemcore as everything I've read seems to imply that it's a lot better in all ways, less removed, wet gets soaked up remarkably well, etc.

Obviously from what I can tell, the bales cost a bit more than shavings would, but you'd use less so therefore should cancel itself out so to speak?

What are peoples views on it? Does anyone use it? I'm thinking it might work quite well with my 2 as Bob just wees in the same spot every time, and is pretty clean and easy to muck out (half a wheelbarrow), Penny is the opposite. COMPLETE carnage in the stable every morning. I just don't know what she does in there but you end up taking a wheelbarrow and a half out everyday so end up going through bales and bales of shavings! I'm thinking if I started with a big bed of the hemcore bedding, then the wee mess she makes will be soaked up and I can eventually start deep littering her?

I'm a bit confused as to why you need to "water" the bedding as it doesn't seem to be the type of bedding that "swells" when watered? Consequently, it also says that if you're mixing it in with shavings/chopped straw you don't need to water it?!

Any info much appreciated :)
 
I really rate hemcore as bedding, and am not keen on shavings! I have used Hemcore both fully mucked out and as deep litter, I would probably only deep litter it again, it forms a really solid base, is very absorbent and doesn't smell. The solid base will form more quickly if you water the first layer you put in, it doesn't need to be soaking wet, just damp is fine. It moves around a lot otherwise, for the first few days. You might find it a bit frustrating for a few days but stick with it and it will improve!
 
I like it and yes, I would DEFINATELY start with a deep bed. At least 6 inches and water it lightly to help it form a good base. Distrub it as little as poss - i.e deep litter and do a 'full' muck out at weekends...

I can also recomend mucking out by hand (with gloves into a skip) rather than a shavings fork if you don't already. You will achieve a much cleaner bed with less wastage ;)
 
Shavings - full dig out, multiple barrows of wet every day, up to 3 bales a week top up.
Hemcore - pick up 3 poos daily, remove wetpatch on Saturdays - 1 barrow maximum, half a bale a week top up.

Light, absorbant, deodorizing. Job done!
 
Oh I always go in by hand after getting the main offenders out! Rather anal (excuse the pun) about an immaculate bed!

Sounds like I'm definitely going to give the Hemcore a go... still not quite sure WHY you have to "water" it if it doesn't expand? I'll be mixing it in with shavings rather than taking everything out and starting fresh. Although (after just typing that) I may just use the leftover shavings for banks, and use the hemcore for the base...
 
I use Rapport which is made by the Hemcore company and absolutely love it. At one point, Hemcore was hard to get so I went over to Rapport. Rapport is brilliant - it's cheaper and extremely absorbent. I deep litter and do a full muck out 7-10 days (taking droppings out daily). It is really easy to work with and makes a great bed - and I'm a bit obsessive about the beds.

Might be an option. Good luck
 
Yes, I would either use your shavings as banks and hemcore as base or could you put all the leftover shavings in one bed (prob the muckiest) run that down and then start afresh so to start with you'll have one shavings bed and one hemcore?

It's strange stuff. Basically watering it a) helps it 'stick' together to form a more stable base - you'll find it kinda slips around otherwise. and b) it 'activates' the absorbancy.
 
Should add that you water it to start the absorbancy off. It works like chamoix leather - you wet and ring that before you use it for maximum absorbancy.
 
Another vote for Hemcore. I only skip out each day and take the wet out, when it surfaces. It really needs to be used as a deep litter type bedding. It rots down really fast too, so it's welcomed by gardeners.
 
I bought 4 bales of Hemcore yesterday, used the leftover shavings for banks and laid the bed, 2 in each stable. (I know the bales say 8-10 bales for a 12x12 stable but - meh!) Watering it was the most amusing part... took 4 of us to do it... didn't have a watering can so ended up bodging a garden hose into the end of another hose on the yard - and stretching it across to eventually make it into the stable. All 4 of us got soaked in the process. Beds watered and left for a few hours. I swear it had grown by the time I bought the nags in!!! It was almost as high as the banks!

Anyway, this morning - turned el ponios out, and inspected the beds (will muck out later tonight).
Penny (the DESTROYER) - bed was all still in tack - could see NO wee, and poos in the normal place but NOT trampled in as per... pleasantly surprised!
Bob (wees a lot in one place and a few poos dotted) - bed was all over the place! the base is still there, but he clearly drags his feet around, some bedding was pushed out under the door! But it's all still pretty in tact, so we shall see later on how mucking out goes!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top