Flash_28
Well-Known Member
Hi
I require peoples help with bedding here. With winter just round the corner Im back to trying to find decent bedding for my lot. Tried Megazorb for the 4 I had at this time last year and it really did suit one TB who was really clean on it and stayed put when all 17hh of him laid down on it even though it was not a full size bed as he has rubber mats underneath. Also suited the little pony who wees for England and was on box rest last year due to Lami. Shes the smallest of the lot and the dirtiest!
But need help with the other 3 and needing recommendations on bedding to try.
They all have rubber mats but all have different problems.
One is a the new addition and youngster who is just a total dirty sod so need a bed that is quite cheap to replace as he goes through a lot. Obviously needs to be quite absorbent for him aswell. He doesnt really mix the bed together but just poos everywhere and will then stand in it so you went up taking a lot out.
Second is a pony who does wet quite a bit but has taken to mushing everything together and is a total nightmare on shavings. The bed is rank after one night in it and being a tad OCD it drives me insane. I end up almost replacing the whole bed every day where everything is mixed. If left for a day or so the whole bed is brown and very smelly. Megazorb didnt seem to stay put for him at all and he is normally a super clean pony. On a full bed of straw before rubber matting he was a doddle to muck out and took 10 mins which included disinfecting his floor every day.
Third is a TB mare who if stressed will box walk and even when she doesnt box walk is just so dirty anyway. She is even worse than the pony on shavings. Tried sprinkling of shavings over the mats but she will then not wee unless she is really desperate and wont lie down in her stable so almost falls over in the field attempting to sleep. Tried the megazorb and that was better for the wee but was having to take the wet out every day as she was bringing it to the top. It must be where she was box walking and not allowing the bed to settle. Even then I was still going through about 4-5 bales a week. I have tried deep littering before I had the mats and she still went down to the floor and the bed ended up a big mess meaning weekends were a nightmare with almost a new big bed every week. Last year we moved not long before stabling for winter so the box walking was a big problem but she appears to be much more settled so far this year.
I am unable to have straw as the yard doesnt allow it due to it not mulching down but I am struggling with shavings as it just leaves the stables minging, smelly and end up with massive puddles of urine under all the mats which then trickle out the front of the stable. Plus the costs of the shavings is getting silly. I am going to ask if I can try cardboard on the dirty 3 as this is cheaper than shavings and the megazorb. I did ask about paper last year but did not really get a yes or no to that. Obviously looking for something cost effective with my tribe of horses but something that is easy to work with really. Not a big fan of the early winter mornings before work esp with 3 rank stables waiting for me every morning. Any ideas would be great or recommendations on bedding as feel I may go a tad insane esp if we have a terrible winter again this year!
I require peoples help with bedding here. With winter just round the corner Im back to trying to find decent bedding for my lot. Tried Megazorb for the 4 I had at this time last year and it really did suit one TB who was really clean on it and stayed put when all 17hh of him laid down on it even though it was not a full size bed as he has rubber mats underneath. Also suited the little pony who wees for England and was on box rest last year due to Lami. Shes the smallest of the lot and the dirtiest!
But need help with the other 3 and needing recommendations on bedding to try.They all have rubber mats but all have different problems.
One is a the new addition and youngster who is just a total dirty sod so need a bed that is quite cheap to replace as he goes through a lot. Obviously needs to be quite absorbent for him aswell. He doesnt really mix the bed together but just poos everywhere and will then stand in it so you went up taking a lot out.
Second is a pony who does wet quite a bit but has taken to mushing everything together and is a total nightmare on shavings. The bed is rank after one night in it and being a tad OCD it drives me insane. I end up almost replacing the whole bed every day where everything is mixed. If left for a day or so the whole bed is brown and very smelly. Megazorb didnt seem to stay put for him at all and he is normally a super clean pony. On a full bed of straw before rubber matting he was a doddle to muck out and took 10 mins which included disinfecting his floor every day.
Third is a TB mare who if stressed will box walk and even when she doesnt box walk is just so dirty anyway. She is even worse than the pony on shavings. Tried sprinkling of shavings over the mats but she will then not wee unless she is really desperate and wont lie down in her stable so almost falls over in the field attempting to sleep. Tried the megazorb and that was better for the wee but was having to take the wet out every day as she was bringing it to the top. It must be where she was box walking and not allowing the bed to settle. Even then I was still going through about 4-5 bales a week. I have tried deep littering before I had the mats and she still went down to the floor and the bed ended up a big mess meaning weekends were a nightmare with almost a new big bed every week. Last year we moved not long before stabling for winter so the box walking was a big problem but she appears to be much more settled so far this year.
I am unable to have straw as the yard doesnt allow it due to it not mulching down but I am struggling with shavings as it just leaves the stables minging, smelly and end up with massive puddles of urine under all the mats which then trickle out the front of the stable. Plus the costs of the shavings is getting silly. I am going to ask if I can try cardboard on the dirty 3 as this is cheaper than shavings and the megazorb. I did ask about paper last year but did not really get a yes or no to that. Obviously looking for something cost effective with my tribe of horses but something that is easy to work with really. Not a big fan of the early winter mornings before work esp with 3 rank stables waiting for me every morning. Any ideas would be great or recommendations on bedding as feel I may go a tad insane esp if we have a terrible winter again this year!
Only about £7 a bale the same size as a shavings bale but goes very far and smells wonderful! Ive found it very absorbent and only have to buy a bale every 2 weeks for my dirty welsh a! 
).
Never mind, keep buying the lottery tickets.