Bedding for wet, diggy mare.

[WestCoast]

I know this has been asked before and I’ve read previous threads but am overwhelmed with choices for bedding.

Moving my lovely mare onto DIY and so have the choice of bedding I want. It’s 12x12 a earth floor stable - I’ve got half a dozen eva mats second hand but am thinking of just putting 3 at the front initially and having a deep bed as she can be a bit wet. She also digs when she’s bored.

I find shavings make my eyes really sore so don’t really want to use them but there does seem to be a lot of choices. Obviously don’t have unlimited money but don’t mind spending a little more for her comfort and ease of care.

What do you find works well.

Opinions on shavings forks also welcome.

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

I’d usually say wood pellets but they are extortionate in price now. I’ve just swapped to chopped rape straw and am actually quite liking it so far. It seems to bed down quite well and so far my messy oldie hasn’t overly churned it up. I put it down fairly deep and my old boy I’m taking the wet patch out 2-3 days so that if he does decide to dig it’s not too bad and my tidier one every 5-6 days.

 

[eggs]

I used wood pellets for years but with the increase in price have been using chopped rape straw or chopped miscanthus (which I find a little more absorbent than the rape straw) for a couple of mine. I also use flax (currently Equisorb) for a couple which is even more absorbent.

Some of my stables have earth floors which I find work well with wet horses. I mat the front (my stables are 18' deep) and put a deep bed down on the back 3/4 of the stable.

I rate the future fork as it is light and well balanced.
Buy Future Fork - £29.99 > Selling Fast! (equisupermarket.co.uk)

 

[Surbie]

I rate the future fork as it is light and well balanced.
Buy Future Fork - £29.99 > Selling Fast! (equisupermarket.co.uk)

I hope this doesn't jinx it, but mine's lasted nearly 5 years without losing a tine.

 

[WestCoast]

Thank you - it was so much easier when there was just the choice of straw or shavings but it does sound like the newer beddings are more absorbent.

 

[asmp]

Had to put our one that digs back onto to straw. He was on Laysoft but was destroying his bed by digging up the wet. I really dislike straw too because of the smell.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I would just use sawdust, I have a dirty diggy gelding lol , find its the only thing that doesn’t stink

 

[poiuytrewq]

I would just use sawdust, I have a dirty diggy gelding lol , find its the only thing that doesn’t stink

I’m going to try sawdust under straw. I’m hoping a really thick layer, then a good thick straw bed on top will work well for a really smelly wet pony.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I’m going to try sawdust under straw. I’m hoping a really thick layer, then a good thick straw bed on top will work well for a really smelly wet pony.

Yeah then you could probably get away with only lifting the wet every week or two

 

[poiuytrewq]

Yeah then you could probably get away with only lifting the wet every week or two

That’s what I’d like! Maybe weekly so it’s not too bad.