Best way to use shavings....?

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ChestnutConvert

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I'm new to using shavings for bedding and was wondering what the best way to go about it is.

I will have rubber matting and know i need to make banks up but have had varying views about the amount to use as a bed, from a scattering to much deeper!

Any tips would be great...
 
Personally I have quite a thick bed of shavings on rubber mats with big banks. I deep litter them, skipping out droppings every day and then a small layer of wet at the weekends, then add a bale of shavings a week. Both of mine lie down and roll a lot so tbh wouldn't be happy with them not having a deep bed.

Some people use a sprinkling in the middle - which does mean pee splashes onto their legs and can sometimes make them reluctant to go in the stable, but it is very much personal preference :)
 
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I deep litter as well on rubber matting.

Poos come out everyday and wee comes out probably every 6 months maybe more, never really thought about it, but shavings are added on top when needed.

Nice deep bed and the only use I have for banks is left over shavings.
 
I semi deep litter - I have deepish beds with banks, skip out poos every day and dig out the wet once or twice a week, which requires about 1 bale a week. I personally hate small beds even if they have got rubber mats and not a fan of full deep litter either...just think it's a bit gross and a big pain in the backside to dig out at the end of the winter.

But..it's really up to what suits you and how messy your horse is. If they're really messy than perhaps a smaller bed is better?
 
I like a full bed of shavings, thick floor, small banks and a rubber mat at the door. I muck out properly everyday, im personally not a fan of deep litter. I use 2 bales a week sometimes 3.
 
My horse seems to like to pee quite a lot, so I really need to remove the wet every day, I am not a fan of deep litter as i can't see that any less shavings will be needed, as the stuff I remove is saturated. I know that he will be comfortable and less prone to injury, but I would not expect him to have to splash on to bare rubber mats,
 
I used to deep litter but taking out the top layer of wee everyday aswell. Was a lovely bed and the clean shavings on top of the bottom solid layer was lovely and thick that my pony never went through. Then I had 2 stable mats at the front. Ive recently moved and now have massive stables so am having to go back to straw but I used to love my shavings bed
 
i really really hate jst a scattering of shavings, makes everything smell of pee including your boots and chaps eugh!!!! i really cant imagine it being at all comfortable for the horse to roll on bare mats. We have very deep beds and muck out properly every day.
 
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