Changing bedding on full livery.

[brooksan]

I'm looking for some advice. On my yard we have one full livery. Every horse is currently kept on shavings provided by the YO including the livery. This is included in the livery package. The livery horse is very large and very wet and as a result the owner of the horse has come to the conclusion that her shavings bed is just not doing the trick and is unhappy having to pay for extra bales to have the bed kept to a standard that she like. When she asked if she could provide her own wood pellet bedding and move onto that. The YO has thrown a wobbly and doesn't want to do that even though her current shaving supply is low and it would be the perfect time for the livery to change bedding. What would you do in this situation? Is the YO being hard work or should it just be accepted that she is not allowed to change bedding?

 

[ihatework]

Ultimately it’s the YO prerogative, but it might be worth trying to find a compromise.

Given it’s the YO mucking out then they might not like working with WP, which is understandable.

Why not suggest a base of WP or WP in the wet spots with shavings over the top? See how that suggestion is met.

 

[Goldenstar]

Buy extra bedding yes but if the yard owner does not want to change type I think the owner will have to put up with it .

 

[PurBee]

Pellets are superior for soaking up pee better than shavings....so im surprised a YO hasnt seen its far cheaper and saves time to have a pellet base and shaving topping, than just use shavings.

I did an experiment with my 2 sharing 1 large open bedded stable (2 sharing means it gets stomped on more, and they go in and out as they please)- when using 100% shavings i was taking out a full wheelbarrow of drenched shavings daily, and 1 barrow poop daily.
So every other day was adding 1 bale of shavings - around 3-4 bales per week. Time=30 mins daily and cost @30 euros/week.

I switched to wood pellet base, shavings on top - now all i have to do is daily take out the poop, tidy up the shaving topping, and only once a week dig out the wet pellet base = 2 wheelbarrows - and replace with around 4 bags pellets and 1 bag shavings. Time = 10 mins daily - Cost 20 euros/week. (Pee dig-out day 30 mins)

So with shavings = 3.5 hours weekly to muck out & cost @€30 in shaving per week.
Pellets = 1.5 hours weekly muck out & Cost @€19.40 in pellets and shaving top per week.

I’ve saved 2hrs per week and a tenner too, AND muck heap is far smaller than just on shavings alone.

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Pellets are superior for soaking up pee better than shavings....so im surprised a YO hasnt seen its far cheaper and saves time to have a pellet base and shaving topping, than just use shavings

You may say that, but as a YO I dont use them and wouldnt want 1 horse on my yard with them.
For what its worth, I'm not a fan of some shavings brands either.
Aubiose is very effective and hemp.
As others mention above, its YOs choice.

 

[PurBee]

You may say that, but as a YO I dont use them and wouldnt want 1 horse on my yard with them.
For what its worth, I'm not a fan of some shavings brands either.
Aubiose is very effective and hemp.
As others mention above, its YOs choice.

pellets have some downsides so i cant understand some not liking them, mainly the dustiness for COPD risk. Why dont you like them?

I’d love to try hemp too, it’s 18 euros a bag in ireland...ouch!

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

pellets have some downsides so i cant understand some not liking them, mainly the dustiness for COPD risk. Why dont you like them?

I’d love to try hemp too, it’s 18 euros a bag in ireland...ouch!

I don't like them to handle and had to deal with a new one in friends yard who colicked as ate them, the dust was dreadful. The Aubiose is far better in all aspects imho, decent bed to look at too.

 

[brooksan]

Ultimately it’s the YO prerogative, but it might be worth trying to find a compromise.

Given it’s the YO mucking out then they might not like working with WP, which is understandable.

Why not suggest a base of WP or WP in the wet spots with shavings over the top? See how that suggestion is met.

Thank you, just needed some perspective as I've not been on many yards and am still learning how they operate. Thank you for your advice X

 

[brooksan]

Buy extra bedding yes but if the yard owner does not want to change type I think the owner will have to put up with it .

Thank you, had a suspicion that might be the case but haven't been on enough yards to know

 

[brooksan]

You may say that, but as a YO I dont use them and wouldnt want 1 horse on my yard with them.
For what its worth, I'm not a fan of some shavings brands either.
Aubiose is very effective and hemp.
As others mention above, its YOs choice.

Thank you for your perspective. I've not been on many yards myself so am still learning how they operate. Thank you for your advice

 

[Wishfilly]

Is there a compromise of another type of bedding? It may be that the YO doesn't like wood pellets, but would consider something else- worth asking!

 

[criso]

It's a tricky one especially if it's not just cosmetic and there are health issues. There has to be some flexibility even if wood pellets are a no go.

I had a very wet one and shavings just didn't work for him and I ended up with constant thrush even with 4 bags of Hunters a week. And we were mucking out twice a day. He was on livery and either myself or my sharer would do a second muck out in the evening I tried a few things ending up with wood pellets which were cheaper and sorted his feet out.

Mine then started developing allergies to wood based bedding - all types and ended up having to be on Straw for the rest of his life. Straw worked well for him too as it was cheap and you just took the middle out and replaced every day.

Without seeing the bed, none of us can say if the horse owner is being unreasonable and expecting too much in which case the yard owner may be getting fed up which is why they don't want to compromise on the wood pellets. I was on one yard where one person was close to suffering with OCD. I am not using a health condition lightly. Nothing would have met the standards wanted.

Or if as in my case the situation with shavings was not healthy or sustainable in which case an alternative needs to be found and if the issue is the YO just doesn't like pellets in which case a discussion of possible options and some research into which work best with wet horses.

 

[Pinkvboots]

I can understand the yo in that if they allow 1 person to change bedding other liveries will expect the same, maybe a compromise would be to use wood pellets underneath the shavings, I know people that do this to save on shavings cost and they can keep the bed drier.

 

[sherry90]

I’m on full livery and we have two bedding a week included. Mine needs three. I pay the extra. Wood pellets are very dusty, horrible to get up when wet/heavy and I ended up needing more anyway making it no more economical. We can use our own bedding if we wish but removal is £2 a extra week.