EQUISORB- Anyone use it?

[clairencappelli]

I am currently using shavings and use 2 bales a week and i put a layer of megasorb underneath ( just use 1/2 a bag a week ). I take the week out weekly and poos daily.

I wanted to try and make my mucking out easier but didnt like hemcore or easibed etc. I bought a bale of equisorb yesterday and laid it down ontop of my shavings bed.

It says on the website you throw less away so you save that way. At first it i couldnt see how it would be economical as it didnt go far but today when i mucked out true to its word i threw out the poo and only had 1/2 a wheelbarrow ( usally its a full one! ). When i dumped it on the muckheap i saw there was a lot more poo and a lot less bedding.

Im thinking will add some more at the rate of 2 a week instead of the shavings and see how cost and time effective it is.

If anyone uses it do they mix it with shavings or use it on its own and how much do you use a week?. It doesnt move so much as shavings and seems to settle better even tho ive only used a bag so how does a full bed of it work?.

Be really good to hear who uses it and how you manage your bed and how much you use.

thanks in advance.

 

[Shipley]

I use it I use a bale a week approx. It wastes a lot less due it not sticking to everything. At the moment I am taking the wet out daily but in the summer I took the wet out once a week and only took a wheelbarrow on wet days and a skip of poo daily. at the moment I take 2 skips out a dady he is a wet horse too. the only thing I find if you leave the bed down for the week it gets quite compact and does not look like there is much in so i turn the banks etc. every few days

 

[Angua2]

I usually have to start a brand new bed when out winter fields shut, so from an empty stable, and on rubber mats, I use a bag a week from November to february when I find that I am drowning in bed, and then it is usually one bag every 2 weeks. Due to time constraints I deep litter and take out one skip full of poo a day ( 2 if they have had to stay in) and take out wet every week

 

[clairencappelli]

It does sound like i would maybe only need one a week but im prepared to use 2 should i need them.

I was quite surprised to see that it was mostly poo with a light coating of the bedding on when i dumped it!.

Althought i dont take the wet out daily what i do is to skim the top layer or bed off and throw the bed up the walls to make sure i havent missed any poopies.

I found today when mucking out they rolled down the banks eaiser and much eaiser to find.Do you think this would be ok to stop the bed compacting too much making it less heavy?. I can mix in the odd bag or 1/2 bag of shavings to make it a tad lighter.

It does seem nice to throw less bedding away and as it was only 1 bale that went on i assume when the bed gets build up a bit more id be taking less and less out?

 

[Shipley]

Yes that would be enough to keep it lighter. My friend mixed with shavings and it did not really work. I find it a lot cheeper than shavings too. It can be a little difficult to sweep in the wet outside

 

[Stoxx]

Oh shush all you lucky people that can get hold of Equisorb. I can't and am now on rubber with shavings and I don't like shavings!!!!

 

[alicedove]

I call it aquamax I use it and muck out very quickly

 

[AmyMay]

I used it last year for Amy - who was very, very clean.

Expensive, innadequate, and would never use it again.

Back on shavings with Thumper - who is hidiously dirty, but hey ho.

 

[Shipley]

Where in Essex are you? I am in essex too. PM if you prefer

 

[Angua2]

ifield... where abouts are you? as there are one or two suppliers that do Jopack, which is basically the same stuff!

 

[Stoxx]

In the Ingatestone area....... I can't believe everyone can get it!!!

 

[Bert&Maud]

I've used it for about 5 years. Like the others I pick up the droppings each day, and take out the wet once or twice a week, my horse is very wet. It seems to move quite a bit when you make a whole new bed of it, but is quite secure once it's settled down. I think they are less messy on it if you don't disturb the bits that aren't wet. Because it's so absorbent the floor dries very quickly as well. If you've got room and time for a muck heap, it composts brilliantly and is in much demand in our village for manure. When I first started using it it was quite difficult to get hold of so I ordered a pallett direct from the wholesalers, but can get it locally these days.

 

[Angua2]

um.... I thought ingatestone did it...... will have a think. you could always come over to the epping area to get some lol

 

[Stoxx]

Nope, they do hemcore, easibed (think that's what it is called) and shavings.
Had this been about a month ago I would have... it's just now the matting is down I'm not sure it would work that well. I liked it to deep litter as then it didn't move around. I've been trying to have what I call a half bed of shavings, but I'm getting fed up of it as his rugs are starting to get that 'wee' smell to them, which I can't stand. So looks like as of tmrw we will have a full bed again!!

 

[clairencappelli]

I think i will get some more and keep adding it ontop of my shavings. If it starts to get heavy i will mix in the odd bag or half bag of shavings in to make it lighter.

Speedgate sell it for 6.75 a bag a place nearby sells it for 6.89 but i have found a company that will deliver it free for 6.74. I think i will go get another few bags this weekend and if i find im still throwing less away and taking less time mucking out i will order some in.

Thanks peeps- this forum is very good for getting help and advise becuae it has so many users.

What do you all pay for your equisorb? Do the above prices seem about right?

 

[Halfstep]

I use it and LOVE it. Best bedding ever. I pay £7.25 per bale for it, but if I bought in bulk it would be cheaper. I use a bale a week, sometimes get away with a bale a fortnight. I take out only dropping every day, and lift the bed once a week. My horse is quite clean though. It makes a lovely deep, warm bed and doesn't smell at all. Brilliant bedding.

 

[clairencappelli]

Great madmare- thanks for replying. Im going out 1st thing tomo and filling up my car hehe. I shall do a full muckout this weekend lay the bed and put 2 bales on this to give it a good start then add it as i need to.

I want a warm and inviting bed because my horse suffered a nasty field injury this year back in april and had surgery back in july. She is now turned out during the day but i want to encourage her to lay down at night and take the weight off it. If the bed moves about less she is less likely to knock her fetlock on the floor. She does have rubber matting down just at the frount ( 2 large 4x6 mats ) but i wouldnt like a whole stable of matting.

She isnt the dirtiest horse in the world but isnt the cleanest either so somewhere inbetween. Im prepared to pay out and use 2 a week but it does sound like 1 bag may be sufficient once the bad has setteld down.

It seems in general that its a good choice- i guess there only one way to find out.

 

[cellie]

I use megazorb because my horse is filthy and wees alot .Anybody have a opinion on which product is best.

 

[clairencappelli]

Cellie i use megazorb under my shavings as its very very absorbant and will continue to use it under the equisorb. It forms a good base when wet but i would imagine when it sticks to poo youd be throwing lots away?

I use 1/2 a bag a week under my shavings just to soak up the wet so that will stay the same but ill just add more equisorb.

 

[cellie]

Thanks.Will look into it,actually I dont throw much away sounds horrible but the pooh stays quite dry on a clean bed and you shake the megazorb off.Its just expensive but much better than smelling bad!!!!!!!

 

[clairencappelli]

Megazorb smells heavenly doesnt it.

My horse is out now during the day but she has been on box rest from april-oct and its been a real god sent i can tell you.

Ill let you know how i get on with the megazorb base and equisorb top.

 

[cellie]

Sounds familiar we are just coming back from tendon injury and megazorb helps when you spend half your time in stable.

 

[KatB]

I deep litter on equisorb. Fab stuff as sits nicely and doesnt move. Briliant for my horse that likes o pace wet into his bed!!! Only criticism is can get a bit "heavy" but makes such a nice bed and is so easy too deal with I forgive it

 

[clairencappelli]

Thanks katb

.

Can you tell me how much you use weekly, how you manage it and how much you pay for your if you dont mind me asking?.

Trying to establish how much i will use

 

[claireross]

I love Equisorb, but did have problems with ordering it. I swapped to Auboise but it was no were near as good. I use 1 bale every other week for my daughters pony.

 

[YellowBoots]

I deep litter it (Alone, without shavings) and take the wet out once a month or so. It forms a very nice bed- solid and cushiony. I take out the droppings and add about half a bag per week.

Can't stand the smell of megazorb!