First Straw Bed

[StarlightSuper]

OK, I have said (somewhere) I am soon to hopefully start loaning a rising 6 year old Haffy.

Owner has said he can be on straw or shavings but with the rising price of shavings, am going with straw.

As I understand it, this pony eats fresh straw so how am I going to cope when he gets to his new stable?? Is there some way I can stop him eating his bed on the first night??

 

[annewright]

I am the owner of a Haffy - for the last 3 winters - and as my OH is a farmer we have barns full of straw - so lucky me, free bedding. Yes he does eat the straw and I have never done anything to stop him and he is fine. I am sure he doesn't eat loads of it as I do feed him plenty of hay/haylage - also loads of that round the farm - but he always like to pick at the straw when first going into his bed.
Hope you have fun with your Haffy - they're great characters but make sure you are always boss and they will always respect that.

 

[Evil_Cookie]

Be carefull with them eating straw, as it can lead to impaction colic, if a lot of the bed is being eaten I would be tempted to change to shavings, or try spraying the bed with something that doesn't taste nice.

 

[Equus Leather]

You can spray it with a mild disinfectant to put them off.

 

[rebmw]

I spray my beds with a few drops of tesco antibacterial disinfectant (which is 55p for a litre bottle) mixed with water in an old fly repellent bottle which gives the beds a lovely summery smell! I find that particular disinfectant to not be too toxic but still stops both of mine eating their beds.