Flax bedding- Yay or Nay????

[MillionDollar]

I was thinking of using flax bedding for my livery yard, as it has many benefits (easy to store, bio degradeable, free muck removal), but wondered how you would feel if you were on a livery yard with flax??

 

[KatB]

Our yard has just chamged over to Flax, and although few people wanted it to start with, all the DIY's are after it now after seeing what sort of bed it produces. Think there is alot of people that are not sure exactly what it is, which causes the concern over using it. IMO its nicer than shavings, and less dusty.

 

[Super_Kat]

I have 2 horses on it, both messy buggers and all student liverys get 1 bale a week to top up an entire bed (bearing in mind once I have taken the wee out, once a week, I loose 1/3 of my bed so one bale is nowhere near enough to top it up) I can't afford to buy extra bales (already paying £90 p/w for 2 horses). My next plan of action because the college is taking the piss is to try and get some 2nd hand rubber mats (if you have any for sale PM me!!!!!!) and just have a teeny weeny bed which I think will work well for messy horses. For cleaner horses flax is an ideal bedding.

kat
xx

 

[the watcher]

Mine are both on this and it is really quick and easy to muck out.After a few days the bed settles down and holds together better than shavings, don't take all the wet out though

 

[Rambo]

Our yard went over to it recently......and very quickly went back to shavings again

For a messy horse it's bl**dy awful stuff....and sticks to everything too. YUCK!

 

[meandmyself]

Which one are you planned on getting? I think there are a few brands.

I've worked with equisorb, and it's very good bedding. Light, easy to muck out, forms a nice solid bed if you leave the wet in the base, and is still dry on top.

 

[TGM]

Flax is my favourite bedding - I use it on rubber mats. Big advantage for me is the way it rots down easily.

 

[KatB]

Yep were using Equisorb now, and finding it really good. Its mixed with shavings at the mo, so shavings banks and equisorb bed.

 

[Tia]

I love flax bedding most of all - but we can't get it over here. I always used it in conjunction with rubber stable matting - worked a treat!

 

[MillionDollar]

Thanks everyone for your input!!!

I'm thinking of the Equisorb, they do a very good deal! Plus they do trials where you hardly pay anything, so when i do start my livery yard i think i'll give it a go!

 

[S_N]

I would love to use flax, but it's just too expensive for my pocket atm! I use rubber matting and shavings, but not proper horse shavings! I go and collect them from the saw mill! I only use a scattering on top of the matting now - just too messy with mare and foal otherwise!