Help - Masterclass needed straw bed

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Gerilew

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Sorry for asking really dumb question but just cant get a good straw bed :( I'm sharing a horse with a friend who's been horse owner for over 10 years whereas i'm a newbie only come to horse ownership in last few years

She very nicely told me that my beds where too big so she gave me a few pointers and i thought i'd got the hang of things but been down tonight an her bed was perfect - she said my banks were all over the place and i just cant get them !!

Any tips would be greatly appreciated :)
 
size of a bed is down to personal taste. With straw I like one I would comfortably bed down on!
I chuck the whole thing around when mucking out, then get a flatish pad and work my way around the edges with a fork chucking up bits of straw as I go around until the banks are even and the height I want. Then I tap the top and inside edge with the fork to square it up. Then I level the bed itself down and sweep the front back so it's all square. 2 secs in and it is wrecked again but I like it smart to start with (we all have our faults!!).
Good luck!
 
For the banks is turn the fork round so its pointing down not parallel to the floor, and push the banks in towards the walls quite firmly, then go back turn it over and pat down, repeat as much as you have to to get square banks, this will leave a sort of dip between the banks and the main bed, use the fork to drag the main bed to fill that, its easiest with the fork upside down too and push it, then use the back of the fork to flatten the middle, a broom to square us the front and you are done :)
 
Ask your friend to show you exactly how she does the beds and how she would like you to do it, and then practice, practice, practice, you'll get it, no worries.:)

I have groomed for many owners and I swear each and every one liked their beds done a different way :o never mind that I'd been doing beds for 20 years...it was always one of the first things I asked. I even worked at one NH yard - way back in the mists of time, where we still had to plait straw across the doorways :eek: Mind, the same yard had us make our own wisps too ;)

Personally with my own stalls, I don't do banks at all, just throw straw down and level shavings.
 
i think we worked in the same NH yard ;) funnily enough i'm the same spent years doing beds making banks and rolling the doorways now, don't have sides at all in my boxes just flat shavings or straw

but if the horses owner likes sides i'd do them it gets easier and faster with practice, there's maybe a demo on you tube (there seems to be everything else!)
 
I like my bed at least fork deep, think you can stick fork in it and not hit the concrete. I deep litter now though so always have a thick base.

Then I have bankings which are another fork depth on top round the sides. Go round fairly quick skipping the straw up, then go back round smacking the straw along the side. Sometimes I give it a bosh on top as well if im in a fussy mood.

To get bed flat have the prongs down so the curve is outwards and go round the bed stabbing it in a bit (you will get the idea when you do it) just helps the straw lay better.
I dont sweep the front, straw all over for me, irritates me that the horse pulls it over swept bit in the morning.

Is it the banks that are too big?? You can never have tooo big banks personally :)

Hope that helps.

I havent had a stable for years until August, you will learn quick and get your own way.
 
a nice straw bed i would aim for a foot (12 inches/27 cm) on the floor and banks of 2 to 3 feet high and min 12 inches thick. fluff it all up and then pat it all down/in. depends if you have rubber underfoot. there is nio wrong or right in bedding it is all personal preference. i go on the basis would i like to sleep on it!!!!
 
its really hard to explain how to do it especially as everyone has different standards as long as your banks are thick enough about 1ft thick and about 2ft high they can be effective, its just putting the straw there patting it down and pushing it in with the back of the fork and then patting down again it should be fine, and as level as possible, for the bed as long as its at least a fork deep, so you cant hear the concrete when you put the fork in it should be fine i tend to do it so i know theres another few inches of straw under the fork, and the bed has to be flat and level, everyone has different standards too a straw bed
 
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