Hemcore or shavings for rubber matting?

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Dovorian

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I'm changng our pony onto rubber mats as he is very wet and dirty on straw - the muck heap is growing like billyo.
What is most effective as a 'minimal' bedding? I have shavings but as he is so dirty would hemcore or something else be better?
 
Hemcore would be better if he's really dirty - but not as a 'minimal' bedding. Its more effective in a deep litter type system - which you could still do with your rubber mats.
If you want minimal bed then you'd probably be better with shavings - as it would be more economical & a bit easier.

I have a dirty gelding on rubber mats & go for the minimal shavings option. It's quick to muck out - as you take all the base out, pull the small banks down to make a new base & just replace the small banks. Take about 15 mins incl going up the muck heap!

Another option would be the wood pellets - I'm considering it but no one else wants them so would be a 'lone choice'!
 
I use wood pellets.
I have 4 all 16hh plus.
They are on rubber matting and up to this year used hemp based bedding either equisorb or aubiouse over the rubber matting.
This got REALLY expensive so this year I moved to wood pellets and find they make a nice bed which is dry and there is no smell !.
I water the bed when I set it up but add dry pellets 1 x 15 kilo bag per horse per week after that.(They are out 7:30 until 4:00 every day).They are cheaper to buy and I was using 2 bales per horse per week before so a saving all around
They also seem to rot down well.
I am a convert and wouldn't go back to other bedding
 
I am currently trying different bedding to go over my rubber mats for my very messy gelding and so far have found aubiose the best, though it is the dearest.
 
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I am currently trying different bedding to go over my rubber mats for my very messy gelding and so far have found aubiose the best, though it is the dearest.

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ditto this after extensive trials of everything else on the market my messiest baby horse is on aubiose very successfully. Although not as a particularly minimal bed over the mats.
If your going very minimal with the bed you cant beat shavings really.
 
I tried everything and now use Ecomax Horse Bedding. Wood pellets definately the best for my wet messy mare on rubber mats and Ecomax the best of the wood pellets and believe me, I've tried everything and you won't believe the difference in all the pellets. Only costing £6.00 per week as I only use one bag a week. Shavings was costing £28 a week and Liverpool Wood Pellets the cheapest of the other pellets but no where near as absorbent, so ended up costing more at £10 per week. Very happy as Ecomax bed nice pale yellow and I know that there are no nasties in there as it's made from Virgin wood pulp with no chemicals and no recycled wood. I thought recycled = good, but not where bedding is concerned. It can include old pallets (plus whatever chemicals has spilled onto them) and hardwoods which can damage horses respiratory tracts.
BEWARE wood pellets that are intended as bio-fuel (including Liverpool) as these can have stuff in that's dangerous to horses.
 
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