Horse box - to use shavings or not?

PucciNPoni

PucciNPoni

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I'm just wondering...is it better to use shavings on the floor of my new horse box or not? It's got a double wooden floor covered with very thick rubber mats - but I think my poor boy was desperate for a pee on the way home last time I had him out. But he wouldn't pee on the matting -- so reckon he'll pee on the bedding. Just worried that it might cause problems on the flooring?
 
I would be worried that unless it was a really deep bed, then wet shavings would be v slippy and would be a worse option than a horse bursting for a wee when unloaded. With ours we get them to wee when we whistle and have them wee before loading, if they don't need to go then then they can last the journey.
 
I'd bed it deep enough so that it'd keep the pee from splashing him...but I'm more concerned that the bedding might trap too much moisture in and make the floor rot. Hmmm, decisions....
 
I wouldn't want shavings as, depending on where your horse is being boxed to, you will get an awful mess at your destination with shavings being walked and blown everywhere. I like a straw base as it is inviting for the horse to walk into, doesn't blow everywhere, encourages staling, keeps poo neat and tidy if you know what I mean. Half a bale will give a thick covering over a 2-horse trailer or box and will last forever!
 
I use wood pellets in my horse box, only a shallow sprinkling. This allows the horses to wee and stops it splashing everywhere, also absorbs the moisture from any muck. It is, however, essential to muck out when you get back and lift the bedding to allow the floor to dry and prevent it rotting.
 
Wood pellets - these are 'drying' so will do your floor no harm

My horse thinks its fine to wee in the box, so a thin layer of wood pellet fluff (I took it from the stable in the made up form), stops the worst of it!
 
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