LWP being harmful for horses?

[dwi]

A couple of people have alluded to LWP having hardwood content and being bad for horses but not being specific and I wondered what the problem was.

I love mine, swopped about a month ago and its great bedding, be a shame to have to find something else.

How are they harmful as long as she doesn't eat them? Her rubber mats would be toxic if she ate them but in that she doesn't I've always assumed its okay.

 

[Thistle]

Best thing to do is ask LWP direct.

I believe some stables are made of hardwood and we still use those. I don't think hardwood is so absorbent though.

I use Woody Pet or Natures best.

 

[dwi]

How does it harm the horse though? LWP aren't going to come out and say its harmful because they must assume that it isn't.

I could use Woodypet or nature's best but for an extra £2.50 a bag I'd only do it if there was something wrong with LWP

 

[Donkeymad]

I doubt that LWP are selling tonnes of the stuff made especially for horses if there is anything dangerous in it.

 

[piebaldsparkle]

It states on their website that they are white wood pellets made from 100% untreated wood.

White wood would suggest to me that they don't use hard woods which are redder in colour (aren't they?).

I have no idea what the problem with hard wood is other than them not being absorbant.

Did they specify LWP or is it just some bio fuel wood pellets?

 

[Birker2020]

Redwood shavings are apparently harmful to horses as they are toxic, and are fatal to caged birds and other small mamals such as hamsters and chinchillas. I was led to believe (can't remember if told or read somewhere) that the horse accumulates the toxin through the sole of the foot. Dad has got me free shavings from the timber yard for the last eleven years (until recently due to the credit crunch). During this time I have had the odd bad of redwood mixed in with pine shavings, but never had a problem, but have found that as redwood is a hardwood it is not very good as a shaving based bed anyway apart from the risk of toxicity. I am pretty sure our horses aren't going to keel over if they have the odd bit of redwood mixed into the bed although if they do lie down I would imagine it would be like lying on a bed of nails!!