Minimum bedding depth + wearing shoes away

[Hanz]

I have heard there has been a minimum depth for horses bedding, introduced by Defra, does anybody know what it is?

Also my mare has just moved yards and her stable looks onto the T/O fields, on a weekeday she is the first out as I go down before school but on a weekend she is usually about the last, she paws the ground next to her stable door, would it be safe to whack a bit of rubber matting down at the front of her door to stop her wearing her shoes down? They are really bad, our yard is very strict and they may complain about her tripping etc. What are your opinions?

 

[_daisy_]

ive not heard anything like that. Mine are on rubber matting and have full shavings beds so it wouldnt affect me anyway.

Personally I would put rubber mat at the front of her stable - it wont sound half as bad when she paws and will help stop the wear on her shoes.
Is there any chance someone could turn her out at a weekend earlier so she isnt the last in?

 

[Hanz]

Yes but I have to wait for my mam to get up ETC and she has quite a demanding job so, likes to get down there for about 9 instead of 6. She does it anyway though.

 

[_daisy_]

ah right I understand. I would get a mat down for her and see if it helps

 

[piebaldsparkle]

Several horses at my yard have just one mat at the stable door(plus normal bed), so the horses aren't standing on concrete and works really well.

 

[pottamus]

Yes I would get a good thick mat down and perhaps look at putting a bit across the inside of your door too (in case she starts banging that instead). Also, make sure she has plenty of hay left for the morning to keep her busy.

 

[AmyMay]

The easiest solution to your little horse pawing the doorway of her stable, would be to still get to the yard at a reasonable time in the morning. That way you are not disrupting her routine, and thereby not causing her to stress and paw..........

 

[polyphonic]

could someone not pop a haynet in for you in the morn until you get there???. i dont get t ot he yard till about 8.30 on a weekend and a friend pops one in to keep him quiet until i get there

 

[mad_egg]

With bedding I've always been taught to stick the fork in and make sure the bed is thick enough so as the fork doesn't touch the floor - I can't see defra investigating horses' beds.

If it is not at all possible to get there at a normal time couldn't someone else put her out or give her some food?

 

[sleepingdragon10]

Defra?Minimum bedding depth?
Someone's pulling your leg there hun!

 

[joanne1920]

i can only think of one thing as to where that defra has brought in a minimal bedding clause..... the new Animal Welfare Act coming into force this summer,

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2006/ukpga_20060045_en.pdf

http://www.rspca.org.uk/servlet/Satellit...d=1154077755704


every person who has any animal must offer a duty of care...

as a shop owner that sells fish, myself i will have to keep written records about the care i provide to the fish before sale.
if needed i can put a thread up about the new law and what it will mean for horse owners... secondary legislation will be added at a later date to include licencsing of livery yards...

 

[nomini]

Putting a piece of rubber matting by door is the best thing i have ever done, both horses scrape (sp?) feet etc. Minimises noise and shoes being worn so quickly

 

[joanne1920]

http://www.redwings.org.uk/welfarebill.htm
another linkabout the welfare act...
as regard the scraping you could give her extra hay to keep her going or id try rubber matting ...

 

[aimeerose]

i'd wack some rubber down and then maybe ask someone to throw a slab of hay over the door in the morning - prehaps when feeds are put in?

 

[dwi]

What about horses kept on rubber matting with nothing on top? That presumably wouldn't meet a mimum bedding depth but can be a very good solution for horses with specific health needs

 

[Forget_Me_Not]

See I dont get it why does rubber matting without beeding mean your horse suddenly wont get cast with out banks?

 

[dwi]

Daisy's livery yard is attached to a RS where none of the horses have any bedding at all. Owner is very experienced, highly respected horsewoman in the local community and if she thinks that it is safe I am happy to take her opinion.

Daisy doesn't have banks for health reasons, she is prone to a cough when stabled but it has completely disappeared since I removed her bedding and now just give her a small corner of straw to soak up the wee.

She has never been cast and none have any of the horses on the yard

 

[Forget_Me_Not]

I I don't think i would personaly keep a horse in without banks or any bed. Does your horse cough even on paper/goodshaving/bedmax/flax etc?

 

[mitchellk]

I think that box size is a factor when it comes to banks, having delt with cast horses in the past I have to say the banks made sod all difference in most cases!- just my experience although my 17hh ISH is in a 12x12 box which I feel is a little snug for him and I sleep easier knowing that he has them

 

[dwi]

I'm not allowed paper and yes she does cough on good shavings

I appreciate that many people wouldn't keep their horse without bedding but she is happy, healthy and I am acting on the advice of someone whom I respect

 

[merlinsquest]

To be honest I keep both horses on rubber matting, mine on a good thick straw bed as he has an arthritic fetlock and I hope it keeps his legs warm....... banks all round!!

Loan pony is on matting with a shavings bed at the back of the box with banks (which she pees in) and a thin layer for a bed (which she poos on) and she chooses to sleep at the front of the box under her water buckets where there is no bedding!!!

Strange pony!!

 

[merlinsquest]

Banks look so cosy!!!

But wont actually stop a horse getting cast.... might give them some purchase if they do but IMO wont stop it.

My friends horse was in a huge stable with huger banks and still got cast on a regular basis.

I go from big bed with big banks to skinny bed with little banks when i get bored of playing 'hunt the poo'!!!

But he has full rubber matting so only cosmetic really.