Non edible alternatives to straw pellets

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Lacuna

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So I bought some packs of straw pellets to use (initially successfully) with my 2 ponies. Used straw pellets base with old straw on top with the view to just moving over to just the pellets.

First Road bump has been that I topped up the mares bed for the first time after a week or so as she's pretty wet and the git decided that the pellets were more yummy than her haylage. This is after I had wetted them before adding to the bed.

After a few false starts of Mixing them more thoroughly into the bed I eventually chucked her back out when it became apparent she wasn't going to leave them alone. Luckily its pretty dry otherwise would have been more reluctant to do it.

Any ideas with anything I can put on top of the pellets whilst they break down or should I just shovel them into the geldings bed and start her on something else? (Needs to be relatively compostable as I have them at home.
 
How broken down were they? Mine ate them if they were still remotely pellet shape or had any structure left but were then fine when it had gone dust like.
Otherwise I'd gibe wood pellets a go instead? I far preferred wood pellets anyway personally.
 
And sometimes the blighters will sample wood pellets....
Try:
Stable mats, close fitted, like a carpet, with chopped newspaper.
It decomposes better than shavings over time, gardeners even put layers of newspaper into compost bins - something to do with the ink? - and we used to buy as polythene-baled( could stack outdoors), cross-cut, unsold and surplus newspapers, which were recycled for animal bedding.
Very absorbent, warm, little dust, but throw a bucket of water over the wheelbarrow before emptying in a high wind!
 
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