Other options- bedding?

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Grey_Showjumper

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My horse currently is on a ridiculous amount of ventipulmin due to an irritation/respiratory problem.
He is currently on straw- deep littered...
I am very careful in trying to reduce the amount of dust:
soaked hay- we are changing this to "racehorse" hay which is virtually dust free
he is in a big open barn so very open air etc.
if i am putting new straw down i take him out, put it in and let it rest.
this does not seem to be helping so i am looking into changing his bedding...
shavings seem the most obvious option, but i am considering- partly due to price things like shredded paper, cardboard, hemp etc...
please could i have your views on these beddings or any alternatives you know of that are as dust free as possible...
also would i need rubber mats?
thanks
 
rubber mats + ecobed cardboard bedding is the most dust-free bedding imho, the cardboard does not break down to dust with use, unlike other bedding materials.
Ecobed have a 10% off offer on now, for orders placed in Feb for deliv in March...
 
just had a look- seems like a good option, what sort of pricings am i looking at?
also how compact are the bags? as in how many would i need to set up the bed and then top up with per week?
thanks
 
umm, on concrete, say 12'x12' stable, i'd say 6 bags to start, 2 per week from then on unless horse is filthy and in all the time. on rubber matting, 2 or 3 bags to start, then 1-2 a week, ditto. bags cost £5-£6 each roughly, depending on amount you have.
 
Hate to spoil the initiative but if you're in an open barn are there other stables with straw ? Surely changing your bedding won't have any effect (or much effect) if the other horses are still on straw ? Or am I missing something here ?
 
I would move him to the end next to a horse which is on sawdust, so as far from straw as i can get him really... plus horse beyond the one on sawdust is deep littered so hopefully it will be enough including all the other things i am going to do.
would be about £100 until he can be out 24/7 which is much better than ventipulmin at 2 1/2 scoops twice daily and £57 a pot! could cut that back a lot...
 
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