Paper or Shavings

[JenTaz]

I am moving to Aberystwyth for uni in september, and have started looking at yards, the one i think i would really love to be at only offers paper or shavings for bedding, and it has to be bought through the yard,

having never had any experience using either i was wondering if anyone could help me decide which would be best?

my horse will be stabled overnight and is fairly clean, would be looking to getting rubber mats aswell, as have always been used to huge straw beds, there is a price difference per bag of £2 not much but as a student it will all add up,

what is everyones experience on paper and shavings as bedding?

have done a search on the forum but didnt come up with the answers to my questions

 

[Goldenstar]

We had a horse who was allergic to shavings and so we used paper I loved it easy to care for vety dust free and not expensive but no matter what I did it blew off the muck heap and drove my OH mad when he found it in the garden but that should not matter on a yard.

 

[ofcourseyoucan]

it would have to be shavings for me. paper is a nightmare, turns into a mushy mess and bits fly all over the place! if your horse is quite clean then shavings will be quicker, and smell fresher than paper. you need a good shavings fork (like the fynalite one) and nugget pick by hand!! start with a good full bed as small beds are false economy. i have full beds with banks, muck out properly every day, skip out as req and n9rmally only use 1 bale a week (helf on wed, half on sat) bed stays big and clean and easy to muck out.

 

[Bluejazz]

Definitley go for shavings. I have a horse on paper and its not great to work with. It doesn't absorb water like shavings does and it blows everywhere . It is more like working with confetti! Chose shavings as you can also make a better bed with it. Shavings are more expensive than paper. However as the paper doesn't absorb the wet, my rugs get very dirty very quickly.

 

[Grumpy Jewel]

Whilst being really poor a couple of years ago I 'diluted' my shavings with home made shredded paper. When I mucked out and fluffed it up it looked so cozy but my disgusting mare had trashed it by the morning. It kind of financially made it worthwhile (straw is my preference but wasn't allowed it there) as the otherhalf got the paper from his office and reduced the amount I was spending on throwing shavings away!

 

[nosenseofdirection]

Unless you want last week's news stamped on your horse's belly and a papier mâché muck heap, I would go for shavings. But my preference would be strae

 

[nosenseofdirection]

Sorry, straw, stupid phone

 

[JenTaz]

thanks for all the replies looks like it will be shavings, my usual preference is straw but the yard i really want to go to dont offer straw as a bedding