Remember the thread about how long it takes you to muck out?

[kerilli]

Does any liquid seep under the matts at the wall. How easy is it to trim?

I've never used cardboard bedding, is it just like plain cardboard cut up? Does the wind blow it about the place.

I trimmed the mats with a jigsaw, easy enough to do, took me a few hours to do 3 stables. I made sure they're a very snug fit though, hence the wet doesn't seep under. If I didn't have the mats I couldn't have the beds like this, the horses would be skinning themselves on the concrete etc... imho only v v deep straw, properly laid, can prevent that.
Yes, it's just clean cardboard, chopped up small - no smell, absorbent, warm. It doesn't blow around (unlike paper, which drove me crackers). I tried wood pellet bedding this summer but it was really gritty/dusty, plus the thought of having frozen beds in winter... ugh. Shavings break down to dust with use, as do the wood pellets I think.

 

[MrsMozartletoe]

I have two like that! (Interestingly, they are both chestnuts). When my old mare was on a full shavings bed it could take me an hour to muck out if I wanted to remove every single bit of mashed dropping. So I opted for the same solution as you, although using Megazorb instead of shavings. Easy peasy and very quick!

As an aside, I have also tried Ecobed and didn't really like it.

Maybe it's a chestnut thing!

 

[kerilli]

Erm, grooming, bathing, foot care, plaiting, bandaging, managing a muck heap...

Thanks for putting the link for the tool btw. I too think the vids are great.

Thanks for the ideas. We've done another couple which are up on youtube now, will work on the other topics you suggested.