Shavings or Hemp??

[pocket]

I usually have Ralph on rubber matting and a shavings bed, but whilst I've been recovering from an op on my knee, Ralph has been on full livery.

The matting was in the stable when I moved to the yard and I initially took it out and disinfected the stable. I've managed to do this on a few occasions over the past 3 years. The matting is the type that comes in sections as opposed to large sheets. With age, they have now worn and the things that keep them together no longer work so well.

Over the past few weeks, I have noticed that the matting keeps coming up and moving around. The girls that are doing him are having problems. So, I have decided to take it out and just have a really deep bed. What do others do.....hemp or stick with shavings.

Ralph is 16.2 and round.......so which do you think is better? He suffers with COPD so straw is not an option

 

[Spot_the_Risk]

Was talking to Bliss bedding last week, and they reckon their straw based bedding is fine for COPD.

We sell more miscanthus than shavings these days, it rots down better on the muck heap, and as it's a crop, there should never be a problem with supply, unlike shavings, which are hard to get in stock at times.

Can't give you a personal opinion as ours live out.

 

[SirenaXVI]

I use Bliss, much less dusty than anything else I've used - and smells nice too

 

[scotsmare]

I use shavings and love them.

 

[CheziBrown]

We use auboise at our new yard - i'm a big lover of straw but they all have rubber matting down in their stable and auboise on top.

 

[piebaldsparkle]

I know two horses who have presented COPD like symtoms, when bedded on Hemp, but both are now on shavings and fine. It has put me off using Hemp TBH. So am sticking with rubber and shavings, but would use the dust extracted straw if I couldn't get shavings.

 

[the watcher]

neither - I find chopped rape straw to be the most dust free bed

 

[JSL]

I don't like hemp at all - although that's just my personal preference. I go for shavings over any other type of bedding any day of the week!

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

I love Aubiose!!!!!!!!!! have tried straw and shavings but am now a total convert - my horses are in temp stables in a stone barn with earth floor and the Aubiose is brilliant at keeping the top dry and stable whilst absorbing the damp at the bottom.

Was a straw fan until horse who munches it got impaction from it

Straw was OK til it gave him a cough.....

 

[pocket]

Oh, not heard of hemp exacerbating copd, will steer clear as I dont want that, will stick with my shavings and see how he goes without mats, thanks everyone