shavings vs straw

Straw. Cheaper, easier and quicker to muck out, and cleaner (one of my horses is really grim on shavings, but a doddle on straw). Only have one not on straw (he's on paper) due to a dust allergy, but would have him on straw if I could.
 
I love straw, sadly I have one horse with potential for lung probs and one who would eat his way through his bed!

Both are on shavings which are ok but wouldnt be my choice.
 
I was part loaning a horse on straw and i hated it because it took me ages to muck out ( don't know why though, just me being rubbish I think...), then got my own horsey and put him on shavings. I preferred it at first but then he became REALLY messy and he bed was always manky and took ages to muck out, and it cost a fortune. New pony was on straw (before going out 24/7) and I found I preferred that, it just seems a bit more natural, and it was quicker to muck out than shavings.

I think it depends how messy they are, shavings are nice if you've got a clean horsey but a nightmare if your horse is a tramp. Straw is cheap and easy!
 
I have no choice but shavings as Louis is hyper-allergic. He's on rubber matting a shavings. If he wasn't allergic though I'd have him on straw as it's cheaper and doesn't get as mucky as shavings.
 
At my yard, straw is free (well in the livery) but I won't use it..it is dusty, takes ages to muck out, makes enormous muck heaps and my greedy lot eat it..

on the other hand I can semi deep litter shavings, take off the droppings daily in under 5 minutes and tidy the top of the bed, generate not even a quarter of the muck for the pile and the horses don't eat it..it is also better for my COPD mare.
At weekends I dig out the wet, top up the beds and start again - still a quick job.

If you are thinking of going it alone (I think I read that somewhere) reducing the size of your muck heap will save clearance costs, and if you want one that will break down and be suitable for compost, use hemp or similar.
 
I use rubber matting & shavings.

I'm actually allergic to hay & straw (or rather the dust) so I don't really have a lot of choice.
 
We used to use shavings, but the yard we're on now includes ad lib straw in the livery fee, so we switched to that...and love it! It's gorgeous golden barley straw. I think it's much more comfortable and cosy for the horse - especially in the winter. And loads cheaper.
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I think shavings are easier to muck out though.
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Depends on horse and stable, my stables like 20x20 with full drainage, if I used shavings it would take say 50bales and becuase it asorbs it would counter the full dainage. Straw works well, takes seconds to take poos out, lift bed up and sweep out, little wee as dainage. However when I move to the barn with no drainage and 12x12 I will go on the chopped rape stuff? Its lovely to work with only a £5 a bag, very asbordant. I prefer this over shavings, if i was to use shavings it would have to be bed max, yellow page, lovely big chucks.
 
I have tried all sorts of different bedding combinations, love the look of straw and managed well provides a lovely deep warm bed down side is mine eat it which is not good for a horse prone to colic. Shavings are ok but I find them tedious to muck out when you have a full bed and I cannot stand deep or semi-deep litter system.

also tried hemp style bedding, it worked out expensive as I hated the semi-deep litter system so mucked it out like shavings!

Currently have mine on rubber with scattering of shavings, not ideal as rugs get can get smelly especially as have one very stinky tramp of a horse! Plus side of the rubber is it is kinder on their legs and joints with no worries about lying on concrete and capping elbows/hocks.

Did try Easibed when had one horse back from surgery. Did like that and coped well with it on a semi deep litter system, the only bedding I have managed like that.

Guess at the end of the day it is what works for you which can be dependent upon your situation for disposing of muck heap etc.
 
Always used Straw as it is a lot cheaper and easier, but had to swap to shavings this week as my horse has started coughing
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I keep mine on shavings as he is a nightmare on straw, makes me shudder at the thought of putting him on straw ever again !!!! the new one will also be on shavings when it arrives next week, keeps things simple that way
 
i love shavings, ive never had a problem with any of my 4 being mucky on shavings, I semi deep litter them (skip out the poo in the week and the rest at the week end. takes 5 mins in the week and half an hour at the weekends.
I also have one on easi bed as he has a severe dust allergy!
 
I just moved yards and ours offer either, although straw is included in the livery whilst shavings are extra; consequently, mine is on straw.

I much prefer it so far and I think Jack does and at the moment, he has no rug on (grey horsey!) and is staying considerably cleaner than he would ever have done on shavings. There beds are insanely deep though.

He does nibble on it, particularly during the afternoon before his dinner comes.. but its not enough to cause any concern and hes more prone to it when the bed has just been changed.

Im on full livery though so i dont have to much it out... however when i was on DIY, I tried both shavings and straw and stuck with straw.. found it much faster to muck out.
 
Depends on the stable floor! If there is one of those floors where everything drains away into the ground then shavings butif it's a concrete floor then I'd be torn between straw and flax.
 
I use straw, mostly because its cheaper and shavings get so dirty. I prefer using chopped straw though, my old yard had a chopper and the beds were much easier to muck out than normal straw.
 
I use shavings because we don't have room to store straw. I now struggle to muck out a straw bed as I am so used to shavings.
 
Mine ar both on straw which i like and easierly managed, BUT would love shaving but very expensive!!. My horses are very clean on straw and all most perfect on shaving, plus you don't smell of wee.......... as with straw.
Key to shaving is pick often and take out all wet every day and you can kept a fluffy bed, but if you have little time, straw would be better bet
 
Shavings and rubber mats. Quick and easy, have four to do at night, only down side is stable rugs get dirty, so hence mine stay in there turnouts.......
 
I'm lucky that boy is very clean in stable so I can deep litter on shavings - very quick for me to do in the morning and less waste. He used to be on straw but longer to muck out and more waste but bed looked more inviting..
 
I've done both. James started on straw and then after years i changed to shavings, but as I'm so fussy I found it took ages to keep it spotless and the once weekly lift took forever in my huge stable. when he got ill I put him back on straw and fell back in love with it. Cleaner, cheaper, easier to look after and warmer. He doesn't eat it or have dust allergies which is a bonus - I'm a straw advocat the whole way!!!
 
I use shavings for Inky as he was eating his straw bed. I poo pick everyday and only have to take the wet out every 3 weeks as he really is like mucking out a hamster!!! I have used Nedz Bedz on my previous horse which is chopped rape straw. I prefere this, it is cheaper than shavings and easier and less dusty but im affraid to try it now incase Inky starts to eat this with it being straw
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I much prefer shavings but as straw is included in our livery and is lovely quality I have partially changed to it. Horses are on rubber matting, with a couple of inches of shavings and then a full straw bed on top. The shavings soak up all the wee etc so no ammonia smell. Saves me a fortune!
 
Another one who prefers a semi-deep litter of shavings. Quick & easy to muck out & I much prefer it to straw! x x x
 
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