So what is the cheapest bedding….

[dominobrown]

Or way of bedding down horses. Don’t say straw, up here it is brought up from “doon sooth” I doubt them lot will have a lot to spare.
rubber mats and something? Only 2 out of 9 stables are fitted with them though. Was on Wood pellets last year but that’s not a cheap option now!

 

[HappyHollyDays]

Aubiose. Not cheap to buy and set up stables initially but it is super absorbent and brilliant for deep littering. Warm and dry and not dusty like wood pellets.

 

[Highmileagecob]

I'm using Houghton's Purebed bough straight from the manufacturer, with wood pellets in the pee spot.

 

[maya2008]

Sawdust from the joiners/mill. They used to leave bags outside for people to take near my old field. Saved them the cost of disposing of it. Dusty, but we used it for deep litter and it was fine once laid.

 

[Britestar]

Laysoft seems to be the cheapest to buy at my work.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Sawdust from the joiners/mill. They used to leave bags outside for people to take near my old field. Saved them the cost of disposing of it. Dusty, but we used it for deep litter and it was fine once laid.

I’ve wondered this, for underneath other bedding. Just not sure if it will mix In and make the whole bed dusty

 

[Rowreach]

Does anyone rate flax bedding? It’s suddenly become available locally. I normally use a mix of wood pellets (made locally) and shavings (made even more locally), but nothing is cheap.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

I’ve wondered this, for underneath other bedding. Just not sure if it will mix In and make the whole bed dusty

I tried using sawdust in the wee spot underneath straw in an attempt to save money until I noticed it had gone very white as though it had combusted. Never used it again and went back to proper wood pellets.

 

[chaps89]

Does anyone rate flax bedding? It’s suddenly become available locally. I normally use a mix of wood pellets (made locally) and shavings (made even more locally), but nothing is cheap.

Pretty much every commercial yard I’ve ever worked on seems to use it.
I find it’s quite slippery when it first goes down so needs mixing into existing bedding.
Doesn’t seem particularly dusty.
I’d say aubiose would be more absorbent but it seems ok absorbency wise.
I’ve only ever seen it used as semi-deep litter.
I’m definitley quicker mucking it out than shavings.
I’m assuming it must be cost effective as it always seems to be in unbranded bags and bought in bulk, and as I say I’ve seen it used at a few yards now.

 

[dixie]

Sawdust from the joiners/mill. They used to leave bags outside for people to take near my old field. Saved them the cost of disposing of it. Dusty, but we used it for deep litter and it was fine once laid.

We’ve started using this too. It’s not massively dusty and looks Pet much like wood pellets when they’ve broken up. Am planning to top with shavings in the winter.
at £1per bag, it’s worth a try ?