Stable bedding - any advice?

[sherbetdip]

I have recently bought two little shetlands. We've converted a barn into a stable they have constant access to and seem to be spending quite a lot of time in there - think it's because our paddock is completely waterlogged and muddy.

There was some leftover straw in the barn and I've been using that as bedding - but finding that both horses like to eat it. Also, mucking out is quite messy and I'm going to end up with a big muck pile I can't compost down. I've got to the end of the straw and am looking for a different type of bedding. I've looked at shavings, wood pellets, have heard about equisorb? rapport? and all kinds of others. Anyone have any advice about which is best?

Also I've been replacing the leftover straw every day as it's got really wet - how often will I need to clean out the stable completely on wood pellets/shavings etc? Thanks for any advice.

 

[L&M]

Tbh any bedding you use will create a muck pile, and although straw will take up more space it is very quick to rot down compared to other beddings.

For more absorbent beddings, wood pellets have a good reputation.

 

[MotherOfChickens]

straw pellets-twice as absorbent as wood pellets and will rot down far quicker, also won't rob the soil of nitrates while rotting down like wood products will. I am also advertising bagged, fresh manure on gumtree and have a waiting list of people for it. just watch the wee ones don't try and eat it-best to damp it down and break it down before they go in there.
I skip out all week and do a big muck out once a week. I use a bag in each box weekly.