Stabling/Bedding ideas most welcome!!

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Derfette26

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My horse is a pure arab and he turned 27 early May.

Due to his age, his teeth are now expiring and can no longer eat hay, even struggling with grass too. He's out during the day and in overnight and is fed on TopSpec Fibre Mash with some Spillers fibre and balancer. The problem I've got now is unfortunately he is unable to stay out 24/7 but due to the fibre mash he's eating, I am now going through so much bedding as he's so wet!! He's on a bed of Snowflate Soft Chip and Bedmax mixed as this is the combination that seems to last the longest! Anyone got any ideas of anything else I could try, a bedding that's really absorbent?? Used to use wood pellets which worked well, but I think I must have the only horse that actually eats the pellets!!! He's on rubber matting. Would you even put him in a bare stable with just a little bedding in for him to pee on? Just concerned that because of his age he needs a bed to protect his joints?? HELP, it's starting to cost me a fortune!!
 
I use a thick base layer of shavings, with straw on top, when mine are in. Most of the wet seeps through the straw layer and is absorbed by the shavings, which I dig out and replace as and when needed - usually only once a week. Any wet or soiled straw is removed along with the droppings when skipping out, and then I top up the bed with fresh straw. The small ponies tend to eat a fair bit of theirs too!
 
I use chopped rape straw on top of mats. A deep bed with bankings. Remove droppings daily & wet once a week. Makes a lovely bed, don’t skimp, & rots down quickly on muck heap.
 
I would have him tested for Cushings. The most obvious symptom before my mare was diagnosed was her very wet bed.
Once she started the Prascend, her bed dried up.
 
Last edited:
Pearlsasinger said:
I would have him tested for Cushings. The most obvious symptom before my mare was diagnosed was her very wet bed.
Once she started the Prascend, her bed dried up.
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Hadn't even thought of that, presumed that it was due to his feed and only having soaked mash. Definately worth speaking with the vet though, thank you.
 
Just wanted to add NEVER put him in a bare stable with just a pee area at his age. The deeper the bed the drier it will stay but yes the cost will make your eyes water at the begining but it will average out.
 
I had a horse that ate his wood pellets. With the new bed I sprayed them with diluted washing up liquid and then each time I added a bag, I mixed some of the dirty stuff in and he never ate them again. Definitely the best for a wet horse imo
 
We use flax bedding (if you get a pallet it works out about £7 a bale so about the same as a bale of shavings) and my very wet mare who goes thru about 3+ bales of shavings a week goes thru 1-2 bales of flax a week. It's very similar to chopped straw or small shavings to muck out as its very short thin pieces
 
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