Straw Bedding

[Helga1980]

When I owned my last horse (10 years ago

) the majority of horses in my area where bedded on straw, these days it all seems to shaving or substitute with straw appearing to be viewed as some how evil!!

Aside from horses with breathing issues is straw really that bad?

 

[Caritas]

Not really, it cheap but absolutly stinks even if you muck out well the amonia in the urine stays in your clothes. Shavings do take a lot longer to muck out but they dont smell half as bad.

 

[Helga1980]

So if someone else was mucking out the stable it wouldn't be a problem??

 

[CastleMouse]

Well some horses eat straw, which can cause colic if the horse eats a large amount.

 

[eekmon]

Well I don't think straw is evil! I love my big srtaw bed, its cheap, warm, quick and easy to muck out, and rots down quicker than shavings!

It's a personal choice, and I choose to use it! Never mind whats 'in' or not if you want a straw bed have one!

 

[princesskelly]

well said malteaser_mon! i love my big warm straw too!! and i'm enjoying saving the money too!

 

[helenandshadow]

Most horses at my yard are on straw, i don't mind straw but prefer shavings because they're quicker and easier and less smelly to muck out, and deep litter on straw would be revolting!! (well with my mare anyway!!)

 

[Helga1980]

I like straw and my family always use to use it when we had horses before. I intend to use it when I get a horse now but had surprising reactions from some people when I mentioned this.

Wondered if there'd be some sort of 'discovery' recently that straw was a serious no-no!!

 

[kerrylou123]

i have horses on both straw and shavings, but have to admit i prefer mucking out shavings, but straw is much cheaper and quicker to much out. A big, clean, neat straw bed looks more inviting than a shavings bed. Would have them all on it if the one didnt eat the straw rather than his hay.

 

[allijudd]

straw is not evil...i love my straw beds and so do my nags...they love to cosy down at night, make pillows and generally have a good sleep...(makes them nicer for the morning!)

we listen to the contented snuffles and snores

 

[chestnut cob]

I've just moved back onto straw for financial reasons and have no problems! It's quicker to muck out, doesn't cost me a fortune (£2 a week compared to about £14, plus around £70 to put a bed down initially), gives horse a little something to munch on if hay runs out (and please no one shoot me down, horses ate straw in the past and didn't have problems and I would rather he munched a bit of straw than had nothing at all).

I like it

 

[sleepingdragon10]

I love a good straw bed for the neds...always looks so cosy and inviting

Will be using that for my little chap

xx

 

[goeslikestink]

then use barley straw and not wheat preferablly spring barley as it softer and more of it -- wheat is pourest hence the stinks more barley isnt

 

[CBFan]

I love Straw beds! Straw would be my first choice everytime unless dust was an issue. The stench of ammonia really depends on the individual horse - I know of some horses who really stink and some who don't. I don't think straw has anything to do with it! I'm a bit of a traditionalist when it comes to beds... I'm not one of these people who follow the latest craze of catching their horse's wee in a bucket or anything... Whats all that about anyway? Lol! suposed to save time on mucking out but I'm really not convinced!

 

[brightmount]

I love straw but my yard has stopped supplying it and we all have to use shavings. One of my horses is a total pig on shavings and costing me a fortune. On straw I could just dump the whole bed minus the banks each day. They also lie down a lot less and who can blame them?

 

[Helga1980]

Now I'm pinning for a big straw bed for new horse (that I haven't even seen yet - could I possibly be getting ahead of myself!!)

 

[ru-fi-do]

Even though i have my mare on matting and shavings as she is just a pee and poo monster i do think big straw beds look very very cosy! But have to agree with the smell. You could always put some shavings on the floor to saok up the wee if your horse is a wet one!

 

[KatB]

I Like straw beds to look at, and dont mind mucking them out, but my horse suffers really badly from the dust. If I could get nice quality barley straw, would bed him on it, as that was what he was on in Irealnd and was fine. However straw we get is very dusty, and makes him snotty and coughing!!

 

[Evadiva1514]

Both my yearlings are bedded down on straw and the rest are on rubber matting and shavings... Shavings are lovely and quick to muck out etc, but i don't think you can beat a lovely straw bed... i often think when i check on them, that they are so curled up and warm in bed late at night that i wouldn't mind snuggling up with them in it!!

 

[KatB]

Ooh! Is that the eucalyptus smelly one?

 

[ihatework]

I've used Bliss, it's great but unfortunately I don't have a supplier near me.
Am I thinking of the right stuff though, it was chopped oil seed rape stalks and managed in a similar way to hemp/flax

 

[teapot]

Love straw - and would use it unless horse couldn't cope with dust

 

[miamibear]

I use straw and i love mucking out and bedding down. Dont mind the smell really, yeah its not nice but im not very good at mucking out shavings beds so straw works better for me.

Plus its included in the price of my livery - shavings would cost me more!

 

[filly190]

I totally agree. Have now got three horses and changed to straw to keep costs down. Dont care if they eat it, does not do any harm. Also it is the most natural, warm bedding you can give. It keeps a clean stable and stops the drafts.

I personally think rubber matting is cruel.

 

[chestnut cob]

I don't think matting is cruel but I'm not a fan. I really dislike seeing horses with a tiny corner of shavings on mats, particularly messy horses. It can't be nice to end up with soaked mats to lie on each night

I've used mats but had a full bed on top.

I didn't expect to like straw so have been surprised to be converted!!

 

[sleepingdragon10]

Given that most chaffs are straw based I can never see the point in people getting pissy about a horse having abit of a munch on it's bed

 

[chestnut cob]

My point exactly....

Had someone recently "inform" me that my horse had been having a munch on his bed and suggest I might be better keeping him on shavings so he couldn't eat it! If he's hungry I'd rather he munched that than spent the whole night starving!

 

[sleepingdragon10]

Good Lord!!

Well you're obviously starving him

xxx

 

[eekmon]

[ QUOTE ]
My

Had someone recently "inform" me that my horse had been having a munch on his bed and suggest I might be better keeping him on shavings so he couldn't eat it! If he's hungry I'd rather he munched that than spent the whole night starving!

[/ QUOTE ]

Now just wait for people to tell you, you horse isnt having enough hay!!

My horse today was having a munch with a net full of pony hay hanging in his box!!

 

[chestnut cob]

Yes, you can see that just by looking at him (he's v typical Welshy "shape"

).....

He was in during the day for a while not long after I first moved here because there was just too much grass on the field. Preferred to bring him in for a few hours and give some soaked hay. He is a greedy pony; ate all the hay in about 30 mins then munches on his bed. Hey ho, less in it that rich grass