Sundown bedding

MurphysMinder

MurphysMinder

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Has anyone used this, what do you think of it? We currently use cardboard for our mare, who has a dust allergy. I have been quite happy with it until recently when it doesn't seem to have been as absorbent. Our local saddler has just started stocking Sundown and I wondered about trying it. Is it okay for wheezy horses, and also, would she be likely to eat it? Thanks.
 
They supply 2 sorts, one rape straw and one shavings with shredded straw.

I have used both.

The company burnt down about 18 months ago and started production again this May. I was using the rape straw with added menthol prior to the fire.

They were slow to get back intp production and the next batch I had went mouldy very quickly. The moisture level in the bags must have been too high but they did take them back.

I also used the straw/shavings but found them dusty.

I switched to a company that makes it own straw/shavings mix based near Haverhill and they supply really heavy "clean" bales for £5.88 each BUT I am now looking at going back to straw as I am trying to cut my costs.

Ive spoken to my original Sundown supplier and apparantly they arent being easy to deal with now and arent fulfilling orders.
 
I have used them before & have liked them, make a nice big fluffy bed & smells lovely! I did find it used to start looking dirty v quickly - the wet didn't seem to absorb to one place & would come to the surface of the bed easily.
 
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I'm sure that MFH_09 uses it......

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AM! You must have a memory like a sponge!
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Yes, I used it last year and was very impressed with it, especially for Spring who had to be one of the wettest, dirtiest mares I've ever had! As someone said, it doesn't stay sparkling for long but it gives a nice bed which seemed to be very absorbent. With Spring, I would either lay a bale (on rubber) which I would take out all droppings daily; this would last her well for 3 - 4 days before needing another bale in or I would just use 1/5th of a bale and sweep out daily; it all depended on how wet she was at the time. I tried that with plain shavings and I used far more of those than the Sundown Yellow.
For the other horses, I semi deep littered it, the same I have always done with shavings but I wasn't so impressed using it that way, I seemed to use more than I would of shavings. I don't know, but it didn't seem to save anything for those although there was a big saving for Spring's box.

This summer I decided to go direct to the firm and see how much/how many, a lorry load would be, hoping to get enough for the whole winter/spring. They first asked my location and told me that they already supplied someone up here and it was not their policy to undercut them at all if in the same area. Fair enough I thought but I was not best pleased when I went into the feed merchants and they asked if I was the person who had rung the firm about a bulk load! I personally thought that was very unprofessional of the firm to ring them like that and as a consequence, have sourced other bedding from elsewhere; probably cutting my nose off to spite my face but it was the principle of it. There is no doubt, that my feed merchant always rings around to get the best prices so I couldn't see the difference in me doing the same especially as it was for personal use, not to sell on.
MM - no prizes for guessing my feed merchant!
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I use them - I use the sundown red, which is the shavings and straw with eucalyptus (sp!) - i really like it and find it easy to handle. I deep litter my mare, she is on box rest, and yes she is tidy anyway, but i find the bed stays nice for days, and dont have any trouble with wet areas - actually find its much smaller then when she was on straw and shavings, and where she is deep littered there is a nice layer of wet that doesnt mix with the stuff on top - great for chucking the bed up against the wall at the weekends! At the moment I am using a bale every five days or so.

Saying that, when i got some about 2/3 weeks ago i could only get 5 bales of the red, and had to get 5 bales of the yellow (just chopped straw) and have been alternating them. Apparantly the suppliers are not delivering, and my feed merchants sold about 100 bales to a racehorse trainer who had ran out and couldnt get any!
 
Thanks for the replies everyone. Yes, I can guess who your feed merchants are MFH. I saw the Sundown at the saddlery at Hadnall (which is strange really as that is where they make the carboard bedding I have been using.) I use rubber matting so might just give it a try and see how absorbent it is. Although they certainly don't seem to be the most professional of companies from everyones experience. Not sure about using it for Murph though, suspect he might eat it if it has anything vaguely edible like straw in it
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