What sort of bed do YOU lay?

[MizElz]

I would like some reassurance that I'm not the only person here who likes to see a horse knee deep in straw

I was brought up to believe that if you stab the pitchfork into the straw/shavings and you can hear it scrape or bang on the floor, then your bed isnt deep enough! We've always mucked out fully every day - never deep littered - and also always bank the sides up very high.

When we went to have a final look around Ellie's new yard last week, the YO said, 'well I expect you'll need at least two bales to start her bed off, wont you?' Mum and I stared at each other - in a 12 x 12 box, we'd need at least six bales to start off with!

So, this is my idea of what a horse's bed should look like:

Feel free to agree with me, or tell me I'm nuts!

 

[SillySausage]

Yep I do the same with mine, although I dont fill it, I leave a small(ish) gap by the stable door so I can actually get in

 

[Eira]

No no , I agree with you !!

Sol's bed takes me 8 bales of shavings to do and she has rubber matts down aswell

When the guidline is a sprinkling

I'm a ''PC'' kid

apparently

 

[Fairynuff]

Ditto, my beds are a mirror image of yours

. Ive gone back to straw as its the best bedding for comfort and warmth, the easiest to clean and costs nothing compared to shavings and co! Ive managed to put 7 out of 8 on straw and the savings are incredible. A bale of shavings cost me 7 euro, a bale of straw 60 cents. I use 2 bales of shavings every 5 days and 2 to 3 bales of straw every 7 days. Long live straw and I would invite your YO to get real!

M.

 

[Daisychain]

Absolutely, the cheapest, warmest bedding around, and yes mine are knee deep with good banks.

 

[RachelB]

My ideal stable would be at least 12x12 with rubber matting over all of the floor, and a good thick layer of straw on top (full muck out each day) with the banks twice as high as the bed and solidly packed and squared (but shaken up every day and then packed down again to minimise dust/mould patches). A small gap for the water bucket (on floor) and one for hay (on floor/in tub on floor). In the winter I put it right up to the door to stop draughts getting in the gap. Sadly I am not rich enough to afford the bedding! Let alone the matting! I am stuck with two rubber mats that cover about 1/3rd of the stable, and a shavings bed with pathetic banks as my horse eats straw and gets choke/colic/whatever else she feels like

 

[gigs]

Gigs would love a bed like that but would eat the whole lot - straw here nearly 3 euros a bale shavings free if we collect them ourselves so all ours where poss on shavings . Ideal world would love nice deep straw beds but just not affordable .

 

[TicTac]

One just like yours MizElz. I dont use straw any more but my shavings bed are like that. I put 8 bales of shavings in my 12 x 12 box to start the bed off. I actually think it's false economy to not have enough bedding as is gets dirty much quicker.

 

[scotsmare]

Mine are like that but without the banks - babies just trash them and tie the whole lot up into a bit knot in the middle which takes chuffing ages to untangle

 

[ISHmad]

We have high beds too. Absolutely agree with you re the fork test etc.

 

[Cahill]

i like to start my straw beds off with 5 or 6 bales then add a bale about every 5 days.

2 bales????it would all be a soggy mess in no time with stinky rugs.

 

[dawnpetenathshir]

I have thick straw bed as well. Can't have shavings as I'm allergic.

 

[Forget_Me_Not]

I'm with you and was taught the 'deep as pitch fork' rule too. I alway have decent banks, even on matting, I've never had a cast horse. Oh but do deep litter on a full bed of shavings. It scares me to see the size (or lack off it) or some beds.

How I think a rummer matting bed should look...