which bedding i know its been done loads :)

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guiness8

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I have read so many posts lately i am really confused.

I am in the position that I will be able to stable my horses overnight shortly and after reading many posts I am a bit confused what to use for bedding.

I have traditonally when available used shavings on rubber mats but last time I stabled my horses it was below £5 per bale. so far I have been quoted £7-7.50 per bale so quite a jump and as you can tell a while since I bought any. so i have been reading with interest posts regarding wood pellets and really I dont know whether to give them a try or not. i suppose the initial outlay is more in buying a full pallet but would they last a lot longer than the same amount in equivalent shavings?

I have asked around my area and no one seems to know of anyone who uses them so no word of mouth good or bads.

My two horses will be stabled overnight only and I do like a nice fluffy shavings bed banks inc even though they are on rubber mats. neither horse is a really messy bugger (nothing out of the ordinary) so I prob would use 1 bag each per week tops.

Anyone any advice to pass my way good or bad. I really dont want to go over to straw as been there done that and find shavings much cleaner etc. Are wood pellets worth it if the horse isn't really messy and do they go dusty if not a really wet horse. i do like to keeep my beds as clean as poss and will forever find myself picking out the bits of muck. obviously the shavings dont stay snow white but you know what i mean.

I think the main thing putting me off wood pellets is the idea of how much water to add. im worried i will get carried away and add too much water and then they will be no good or think i dont have much pellets add more and then my horse cant get in the stable
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i can imagine myself doing this

Any advice greatly appreciated and thanks for reading I know i ramble when im thinking. xx
 
i find something like Bliss or aubiose are very good, maybe google them?

Aubiose is exspesive but buying by the pallet will course be cheaper, with aubiose there is not wet at all, its just soaked right up so all you need to do is take droppings out and put up the bed a few times week they say a bag a week per hourse but it does just depend
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I use Bed Down Excel. It's a mix of chopped straw and shavings and works out about £6.80 a bale but it expands to 1/3 the size of shavings. I initially put 7 in ( i'm not on matts) and then since have not put more than one in a week
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And that's with 3 large banks and a deep bed
 
I use shavings as quite cheap still down here, but ppl I know are swearing by myscanthus (scuse the spelling!) Its a lot cheaper, resembles shavings and is very good for odours apparently!!
 
Just interested to know why not straw? I have done shavings and returned to straw - find it just as easy and save a small (or not so small) fortune!

Sorry, really not answering your post
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Heard a lot of recommendations for wood pellets though not tried myself.

Wouldn't really recommend flax, or cardboard. Don't use much flax but really expensive per bale, and cardboard is cheaper but use loads, some horses eat it.

We're going onto bedmax soon at £7.50 per bale... hopefully my girl won't trash it!
 
I find megazorb the easiest although have never used wood pellets. Used hemcore last year which was good however find megazorb better as it does not move, once a solid base has formed it stays put and is super absorbant so stays dry.

I remove droppings daily and the wet when I see it, replacing the wet with fresh, getting through less than a bag a week.

The base is solid and compact so droppings tend to say on top making removal easier.

My horse used to be really messy on straw, he trampled it all in so mucking out used to be a nightmare, so I agree where the straw is concerned.
 
I have used everything over the years!! Wood pellets, straw, aubiouse, bedmax etc. I just find that you really can't beat a proper traditional shavings bed! Big banks and as deep as possible. It's the only thing that works for me and my smelly mare. Usually use one bale a week.
 
thank you guys i have even more to think about now.

In answer to straw i used it for many years and used to hate the smell even though I fully mucked out everyday and also the size of the muck heap and disposing of it was just a bit of an issue.

think i may try and shop around and see what i can get on shavings (just not many shops locally) suppose in some sense better the devil you know but will look into some of the other ideas too just think delivery may be difficult.
 
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