Wicked mum or being cruel to be kind!!!

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merlinsquest

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Following on from a previous post about 10 days ago, about merlins stinky stable......

I have now changed from straw to shavings and what a difference.... I started with quite a deep bed but he made a terrible mess by mixing it all up when walking round box (he has a door at the front (obviously) but also a window at the back)!!! being nosey.

So I decided that as he has good quality thick rubber matting over the whole floor, that I would use a thinner layer of shavings and just take it all out everyday.

BUT it looks so mean.... there have been a few comments about his little bed... even though its the same as the full liveries get!!

I suppose its about an inch thick and covers the back half of the box, so there is plenty of room to lie down, wee poo etc. Its been a dream to muck out (10 mins inc hay and water)and the smell has gone completely, so I am really happy in that respect... It just looks a bit uncomfortable in the mornings when its all dirty.

Having said that, even when he was on a big straw bed he would pile up all the straw at the sides of the stable and sleep on the rubber mats..... its why I bought them in the first place!!

Please reassure me that I am not mean!! It has nothing to do with cost, more to do with smell and cleanliness!!
 
Thanks,.

I feel mean as he used to have a huge straw bed..... but it stank of amonia (must have been bad for his lungs and eyes and horrid to lay on) even though I did a full muck out everyday!!!

I know which I would rather sleep on.... at least he can breath!!!
 
That is exactly how I do my stables.
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And, yes I feel mean aswell, but will carry on.
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I'm considering changing from straw to shavings and rubber matting..because of the hygine! It looks more uncomfortable for them to lie on, but its better for their health and legs..isnt it? Then again my horse doesn't really lie down.. Would you recommend it?
 
changing to rubber matting is something I did this year and if I had know how easy and great they were I would have done it years ago. Like you I use shavings over the back half I have two horses and the mucking out time is cut in half. To make you feel better, horses are not nesting animals in fact my big fresian would not lay flat out in straw but is quite happy to do so on his rubber matting.
 
I have Jack on half rubber mats and half straw, and Pepper on half rubber mats and half shavings- she'd eat the straw and Jack on shavings is just a disaster. It took some trial and error but it's what's best for them.
 
I'm a complete wuss. Ours are on rubber matting, then have a couple of inches of shavings down and then a full straw bed. The shavings soak up all the wee so you don't get that awful stinky ammonia smell, and I muck out fully every day. One of my friends just uses a sprinkling of shavings on her mats and her horses are fine, other than in winter their rugs get really stinky.
 
Hi Merlinsquest - me and Charliesmum recently moved yards with our horses coz of serious welfare issues at previous yard. Charliesmum TB ex racehorse used to be on rubber mats with about a handful (literally) of shavings scattered on top. She thought he just didn't give a monkeys about a bed and just liked to stand around in pee and poo. Well, 1st day in fabuloso new yard we thought the stress of moving had given him colic! Within 2 hours - TWO HOURS - of moving into a gorgeous 6" deep bed of fresh and fragrant shavings, he had laid down and wouldn't move for anyone. Turns out he though he'd moved to the Rirz and all he had been aching for all that time was somewhere comfortable and CLEAN to lie down. So I'd say go with your instincts - if its clean and comfy and smells good, bet your horse will love it too! xxx
 
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