Wood pellets and rubber matting

H's mum

H's mum

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www.coligone.co.uk
After posting last week about deep littering the wood pellets and H capping her hocks I'm delighted to say that I'm THRILLED with the wood pellets now I've got the rubber mats in place!
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I think that they work better when the mats are there to stop the horse from scraping the floor when they get up and down - and the bed is way more managable - I now will be using 1-2 sacks of pellets a week as opposed to 3-4 sacks - It's easier to work as less bedding means it's not as heavy (jeez it was back breaking emptying all the heavy wet bedding out last week!
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Just thought I'd report back - IMHO wood pellets work best with rubber mats!
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Kate x
 
Im on rubber mats and pellets too Kate and its an absolute godsend with the big boy. I wouldnt go back to shavings now!!! Even taking the wet patch out each day I have cut my bedding bills by over 50%!!!
 
Great isn't it - I've only got two stables to do but I can do full yard, feed/hay/water and muck out in 20 mins
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I just love it!
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Kate x
 
I must be doing something wrong as it still takes about 20 mins to do my mare's bed properly! She is on wood pellets on rubber matting and is v. wet and filthy though!! Also to keep a reasonable bed I have to use 2 bags a week so still a saving on the price of shavings.
 
If you have a horse that plays poo football overnight it is a nightmare to muck out I found!

For a relative clean horse it is okay but I found it too dusty in the hot weather
 
Odd. Mine is a big bruiser of a bloke who plays all night when he isnt flat out snoring. Play consists of crashing round the walls and rearing up over the grill partitions playing with the pony next door!

Funny how it seems to suit some but not others.
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[ QUOTE ]
If you have a horse that plays poo football overnight it is a nightmare to muck out I found!

For a relative clean horse it is okay but I found it too dusty in the hot weather

[/ QUOTE ]
Now... that's very strange because I think it's the most dust free bedding I've used- which type do you use?
Kate x
 
The one I used (for a very short time) was aquamax

Doubt you'll find it dusty yet, but when summer kicks in I needed to water it daily to prevent horse and water supply being covered in a film of dust.

It's a marmite bedding, love it or hate it.
 
I have not tried pellets, but i might when i get to my new yard and get my a stable back, i have to say i have rubber mats and they are just fantastic, as much of a pain as they are to move, they are just fab for horses imo
 
I would like to try wood pellets, but I have a few hesitations at the moment - whilst I really need to cut down my bedding bills (well not now, because the little darling is out 24/7 until Oct) I also need the bed to be a) stable as my lad also scrapes his hocks at any opportunity, b) 12 - 18 inches thick and c) comfy and cosy
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Could I have a wood pellet bed like that?

Thanks x
 
To be honest I'll leave your question to be answered by someone else who may've had success - I certainly didnt' have success with trying to deep litter - the bed moved too much - I watered it but it still moved and then became too wet/heavy and I just couldn't figure out how to do it
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Kate x
 
I need help with my wood pellets! I have the Liverpool wood pellets but am finding them too sandy. Have laid a decent bed (6 of the 15kg bags, with Bliss banks as I still have some left over) but my horse is DISGUSTING and tramples it all over the stable! I give him a half bed every day, and by the next morning his bed covers the whole stable.

I am finding the sand really hard to sweep up properly, and he has a horribly dusty coat from lying in it (not nice and shiny as it was before). Worst of all, I am finding the sand (OK, sawdust!) really clings to all my clothes, and to my shoes/boots, and so it gets all over the car and my house.

I really really love the stuff to muck out, although I haven't really got the hang of when to take the wet out and how deep a bed to lay. Is there any way around these things (for example, will I get less 'sand' with other brands?) as, at the moment, I am thiinking that I will go to Bliss. This is so economical and cheap though, that I thought I would ask if there is anything else I could do.

(Yes, I water the bags before using, about half a bucket of water per bag. I am on rubber matting. I am also not sure what it is doing to my horses respiratory system, as he must inhale/eat some of it when he plays with his snackball!)

Sorry for such an essay!

Isabelle
 
I'd try corley biowood pellets - they are really fluffy and soft - not at all sandy or gritty - they are the "Brites" 10kg wood burning pellets from Corley - what do LWP supply?
Kate x
 
Im beginning to wonder just how good the LWP brand actually are as these seem to be the ones people have reported dust problems with.

Im using a different brand (15kg bags), made from virgin unbleached wood, and although it does ball up under the bottom of my boot when Im mucking out, a quick stamp as I exit the stable and it just plops out again. Ive had absolutely no evidence of dust, theres nothing on top of the waterbuckets and anything on the horse or the rug remains gritty rather than dusty and just knocks off with the hand.

I use a half bed over mats and although it does migrate around the bare bit a little its no different to when I was on shavings and it sweeps back easily without any sort of dust cloud coming up.

Have you tried using a bit more water when you soak the bags? I do mine in the wheelbarrow. I tip the bagfull in, spread them out and level them and then put the hosepipe on them until I can just see the water starting to come to the top of the pile, this seems to be about right for me.
 
I'm with you on this one Spans - there's absolutely zero dust in my stables - and we've had a few nice sunny spells!
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I was so fed up of shavings which would expel a thick layer of dust throughout the stable upon opening (and these were well recognised brands of shavings too, not local-mill sourced shavings!
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Kate x
 
Is there anyone in West Sussex who uses the wood pellets? I would love to see them "in action" as I am soooo tempted to change to them, but am very nervous that I'll find out I hate them.

Anyway, if there is anyone who wouldn't mind me popping over (and giving them a hand with the mucking out...!) please do PM me. Thanks!
 
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