Shavings, Straw, Paper...

[birdy]

Hi there,

The last few days, Dodger has been in a field - there weren't any stables free at the yard, because the lady who was moving out didn't until yesterday, and the stable had to be cleaned etc. So now I've been given a choice - shavings, straw, paper, or something that looks like cat litter and is apparently basically the same thing. Which one would be best? It is all included in the price of livery - along with feed and hay.

Also, what would be the best feed for a 14.1, slightly heavier pony (i.e., not a thoroughbred, but no cob). He keeps weight on well, and has good hay and grazing, but will be ridden five or six days a week, with turnout and access to a horsewalker on any days he's not ridden - or Sara has offered to do ride and lead with him if I can't ride (he's on full livery).

What do you guys think? I'm going to talk it all over with Sara and Lucy as well (yard owner and head girl).

Birdy

[augermoon]

If your pony doesn't have an allery of some kind which would mean avoiding straw, its probably down to personal preference. You will find people have differing opinions as to which is better. Its unusual for you to have 4 options all included in the price - straw is generally the cheapest option but if all are included, that issue doesn't matter.

Straw generally makes a thicker, more cosy looking bed but can be smelly and heavy to muck out. However, you can add new stuff regularly and make a nice warm bed. Shavings on the other hand are more absorbant. They can be easier or harder to muck out depending on how wet your horse is - if you have a really wet horse, they can become a real pain to manage. And obviously they can;t be eaten so are sometimes an option for horses that like to eat their bed :rolleyes:

Am personally not keen on paper but haven't used it for many years so can't comment on that. Hope that helps a bit - I say just go for which one you think you'll be able to work with.

[FancY_FriesiaN]

I would go for the shavings because the straw collects a lot of dust and paper? I just dont think its as good as the shavings =]

[ponies_rule]

If you don't have to pay extra I would take advantage and use shavings, in my experience they are less smelly, more absorbant and comfortable for the horse. Paper Is easy to muck out although it looks messy and straw gets smelly and takes longer to muck out in my opinion however it does look very comfortable for them!
Sorry I can't help about the food but good luck! :D

[Jakes Mum]

It's just a matter of preference, there are advantages and dissadvantages for all types bedding. I personally prefer straw as the droppings tend to get buried and the horse doesn't lay on them, with shavings the droppings just sit on the surface. If you go for shavings, yes they are very absorbent but this also makes them have a tendancy to dry out your horses hooves by absorbing the moisture from them.

You are very lucky having the choice at no extra cost :)

[sidesaddlelady1]

Not paper - it's a sod to deal with (excuse my french). Full muck out required 2-3 times a day. Gets very wet, smells, disposal is an issue. Horrible stuff.

Hemp bedding or straw for me (except straw aggravates my chest problems) - both deep litter. Both cheap, easy to manage and easy to dispose of as they rot down well and can be recycled as fertiliser.

Shavings and wood chip smell and take forever to rot down. Paper is cheap but can't be composted for fertiliser use. A lot of yards won't allow paper or wood products.

Peat sometimes used but lots of disadvantages and there is a conservation issue with it.

Rubber mats good but have to be lifted regularly to clean and dry out the floor underneath (and are very heavy). Despite what the manufacturers say they still need a layer of bedding for comfort and absorbtion of urine

[sidesaddlelady1]

As far as feeding is concerned contact the main manufacturers eg Spillers, Baileys, Dengie, who all have nutritional advisers.

[Trewsers]

Sidesaddlelady1 - have you tried wearing a dust mask? You said straw makes your chest problem worse? OH has asthma and wears a dust mask (looks daft but who cares???!) to muck out, I do too, as after a few weeks my chest was awful, I couldn't stop with a tickly cough :eek: It was stopping me from sleeping even! I think straw is best for bedding - it looks cosy, easy to muck out cos like somebody else said, the poo just drops down and so poor horsey isn't lying in it. Also, if they get really desperate for food (in themiddle of the night) they can forage and eat a bit of their bedding (not that I starve my horses and they have to eat their bedding or anything).

[xhorse_riderx]

id go for shavings as there is much less dust !!!! :):D:):D:):D:)

[StormyJ]

I love straw, call me crazy but I have actually tried lying on different beds myself! :rolleyes: Straw is snuggly, lovely and warm, and shavings just get up your nose, in your eyes, and are v. dusty i find, i've seen a box with new shavings, where the dust was so thick you couldn't see! They are also uncomfortable to lie on, and straw looks nicer, too!

[Merlinz gal]

paper can be really heavy work if not managed well,

i dont like straw personally

merlin is on shavings an rubber matting though for his breathing

[xhorse_riderx]

[QUOTE=StormyJ] v. dusty i find, i've seen a box with new shavings, where the dust was so thick you couldn't see!

Some shavings arnt designed for animals and are very dusty !

I use hunter and is vacuum packed and dust extracted and NO dust at all comes out !

Depends what type you get! :):D:):D:)

[Tangle]

Fifi's on straw - there's a choice of straw or easi-bed, and she'll eat either :eek: once she's scoffed her hay - I'd rather she was munching straw! For that reason, I woulnd't want her on anything else. If we were thinking of changing her, I'd have a trial where I could watch for a few hours and see what she did before comitting.

For the food, how long have you had him? It sounds like not long (congrats :D), in which case do you know what he was fed previously and what work load he had? Would he be about right or a little over/under weight right now?

Fifi's a warmblood, and currently on grass all night (4pm to 8am), 2 small flakes of hay while she's in in the day and 3/4 scoop of HiFi light that she has her suppelements (joint, general purpose, garlic) in. Plus however much straw she eats :rolleyes:. She's now being ridden for about an hour 6 days/week, and she's not dropping any weight. She's not obese, but losing a few pounds definitely wouldn't hurt - mare's aren't meant to have crests, even if they're little, and her ribs are well covered at the moment. Until she's a little more slimline she's not getting any extra rations.

At the end of the day you're one of the things you pay full livery for (at least in my opinion) is the YO's advice - you may as well make the most of it :D

[ponylover88]

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