Shavings or Aubiose?

[racipaci]

Question's in the title really, just wondering what you all prefer.

I'm moving Dave to a new stables next week and was thinking about getting Aubiose but don't want to buy a whole new bed then discover I don't really like it.

Ideally I'd like rubber matting but don't think finances will quite stretch that far at the moment! :rolleyes:

[rache]

why not straw ;)

auboise i have heard great things with but only with rubber matting.. shavings are great depending on the quality if they are really finely cut then not worth it as they just soak it all up and dissapear (into the muck heep)

[racipaci]

Not allowed Straw for some reason (think it takes up too much room on the muck heap) otherwise I would have it.

Or I could get paper but I've never really liked it. He's on shavings at the moment but he's quite messy, but hoping he's going to be more settled in his new home and not mess it up quite so much!

I'm an optimist! ;)

Oh I don't know, got to order it in a minute too! hmmm...

[Bozzy]

Personally I prefer shavings, didn't really like Aubiose too much plus I seem to be allergic to it (frequently got bad migraines).

I have rubber mats and couldn't live without them now - just whack 'em on the credit card....you know you want to :D

[racipaci]

Becca! :eek: don't encourage me! *sneaks a look at credit card sitting besides her*

Very very tempting though!! :D

[Bozzy]

**slaps wrist** Naughty me :D

I think it depends what you do with it too, I like to do a full muck out every day so personally find it better with shavings. I think Aubiose could work better with a skip out every day and full muck out once a week maybe.

BTW - Good luck with the move! How come you're moving? I'm sure i've yet to see pics of the infamous Dave, c'mon, let me see 'em! ;)

[racipaci]

will think about rubber matting but not sure if it will fit in new stable properyl as the floor's a bit weird!

I'm moving him as I've got to go and work in London for my job in october and won't be getting back till late so my friend will look after him and there's a horsewalker for when I can't ride.

Also he's still not happy in a big herd and gets bullied quite a lot so he's just going to be in a paddock with one other horse.

Also, the facilities are great, it's Brynley Powell's yard (although Dave won't be with his horses!) but I can still use all the facilities and the hacking's better! I'm really looking forward to it.

Will get pictures sorted out one day I promise! :D

[Bozzy]

Wow, sounds brilliant :)

Fingers crossed he settles in well, maybe combine moving with pics of Dave at the new yard - **Boz pokes Rachel continuously until she promises pictures** :p

[racipaci]

Lol: ok, ok I'll try and get some when I move him! :D

[Holly B]

I have never put my horses in a stable, so don't really know much about it, but I've heard that if your horse is stabled regularly it can be cheaper if you have rubber matting... you have the big one-off payment but then only need to use a fraction of the bedding you used to. If he's stabled a lot it's definitely something to consider. However, if you rent stables at a yard then there's always the possibility that you will move yards later on so would probably have to get the ones that you can pick up and remove rather than the permanent type. Good luck at your new stables, I hope your horse settles in and everything goes fine! :D

[larri]

I used Aubiose for nearly a year as the yard I was at didn't use anything else.

It was far and away my favourite bedding and I've used or worked with most over the years. I started the year thinking bleeding expensive, what a rip off and ended by singing it's praises to everyone.

I used it semi deep litter, without rubber matting, just stright onto stable floor, picking up droppings every day and then once a week turning the whole bed and removing the wet. I used to use one bag of Aubiose a week to top up with an initial set up of eight bags I think from memory. I found it very absorbant, you got a good compact warm bed and it was always excellent quality....and no I don't sell it. :p

The yard I'm at now uses shavings and I don't think the beds are as nice.

[racipaci]

Hmmm..I had thought I'd stick to shavings but now I don't know again! :rolleyes:

Is Saffi very dirty in her stable? as Dave's not too bad but he can on occassions churn it all up and spread the wet everywhere!

[Sunny D]

I have just changed mine over to Cushionbed - similar to Aubiose, but slightly bigger bits of wood. Work it in the same way, ie, just poo pick then, weekly+ take the wet out.
With Amber stabled 24 hours a day at moment, it is working well, been down for just over a week, and although it looks like she has trashed it in the morning, it doesnt take long to skip out - found it better instead of using a shavings fork its best to get on the hands and knees with the rubber gloves :p
Also a lot cheaper than Aubiose if you buy in bulk...

[sidesaddlelady1]

Aubiose every time - or Hemcore which is more or less the same. Made from Hemp not wood. It is designed for deep litter and you have to keep it spotless. I find it cheaper than straw and less work than shavings. It doesn't smell like shavings do and is very absorbent. I tend to skip out with rubber gloves - quicker and more thorough than using a shavings fork. Contact the makers via the internet and they will send you lots of useful info

I wouldn't turn the bed every week. I find that the less you disturb the base the longe the bed lasts. I do a complete muck out about 3 times a year. The WH canbe quite messy but even when he was confined to barracks for 12 weeks I only used a bale a week.

It's also the only thing that doesn't aggravate my chest problems.

[(hApPiNeSs)]

sorry to be stupid, but ive never heard of aubiose? what is it? :o :o

[sidesaddlelady1]

Aubiose is made from hemp (the sort grown for rope and fabrics and not the stuff which makes you high). It looks like shavings but behaves differently. It's very absorbent and comfortable. It doesn't smell and is designed for well maintained deep-litter bedding.

Go to "Google" or other search engines and search on Aubiose (which is made in France) or Hemcore (which is British) and you'll find the manufacturers' websites.

(Don't be confused by some of the American Message Boards which are frequented by people who are singularly misinformed on this issue and will try to persuade you that it is illegal because it is made of cannabis. It isn't - in either case!)

[augermoon]

I'm still chuffed to bits with the Aquamax that I've switched to recently. Brilliant stuff - quick to muck out, a nice fluffy bed and I am currently using 1/2 a bag per week.

www.aquamax.co.uk if you're interested.