How to Choose Bedding for a Horse Stall

Just as people want a cozy bed to curl up in, so do horses. Choosing the right bedding for a horse depends on a number of factors. The purpose of laying a nice bed for the horse is to keep him from standing on the hard ground and ease the jarring effect on his feet and legs. A nice bed will provide warmth and protection, prevent slips and falls, and allows the horse to rest in comfort without the risk of injury.

Instructions

  1. Straw

    • 1

      Obtaining straw is easy. It is economical and the bales are easy to store and it permits good drainage providing the stall has a drain in the floor. It makes a bright, comfortable and warm bed for a horse.

    • 2

      Mucking out a straw filled stall is labor intensive. Ideally it should be done twice a day, once a day for sure. Some horses like to eat straw, an activity which should be discouraged. It can be dusty or contain spores leading to respiratory problems.

    • 3

      Picking the right straw is key. One of the best straws to get is wheat straw. It is the most commonly used form of straw and it makes excellent bedding. It can, however, become brittle and not very durable if it is baled short. Oat straw is quite palatable and is most likely to be eaten. It is very porous and tends to become saturated and heavy. Barley straw is usually longer than wheat and oat straw. Better quality barley straw will have the awns removed (the awns are the fuzzy bits at the tip of the blade). If a horse eats barley straw, it could lead to digestive problems or colic.

    Wood Shavings

    • 4

      Obtaining wood shavings is easy in the USA. They are economical and make a bright, comfortable bed.

    • 5

      Save time and labor by keeping shavings clean. Most horses will not eat shavings. If they do, it could be a sign that something is missing in their diet. Eating shavings is not good for the horse.

    • 6

      Cleaning a stall with shavings is important because the shavings are porous. They can become soggy and dark in color if they're not maintained properly. In some locations, it can be difficult to dispose of shavings. Shavings aren't as comfortable as straw and they lack the insulating benefits of straw.

    Other Bedding

    • 7

      Try peat moss because it works well and it isn't palatable, doesn’t contain any dust or spores and is non-flammable. On the other hand, it is expensive, becomes very soggy and heavy, and is dark in appearance. A horse who sleeps on peat moss needs extra grooming. Disposing of it is difficult unless it is broken down or rotted.

    • 8

      Try rubber matting because, when used by itself, it is dust free. It is easy to muck out, it simply needs to be hosed down and swept with a broom. Upkeep is cheap after the initial investment. Unfortunately, when used alone, rubber matting is not comfortable for a horse to lie down on. If the mats aren't cleaned properly, they look disgusting and smell of ammonia. The mats offer no warmth and no protection from getting cast while lying down.

    • 9

      Think about using shredded paper. It is dust free and inexpensive in most areas. It is highly absorbent which can make it difficult to muck. In windy conditions, it could blow away and can leave stains on the horse's coat.