The Horse:Your Guide To Equine Health Care provides monthly equine health care information to horse owners, breeders, veterinarians, barn/farm managers, trainer/riding instructors, and others involved in the hands-on care of the horse.
Issue link: https://thehorse.epubxp.com/i/714009
43 September 2016 THE HORSE TheHorse.com FARM&BARN; DIANE RICE TheHorse.com/FarmandBarn N ot so long ago (for some of us, any- way), the mention of stall bedding brought to mind just one image: a warm, deep—but not so absorbent— cushion of golden straw that rustled with the horse's every movement. And although straw (most commonly the unused stems of barley, oat, rye, or wheat crops) has historically sufficed for both horse (and even human) bedding, times are starting to change. There are many, many more bedding options available for your horse's stall. The ideal bedding is: ■ Absorbent ■ Comfortable ■ Conveniently disposable ■ Cost-effective ■ Dry ■ Dust- and allergen-free ■ Easy to remove manure and urine from ■ Environmentally friendly (produced and shipped with minimal environmen- tal impact and compostable) ■ Readily available ■ Sanitary (free of pathogens and other harmful substances) ■ Storage-space saving ■ Unappetizing to horses Over the years, the list of bedding materials has grown to include a host of products that offer varying degrees of each of these qualities. Some are widely available, while others are byproducts of local or regional agriculture and industry and, so, are more geographically limited. Traditional, widely available bed- ding materials include sand, shavings, sawdust, and pelleted wood products that fluff up quickly when walked on and/ or lightly sprayed with water, forming a cushion from which caretakers can pick out soiled and wet spots easily with a manure fork. New materials can be added as needed, cutting down on the frequency of labor-intensive stall stripping. Read on to learn about more options you might already know about and use, as well as some that might be new to you. Some can easily fly solo, and others work best when combined—either as a base layer or mixed in—with one of the more traditional bedding materials. Coir Husk Made from shredded coconut husk and fiber, coir is very absorbent. So absorbent, in fact, it's also used on toxic (oil, etc.) spills. Coir decomposes quickly and is dust-free and unpalatable to horses. Coir reduces the odors and air contaminants associated with dustier beddings, as well as the excessive moisture associated with less absorbent materials. Online reviewers, however, report that when the raw fiber is baled, it's very dif- ficult to spread, making disk and pellet forms more desirable. Other downsides are where its sourced (tropical climates where coconuts grow) and the conse- quent expense of import. Corn Cobs Found in agricultural regions ev- erywhere, but most commonly in the Midwest, corn cobs and stems make an outstanding bedding if they are crushed, ground, or shredded. Online reviewers say this option is softer, much less dusty, and more absorbent than wood pellets. "Clumpability" results in quicker stall cleaning and less product waste. And reviewers note that although your horse might nibble on the bedding initially, he'll usually quit after a day or so. One ground product compacted into pellet form composts in about six months, which compares to wood shav- ings, which can take up to two years. Evidenced by an online video, at a ratio Not Your Grandmother's Bedding Shredded paper products are lightweight, economical, highly absorbent, and allergen-, dust-, and odor-free. The ink, however, can rub off on light-colored horses. PAM MACKENZIE 10+ alternatives to consider when bedding down your horse's stall