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
44 TheHorse.com THE HORSE September 2016 of 1 cup of water to 1 cup of product, the corn cob pellets absorb 99% of water in 34 seconds, whereas wood pellets, coarse- ground corn cobs, and wood shavings didn't fully absorb the water even after 50 seconds, 1 minute 10 seconds, and 1 min- ute 25 seconds, respectively. A 40-pound bag costs about $6. Hay The obvious problem with using hay for bedding is that your horse is bound to eat it. You also lose the ability to monitor his feed intake. Other than the nutritional factor, hay is pretty much equal to straw in its bedding qualities, but you can bet it'll be more expensive. Hemp Although hemp is a cannabis plant, the type used for bedding is called industrial hemp and differs from the marijuana plant in its almost-nonexistent THC content, as well as in its usefulness for commercial and industrial applica- tions. However, many states continue to prohibit growing hemp for any use. In 2015 eight states allowed hemp growing: Colorado, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oregon, Tennessee, and Vermont, and 20 more were creating or revising their hemp-growing laws. Hemp is more highly renewable than timber products. Arch Kingsley of Long Leaf Stables, in Camden, South Carolina, has used hemp bedding, made by shred- ding the "hurd," or inner layer of stalk, for more than a year. He says it's nearly dust-free, very absorbent (manufacturers say it can sponge up about four times its weight), and makes a superb bedding for his horses. Kingsley also attributes his horses' clean respiratory bills of health to his hemp-bedded stalls. The bedding is soft, lightweight, and unpalatable, and although it's more expensive up front due to being sourced primarily from Europe and Canada, Kingsley says it lasts a lot longer than other bedding types. "It does require a finer technique when mucking a stall," he says. "We pick the piles and always remove the wet spot. But with hemp, you can take the less satu- rated material and mix it back in with the drier areas. If you use it conservatively, it's more economical. And it's low in acid (so has a more balanced pH) and quick to compost. It supports the health of the horses and the stable." The cost of hemp bedding varies from $23 per 33-pound bag to $510 for a 30- bag pallet ($17/bag), plus shipping. Half and full truckloads of 480 and 1,000 bags are also available. Leaves Chopped mature leaves are pretty much free and can make a satisfactory bedding, but they can become compacted and heavy when wet. Also, be sure not to use any part of black walnut trees, as they're toxic to horses. Paper Products Shredded paper products, including corrugated cardboard and phone books, are lightweight, economical, highly absor- bent, and allergen-, dust-, and odor-free. They're available bagged or baled, and horses won't eat them. However, paper is highly flammable. The other downside is the possibility of ink rubbing off on lighter-colored horses and on stall and stable walls. Although many inks these days are nontoxic vegetable dyes, cleanup can be an issue, as can the blowability factor in windy locations when dry and the product's weight when wet. On the plus side, paper's high carbon content tends to reduce odors, and paper composts readily. It's widely available in most areas. Cost varies according to the product's source and processing. Peat moss might be falling out of favor as a bedding alternative, particularly among eco-conscious horse owners. PAM MACKENZIE Instead of aerosoliz- ing the allergens, the composted bedding kept them down to a reasonable level so the horse's respiratory system was happy." DR. HANNAH MUELLER Hemp is soft, lightweight, dust-free, and ab- sorbent, but it has a higher up-front cost than some other bedding materials. COURTESY AMERICAN HEMP LLC FARM&BARN;