Winter Bedding for your Horse

Over the Christmas period, and Winter in general, is a prime time to think about the comfort and warmth of your horses as they spend longer hours in the stable and are generally more vulnerable to the effects of the seasonal weather.

Horse Bedding is a great place to start and high quality bedding for horses is, you'll be glad to hear, not too hard to come by.

High-absorption bedding will, as you might guess, absorb water waste much better and will also help reduce the level of ammonia odour that can build up in your horse or pony's stall. Also, the more absorbent the bedding, the less of it you will need, which means you won't have to dispose of quite as much, saving you time and effort in the long run.

Your horse's health comes first. Wet or even damp bedding can soften your horse's hooves, leaving them susceptible to a range of nasty bacterial infections so make sure you do your best to keep your bedding warm and toasty! 

All bedding should also be low in dust as this can cause respiratory problems in horses. On the other hand, if you use bedding that doesn't absorb quite well enough, this can lead to the release of excess ammonia, which can also irritate your horse's respiratory system as well as your own. However, practising good mucking methods will help combat the build-up of waste so that you can get the most out of your bedding materials, and your horse! 

What are Some of the Horse Bedding Choices?

Straw - Perhaps the most common choice for horse bedding over the years, although many horse owners today favour processed wood shavings instead. Straw is often relatively inexpensive although it might not as absorbent as other available types of bedding, but it does provide a soft, comfy bed for your horse.

Sawdust and Wood Shavings - Sawdust is high-absorbing, but best to avoid if your horse is prone to respiratory problems. Processed wood shavings, however, are generally much cleaner, not to mention low in dust and free of other harmful materials.

Rubber Matting - Many advantages such as being completely dust free, drains well and is warm. The initial cost to put in rubber matting can be high, but the recurring costs to maintain bedding can be very low. It is very safe for your horse. Many horse owners add a little bedding, such as straw, to make a bed comfortable enough for you horse to lie in or if the drainage under the matting is not adequate.

Shredded Paper and Cardboard - Inexpensive, absorbent and comfortable. It does, however, require a large amount in order to create a decent-sized bed. But paper and cardboard bedding keeps your horse cleaner than other bedding products and does provide warmth.

For more information on horse supplies and accessories, contact us at Tic Tac Equestrian.com