How to Find the Best Horse Bedding

Find out which bedding type is best for you and your horse.

Providing the proper bedding is an essential part of caring for your horse. Having a good bedding will make your horse more comfortable, lower their risk of health issues, and improve their overall wellbeing. It will also make cleaning their stall a lot more stress-free for you.

There are a variety of different horse bedding options available. Blain’s Farm & Fleet is here to help you find the bedding that will work best for both you and your horse.

Wood Shavings

Wood shavings are one of the most common types of horse bedding. They’re soft, so your horse will be comfortable laying on them.

They’re also very absorbent. This is a huge benefit because by absorbing moisture, they can help reduce bacteria overgrowth.

When shopping for wood shavings, one thing to be aware of is dust. Some brands have processes to help make their wood shavings almost completely dust-free.

However, if you get a brand that doesn’t do this, it could make your horse’s stall dusty and harder to clean. Wood shavings are also pretty lightweight, so there’s a chance they could blow around on a windy day.

If you want to use wood shavings, make sure they’re specifically meant to be used as horse bedding, first. Some types of wood are too oily and could irritate your horse’s skin.

Sawdust

Sawdust is similar to wood shavings, only it’s much finer. Some people like it because it’s very inexpensive and easy to find, and it’s also quite absorbent.

However, because sawdust is so fine, it tends to create a lot more dust. This dust can irritate a horse’s eyes and nose.

To avoid dust-related health problems, you’ll want to make sure your horse is in an open area that’s ventilated well. If your horse is inside a lot, you may want to consider using a different bedding option.

Wood Pellets

Unlike sawdust, wood pellets, which are made of dried and compacted wood, are designed to be virtually dust-free. This option is also very absorbent and works well to keep your horse’s stall clean.

Some people prefer to wet their wood pellets before using. This will make them turn into softer, more comfortable bedding for your horse.

If you don’t want to wet your wood pellets, you can also mix them with another type of bedding to create a cozier space for your horse.

Downsides to wood pellets are that they can be slightly more expensive, and wetting them takes extra time and energy that isn’t required of other options.

Straw

Straw comes from grains like wheat and oat, and it has both its positives and negatives.

Horses tend to like straw because it makes a more comfortable bed for them than a lot of the other options. It also doesn’t create as much dust, so it keeps the air they’re breathing cleaner. For these reasons, many horse owners use straw when there are newborn foals in the stable.

However, straw doesn’t keep the stables as clean as many of the other choices. It’s not very absorbent, so it won’t soak things up well. Instead, it just acts as barrier between your horse and the barn floor. But it only does this job properly if you use a very thick layer of it.

Another reason some choose not to use straw is because horses might try to eat it, which could result in health problems.

Shredded Paper

Shredded paper can be a good horse bedding option because it’s extremely absorbent, and it doesn’t produce dust. For this reason, it’s particularly good for horses with allergies or respiratory problems.

The main downside to using shredded paper is that it can be messy. When it absorbs moisture, it tends to clump together into big, heavy wads. Not only does this make it harder to pick up, but it also makes your horse’s bed less comfortable.

It’s also very lightweight, so it can blow away easily on a windy day.

Peat Moss

Peat moss is very soft and absorbent, which is why it can be liked among both horses and their owners. It’s also compostable, so cleaning it up is pretty easy compared to others.

However, peat moss has a few negatives. Some horse owners tend to steer away from it because it can be expensive.

The other main reason some don’t like it is because it produces a dark dust. This dust usually isn’t as bad as the kind wood beddings make. However, because it’s darker in color, it can make both your stable and your horse look dirty.

Rubber Stall Mats

Rubber stall mats are great because they’re cushiony, making a comfortable bed for your horse. They will also protect your stall floors, and they’re super easy to clean.

However, rubber stall mats should not be used on their own. They’re not absorbent, so you’ll want to put another bedding type on top of them to keep the stall clean.

They also get slippery when wet, and putting another bedding on top will help protect your horse from falling.

All of these types of horse beddings has their advantages and disadvantages. Every horse and their owner has their own unique needs and preferences. You may need to try a few options before determining which one is the right fit for you and your horse.

Ultimately, the best choice will be something that is comfortable for your horse, absorbent, and as dust-free as possible.

For more tips on caring for your horses and other farm animals, visit our Hobby Farming Blog.