Sunday, May 26, 2013

The Best Stall Bedding For Horses

By Tisha Greer


The horse has been a friend to man since the beginning of time. They have provided a means of transportation as well a work mate to man while he labored in the fields. For all this animal has given their care should be optimum and that includes their stall bedding. It should provide them with comfort and safety at all times.

The more natural a stable floor is the better it is for the health of the animal. It should offer support to their legs when standing and protect them from the cold and dampness that can emanate through the floor. Materials that are easy to clean offer the owner a much less labor intensive chore when it is time to clean the area.

The most important thing that stall material should do is provide a layer of absorbency for the horse. The animals waste, in the form of feces and urine, will produce much less odor if the material is able to absorb these elements. It is this attribute that will be the most labor saving of all.

Some will choose to use sawdust but this is not the best option for your horse. In many, this product is known to cause respiratory problems that can become quite severe. A better choice is wood shavings that are not able to be inhaled but provide the same elements of easy removal of waste matter.

For some, the most cost effective product is the use of straw. It may not be used as often as it once was, but straw offers everything you need in regard to keeping an animals bedding optimum in every manner. Another option involving little cost is making use of shredded cardboard and paper. These items are environmentally friendly and can be easily composted.

Large breeding farms with numerous horses will invest in rubber matting. It is a durable material that is placed over a flat surface inside the stall. The drainage system below allows for the ultimate ease in clean up and provides comfort and warmth. Some straw can be added when desired but very little of it is required. Advantages are plentiful and include warmth, safety, and cleanliness. There are no holes to fill and is much less work to maintain.

Foaling stalls are common on horse breeding farms. These enclosures can be made up of any of the above mentioned materials, again with rubber matting being the best choice. If this is not used, both limestone and clay work well. They can be worked into a hard, flat surface providing safety for both the mare and her foal.

Regardless of the kind of stall bedding you choose there is one thing that you have no choice in. The stall has to be cleaned every single day and new bedding placed inside. This may seem like a lot of work for the average person but the people who operate horse farms take the work in stride and have it completed in no time at all.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment