Equine Bedding Essentials

Equine bedding is an important part of your horse’s life, especially for horses staying in stalls hours a day. As dedicated horse owners, we understand it’s paramount to provide a safe, comfortable, and clean living environment for our horses.

This article will provide you with a guide on the essentials of stall bedding, including its purpose, types, maintenance, and disposal.

Ensuring the bedding material selected is safe for our equine friends is of utmost importance, because the wrong choice can lead to health issues such as respiratory problems, skin irritations, or even laminitis.

Ease of maintenance and how long the bedding lasts is also important. Stall cleaning is never the favorite job associated with owning a horse. And today’s busy horse owner welcomes time-saving equine bedding options.

Additionally, the variety of equine bedding options available on the market comes with different cost points. Horse owners must balance their budget considerations with the essential requirements of comfort, absorbency, safety, and ease of disposal to select the most suitable bedding option for their stalls.

Purpose of Equine Stall Bedding

The primary purpose of stall bedding is to create a comfortable surface for your horse to stand and lie down on. This not only promotes good hoof and joint health, but it also prevents injuries from hard surfaces.

Additionally, bedding helps absorb moisture from urine and manure, keeping the stall dry and reducing odors.

Bedding also plays a significant role in maintaining good stall hygiene by preventing direct contact between your horse and its waste. This creates a barrier that reduces the spread of bacteria, parasites, and diseases.

Types of Equine Bedding

Let’s review some of the traditional and newer options for bedding your horse’s stall bedding:

Straw—Traditional, natural, and readily available, straw is an excellent bedding option for horses. It provides good insulation and is comfortable for your horse to lie on. However, it can be dusty and requires frequent replacement because it decomposes quickly.
Shavings—Wood shavings are popular choice because of their high absorbency and easy maintenance. However, they can be expensive and might contain harmful chemicals if not processed properly. Beware of hardwood shavings that might contain black walnut tree materials. Horses coming in contact with black walnut bedding can develop laminitis.
Pelleted Bedding—Made from compressed wood or paper, pelleted bedding is highly absorbent and reduces waste volume. However, it requires more effort to prepare for use and might be less comfortable for your horse than other options.
Shredded Paper—An environmentally friendly option, shredded paper provides good insulation and is highly absorbent. However, it can be messy and requires frequent replacement. Paper printed with ink can stain gray coats or white areas such as socks or stockings.
Sand Bedding—Sand is often chosen for its excellent drainage properties, making it an ideal option for wet climates. It’s also gentle on horses’ hooves and joints, minimizing the risk of injuries. However, sand must be managed carefully to prevent ingestion, which can lead to sand colic. It also can be difficult to clean thoroughly.
Rice Hulls—Offering a unique alternative, rice hulls provide a soft, cushioned surface for horses to lie on. They have good absorbency and can be composted after use, making them an environmentally friendly choice. However, availability can be limited in certain areas, and they might not be the most cost-effective option for all horse owners.
Peanut Shells—Crushed peanut shells are becoming an increasingly popular bedding choice because of their durability and high absorbency. They create a comfortable, dust-free environment for horses and are biodegradable. However, peanut shells must be sourced carefully to ensure they are free of pesticides and other chemicals.
Peat Moss—Peat moss is another option for stall bedding that offers several unique benefits. It is highly absorbent and capable of holding several times its own weight in moisture, which helps keep the stall environment dry and reduces odors. Peat moss also has natural antimicrobial properties that can help suppress the growth of harmful bacteria and fungi, promoting a healthier environment for the horse. Additionally, because of its dark color and dense composition, peat moss can provide a warm and comfortable bed that retains heat well during colder months. However, it is important to manage peat moss bedding properly by removing wet spots regularly and adding fresh material to maintain its effectiveness. Availability and environmental considerations regarding peat moss extraction can be concerns for some horse owners.

Maintaining Equine Bedding

Regular maintenance of stall bedding is crucial for your horse’s health and comfort. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

Remove soiled bedding at least daily, including urine spots and manure piles.
Add fresh bedding as needed, typically every day or every other day for most options.
Ensure the stall is well-ventilated to prevent ammonia buildup from urine and manure.
Deep-clean the entire stall regularly.

Proper maintenance not only keeps your horse’s living environment clean and comfortable, but it also promotes healthy respiratory systems and hoof health.

Special Considerations for Foaling Stalls

Foaling stalls require special attention when it comes to bedding. The bedding material should be soft to protect the newborn foal, absorbent to handle the increased moisture, and free from dust to prevent respiratory problems.

It also should be something that doesn’t interfere with the mare licking her newborn after delivery. Some bedding materials cling to the wet foal’s hair, which increases the dam’s likelihood of ingesting the bedding.

Keep in mind that ammonia is heavier than air and will sink or stay near floor level. That means you might not smell it standing in the stall. However, foals lie down a lot when they are young, so they are in the “ammonia zone” closer to the floor.

If you have any concerns about ammonia concentrations in your foal’s stall, lie down on the bedding and see what your nose and eyes tell you about the amount of ammonia present.

Sustainability, Disposal, and Environmental Impact

As responsible horse owners, it’s important to consider the environmental impact of our equine bedding choices and disposal practices. Some bedding materials are more sustainable than others.

Proper disposal of used bedding is a critical aspect of horse stall management that affects not only the cleanliness and health of the barn environment but also the broader ecosystem.

When considering how to dispose of used bedding, horse owners have a few options, each with its own environmental implications:

Composting: Composting is a highly effective and environmentally friendly way to manage used stall bedding. By transforming bedding material and manure into compost, it can be repurposed as a nutrient-rich soil additive for gardens, landscaping, or even crop fields. This method reduces waste in landfills and can contribute positively to the soil ecosystem. However, successful composting requires proper management, including regular turning of the compost pile and ensuring a balance that breaks down the materials and kills parasites.
Manure Management Programs: Some communities or agricultural extension offices offer manure management programs that accept used bedding and manure. These programs often compost the waste and use it or sell it for agricultural or horticultural purposes. Participating in such programs can be an efficient way to dispose of stall waste responsibly.
Land Spreading: Spreading used bedding and manure directly on fields is another disposal method. This can provide nutritional benefits to the soil, similar to composting. However, it’s essential to do this responsibly to avoid overapplication or spreading near water sources. You want to prevent nutrient runoff and water pollution.
Landfill Disposal: In cases where other options are not feasible, used bedding might end up in landfills. While this is the least environmentally friendly option, reducing the volume of waste through efficient stall maintenance can help mitigate the impact. Choosing biodegradable bedding materials also contributes positively, as they will break down more easily in a landfill setting.

When deciding on a disposal method, consider local regulations and potential environmental impacts. Engaging in sustainable practices not only benefits the immediate surroundings but also contributes to a healthier planet.

Horse owners are encouraged to explore local resources and community programs to find the most suitable and sustainable disposal method for their stall bedding.

Final Words

Creating a comfortable, safe, and healthy stall environment for your horse is more than just a basic responsibility—it’s a fundamental part of horse ownership. Understanding the basics of equine bedding, choosing the right material, and implementing effective management practices can make a significant difference in your horse’s well-being. By staying informed and making conscious choices, we can provide our equine companions with the quality of life they deserve.

This article is based on an EQUUS Extra supplement.