Straw has traditionally been used for horse bedding in the UK for centuries now. But why? Well, one may argue there are many reasons, some of which include: being widely available; easy to muck out; cheaper than other bedding alternatives, and providing a warm comfortable bed for your horses. This all sounds great, but straw bedding has many disadvantages that aren’t so pleasant. In this article by P.H. Winterson & Sons, we’ll take you through the disadvantages and explain why other bedding alternatives such as shavings are better than straw bedding. After reading this, the chances are, you’ll want to consider switching your horse’s bedding! Dust and Mould Straw bedding is a byproduct of harvested cereal grain crops such as wheat, oats, and bailey. Similar to hay, a bale of straw needs to be regularly checked for mould or moisture. Depending on the quality, it can be quite dusty. Mouldy or dusty straw shouldn’t be used as bedding because it can cause respiratory problems for you and your horses. If your horse or you suffer from respiratory issues such as asthma, straw is not a suitable type of bedding. Whereas, shavings are a safer, dust, and mould free alternative. Horses Can Eat Their Bedding Some horses are tempted to eat their straw bedding. This problem leads to using more straw bedding than needed, which can be costly. There are many debates about how safe straw is for horses to eat. However, straw is a low-quality forage and if eaten in large quantities, it could impact colic (abdominal pain) which could be life-threatening for horses. On the other hand, shavings are inedible so horses won’t be tempted, they are used for bedding purposes only, and they have significantly lower health risks. Difficult To Muck Out Straw is non-absorbent, which is one of the main purposes of horse bedding. Because it’s lightweight, it’s more difficult to control the dust particles when moved around and put down as bedding. Straw bedding waste is bulky, and rarely odourless. The muck heap tends to be larger, heavier to pick up, and dispose of. For this reason, it’s much easier to muck out shavings than straw. Equine Bedding from P.H. Winterson & Son At P.H....
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Everyone loves to relax, sleep and dream in comfort and so does your horse! At P.H. Winterton & Sons, we are a family business delivering premium quality equine bedding to our customers for their equine friends. If you’re looking for new bedding, this article is for you. Let’s go through the best types of bedding we offer.. Cheshire Choice Our high-quality Cheshire Choice equine bedding is made to give excellent results. Did you know this is one of the only horse beddings in Staffordshire that is made from 100% soft wood shavings? Allowing extreme comfort for your horse, while at the same time lasting longer than traditional shavings. Their high absorption levels means you save more new bedding when mucking out the stables. This unique bedding has a temperature adjusting ability, keeping your horses warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Perfect to use all year round! We keep you and your horse’s health in mind so our bedding is free from chemicals and dust to prevent allergies, illness and respiratory problems. Economy-Bale Our Economy-Bale equine bedding is our more affordable and economical bedding choice that still provides premium quality results. This is one of the most affordable equine bedding in Staffordshire and is also double dust extracted which means shavings won’t cause unwanted respiratory problems for you or your horses. The shavings are a mixture of both hardwood and softwood, so it’s easy to muck out your stable, they can also be used in combination with rubber mats. Zebra Fibre Our newest addition to the range, our Zebra Fibre animal bedding can be used for both the agricultural and equine industries. It provides comfort, superb absorption levels, and leaves minimal wastage while mucking out. Switching your bedding to Zebra Fibre means happy animals all around! Equine Bedding at P.H. Winterton & Sons We can proudly say that choosing our equine bedding will be the best decision you make for a boost of comfort and happiness for your horses. If your horses are happy, we are certainly happy! For more information on any of our ranges, please get in touch today. ...
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