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....
Read Moreabout The Disadvantages of Straw Bedding for HorsesAny owner of a horse will probably have clean and well kept equine bedding which enables their horse to lie down and get a sufficient night sleep. Therefore, many owners will probably populate the flooring with our industry leading sawdust or shavings as this is one of the comfiest bedding options. While this form of bedding has many benefits; one potential problem is the fact that your horse might want to eat their bedding. This might at first just seem like a mild annoyance as you will have to keep replacing the previously eaten sawdust or shavings. However, letting your horse snack out on their bedding can actually have dire consequences. Especially if this is not kept in check over time. One such issue is the fact that your horse can develop intestinal obstruction and colic if they consume large amounts of their own bedding. Accompanying this is the fact that naturally, sawdust and shavings can become dusty overtime, the dust attracts unwanted bacteria which means that when your horse eats a of their bedding; they are putting themselves at danger of developing a nasty cough or becoming ill. At P.H.Winterton, we provide high quality horse shavings from Staffordshire and, in our time, we have learnt a thing or two about good bedding practices. Therefore, allow us to detail ways to stop your horse from eating their bedding. Quick and Easy Techniques An old fashioned way of thinking is to believe that because a technique is quick and easy, the technique is subsequently less effective. There are many quick and easy ways you can use to stop your horse from eating their bedding. Some of them include: Keep Your Horse Busy A great way to take your mind off of something is to keep busy. This also rings true for horses. On average, it is estimated horses spend 16 hours a day eating. Much of this statistic is attributed to the fact the horse could be eating due to boredom. If you keep them busy, such as getting them to go out on rides, they will feel less of a need to pig out on their bedding. Mix In The Old, With The New When putting new shavings or...
Read Moreabout Stopping Your Horse From Eating Their Shavings Or SawdustConverting to bulk rather than bagged horse shavings bedding is one way that stables can save on expenses. It can feel like you are throwing money away with bagged bedding, as you you have to buy the bedding plus the expense of cleaning it and then disposing of it. When buying bags of bedding this can add up fast, whereas bulk buying can save on expenses. Bulk horse shavings have a smaller price tag because of the economies of scale. Since bulk materials arrive loose, either in a trailer or the back of a dump truck, there is no plastic waste. Stables focused on environmental impact can use bulk products to help cut down on non-recyclable plastic. Reliable supplier of horse shavings Find a reliable supplier (such as PH Winterton) is the key to success with bulk bedding. Once you decide to bulk buy bedding you will need a place to store it. This could be a designated shed, a corner of the arena, underneath a lean-to or in a covered trailer that is used to pick up the bedding are all common choices. Ensure you pick a spot that is out of the weather and convenient to use so that it is not a battle at chore time. PH Winterton sources a number of our horse bedding products from sawmill waste collections, which can also be used for biomass fuel. Not only are sawdust and shavings useful for the maintenance of livestock, but they can also be used to make sawdust mulch. The sawdust is mixed with compost or grass clippings to produce a mulch that is extremely effective for acid-loving plants and helps your plants prosper. Contact us with any questions If you have any questions about equine bedding, please do not hesitate to get in touch with PH Winterton now. Our horse bedding products are available to customers across the country including deliveries to Worcestershire and...
Read Moreabout Why should I buy horse shavings in bulk?In a nutshell, yes, shavings can be used to create high-quality horse bedding. Through P.H Winterton’s sawmill waste collection we gather surplus wood from sawmills all around the country and create both equine bedding and wood chip pellets that can be used for biomass fuel boilers. For this blog, we will focus on why shavings are one of the best materials you can use to keep your horses comfortable. What are the criteria for good horse bedding? There are a number of criteria for what makes good bedding for horses, such as – Is it safe for horses? – Our sawdust bedding is extremely safe for horses Is it available in plentiful supply? – We supply different bales of bedding, with up to 48 packs able to fit onto a wooden pallet Is it absorbent? – P.H Winterton boasts three different types of equine bedding, all with excellent absorbency qualities How easy is it to store? – We give you the freedom of how much you purchase in one go, making it easy to store small or larger quantities at a time Is it cost-effective? – Our economy bale equine bedding is perfect for horse owners who are working on a budget but still need the best bedding Many horse owners think they need to bed their stalls as they would their own bed – soft and fluffy. But horses by nature do not need a soft, fluffy bed unless there are particular concerns which could include older horses needing to lie down frequently or stay down for longer periods of time. The main purpose of bedding is to absorb urine and moisture. Why should I choose shavings? Nothing quite looks and smells like a fresh stall of shavings. Our bedding keeps your animal and healthy, which is proven to help you to maintain a high standard production in the long run. Contact us for more information If you have any questions about shavings from P.H Winterton, please do not hesitate to get in touch...
Read Moreabout Can shavings be used for horse bedding?Thoroughbred horses are just one of a wide array of horse breeds that you may own or find yourself looking after. Due to their agility, if you’re a racer, they’re likely to be your most regularly encountered breed. Whether you’re training, preparing for a race or you’ve only just invested in a horse, it’s important to get their stables in order. Here at P.H. Winterton and Sons, we’re huge supporters of horse racers and their upcoming events. Thanks to our renowned status in the equestrian market and sponsorships of the Royal Windsor and Olympia horse shows, we’re a trusted source to buy your thoroughbred shavings from. Cheshire Choice Equine Bedding Cheshire Choice Equine Bedding is our most premium, high quality choice, guaranteed to provide the ultimate comfort to your horse. As one of the only types of horse beddings in Staffordshire that’s made of 100% soft wood shavings, we can provide you with the highest quality without having to travel too far. In a lot of bedding guides, it’s suggested that absorbency is a vital feature to keeping your horse comfortable and clean. With the absorption capabilities of Cheshire Choice, these shavings will give your horse a comfortable night’s sleep and have it raring to go for its next race. It’s ability to adjust temperature will also keep your horse warm in the Winter and cool in the Summer. We are confident in saying that buying Cheshire Choice Equine Bedding is the best decision with regards to the comfort, happiness and health of your animals. We also keep it free from chemicals and dust to prevent any respiratory problems developing in you and your horse. Economy-Bale Equine Bedding If you’re after another option that won’t break the bank, you can’t go wrong with Economy-Bale Equine Bedding. This bedding is also safe for the airwaves of you and your horses thanks to being double dust extracted. This also ensures that it’s hygienic from the start. This option of bedding is made from a combination of soft and hardwood shavings. Therefore, it’s still easy to clean out and can be used alongside rubber mats. New! Zebra Fibre Animal Bedding We are extremely proud to have added Zebra Fibre Animal Bedding to...
Read Moreabout Why Buy Thoroughbred Shavings From P.H. Winterton and Son?Have you ever wondered what the best bedding material is for your horse? Here at P.H Winterton and Son, we believe that sawdust shavings are the best choice and we will explain in this post why. Here are the criteria you should have before purchasing horse bedding – Safe for horses Easily available Absorbent Easy to store Cost-effective Easy to handle and pick manure from Many horse owners think that they need to bed their stalls like our own beds, making them soft and fluffy. But horses by nature do not require a soft and fluffy bed unless they are a bit older and thus need to lie down for longer periods of time. The main purpose of horse bedding is to absorb urine and moisture. Explaining the Appeal of Sawdust Shavings Nothing quite looks and smell like a stall that is freshly bedded with traditional sawdust shavings of pine or fir. Different types of shavings are more absorbent than others, with kiln-dried shavings having lower moisture content than heavier chip-like shavings. Look to maintain good ventilation in the barn once your shavings have been laid and keep an eye out for cobwebs and dust layers. Having bagged sawdust is easier to use, convenient to store plus they are far less dusty than loose equine bedding. Should I Consider Rubber Stall Mats? Using rubber stall mats means you will be able to easily scoop up manure and soiled bedding and leave clean bedding behind. This also gives your horse a healthy surface to stand on with enough ‘give’ for a cushioning effect. Talk to the Horse Bedding Specialists If you need new horse bedding for your barns, please do not hesitate to contact P.H Winterton and Son today. We offer three different equine bedding options to match any budget or quality...
Read Moreabout Why Sawdust Shavings are the Best Horse Bedding