horseplay

I use straw right now but have heard of people using wood shavings. Wouldn't that get costly? What else is there to use?

equinolo

I use wood shavings myself. I happen to live near a factory that sells them pretty cheap if you load your own. The price has gone up over the years, but not too badly.

I've also seen newspaper used for bedding as well as straw.

Rameses

My best friend who has her own horse uses straw as a general preference, but from time to time, I've seen her try shredded paper and wood shavings.

SaddleSore

I worry too much about wood shavings because they can start to ferment, and if you should happen to get a wound that is contaminated with a wood chip or splinter, it can ferment.

So instead I use straw as my choice.

Giddyhorsey

I notice that newspaper is sometimes used, is there any harm to it, because I think it would be an economical way to save, because you can get old newspaper anywhere....just in case you fall on hard times.

horseshoes

A lot of good suggestions here. I use straw but it seems like wood chips would work as well. Of course, it the most important thing would be making sure the bedding is kept clean and replaced when needed.

sallyanna

When we get a horse we'll be using wood chips as we live near a sawmill and will be able to get a good deal. We may use straw in the summer/fall if we cut our own.

alexis

Could you just use something like mulch? I know my aunts husband goes out to rake the leaves and such during the year and mulches it down to put in the stall. Any harm in this?

barnbum

I would imagine there could be all sorts of issues in using mulch. Mulch is meant to be different than regular wood shavings and often catches fire (and is a pain to put out on top of it) due to the heat that accumulates in the piles if not turned occasionally before they are settled and dry. I would also worry about micro-organisms and bacteria and such as I've seen some pretty nasty fungi growing in mulch piles.