I have brought two of my mares in for the night, as our fields are so wet and need protection.



Unfortunately my Haflinger, who I have hardly ever stabled before ate all her straw last night and in this morning had a very mucky stable and bloated tummy.



I have only ever used straw and occassionally shavings for a different pony who suffers from lami.



I know that people have posted on this subject alot before but is my best bet to go for a deep litter bed of ???? She is a large 14.3hh and the first thing she does when I bring her in is roll in her stable, so I cannot get away with a thin bedding.



Thank you!!

You could try disinfectant sprayed on it or mixing shavings with it? or mix up the old with the new straw to make it untasty (is that a word?).

My experience with Haffies is that even if something's only 'borderline-edible' they'll try it! One possibility (unusual, unconventional) is to opt out of anything even remotely edible, and put down a really thick bed of (would you believe) shingle instead. Sounds daft, but it can actually make a good bed!

You'll need to put a retaining board across the inside of the doorway (an old railway sleeper is a goodish bet) and put down around 3 tons of shingle - which will cost you probably just under £90 .... having said that, it's a dream to muck out (just poo-pick off the top), drains brilliantly, doesn't run out or need topping-up, can be shovelled out and hosed through with disinfectant to make it good as new, and you can't beat it for hoof condition (promotes lovely hard horn and excellent hoof circulation, and causes zero fungal problems). Works best with the barefoot horse.

To a human, it sounds uncomfortable, but to a horse a shingle bed is a bit like a bean bag is for us.

That sounds like an excellent idea!


J and A Agricultural Contractors

Thats amazing for bedding, has anyone else used this method, sounds brill too me!!!!!!

i think my ponies would be traumatised with a shingle bedding, spoilt pair!

although both mine eat straw there now on a chopped rape straw i think it is with a citrus coating. it smells great and they spit it out

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hi have you tried paper bedding as that is quite good an they don't tend to eat it or matting with minimal bedding

Lol yes, I have a different problem- Summer eats the wood chip (big chunks) that we put down to prevent mud. Its not like shes hungry!!! Must be a haflinger thing. hmm.



Jess x