Is wood shavings ok to use as a bedding in my horses stable ? :)?
Almost every barn I’ve ever worked at uses shavings or sawdust as bedding. The only time I’ve ever seen straw used is on the breeding farm I worked at right after college, and even then it was ONLY USED as bedding for the mares in the spring during foaling season. ( Mares should NEVER foal on shavings- they present a dangerous health hazard to both mom and baby,regardless of what kind of tree they come from.) Shavings are typically available in two forms: baled shavings, which are usually white pine, and loose shavings, which can be from other kinds of trees. Almost all pine shavings are safe to use as bedding for horses. Stay away from cedar ( it has fibers which can cause horses to develop respiratory problems) and BOTH red maple and black walnut shavings.These other two are EXTREMELY TOXIC to horses, and will cause your mare to founder. Elm shavings should also be avoided, because some horses are very allergic to them. Using shavings for a few days isn’t going to hurt your mare. Jus
