Posted 2017-11-13 12:01 AM Subject: Need advice from barn owners
I Drink Whiskey in Boys Shorts
Posts: 1882
I am a first time barn owner approaching my first winter in North Idaho. I have dealt with cold and snow before, but not quite to the degree that I will here. Closing the mare up in the barn is not an option, so she has access to her stall and her outside pen. After dealing with a winter type storm last weekend, I had a mess on my hands. I didn't have her stall bedded for summer because she preferred to go to the bathroom in her outside pen. So, now I am curious what do other people with this setup do in winter?
Posted 2017-11-13 6:23 AM Subject: RE: Need advice from barn owners
Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
We have runs that are half in and half out. We don’t need them and push them with a skidloader so I may not be much help...
My all time favorite bedding though was sawdust from a pallet factory. Similar to the pellets once they fully fluff, in fact it wouldn’t surprise me if that’s what they made them out of. It was amazingly low dust while highly absorbing and soooo easy to pick. We had a small trailer we would take and get filled.
Posted 2017-11-13 8:15 AM Subject: RE: Need advice from barn owners
I Drink Whiskey in Boys Shorts
Posts: 1882
Thank you for your replies. I was planning on bringing in some pelleted bedding for moisture control and had planned on trying to get the rice hulls for my main bedding. Is it best to just go with pelleted altogether?
Posted 2017-11-13 8:37 AM Subject: RE: Need advice from barn owners
Meanest Teacher!!!
Posts: 8555 Location: sunny california
I would skip the rice hulls if your horse pees inside. they do not absorb liquid but rather act as little cups to contain it. after a while the horse gets fungus crap on their legs unless you strip OFTEN but if horse goes potty outside those hulls will leave a nice sheen on the horses coat.
Posted 2017-11-13 8:55 AM Subject: RE: Need advice from barn owners
I Drink Whiskey in Boys Shorts
Posts: 1882
kwanatha - 2017-11-13 6:37 AM
I would skip the rice hulls if your horse pees inside. they do not absorb liquid but rather act as little cups to contain it. after a while the horse gets fungus crap on their legs unless you strip OFTEN but if horse goes potty outside those hulls will leave a nice sheen on the horses coat.
Thank you for the info! I have only used rice hulls in my trailer and love them for that. Unfortunately my mare is a princess and only pees indoors once her outside stall gets too wet.
Posted 2017-11-13 10:48 AM Subject: RE: Need advice from barn owners
Expert
Posts: 3815 Location: The best kept secret in TX
Pelleted bedding is best for moisture control in the winter. We even put it at the entrance of the stalls to soak up moisture before it gets tracked into the stall.
Need advice from barn owners
