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 Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
 
| I'm just a few days away from picking up our new trailer and I'm just wondering if it's a good idea to put shavings on the floor. The floor feels very padded already with the mats in there and I probably won't be traveling very far, all the places I want to go ride at are pretty local.. but it seems like every trailer I see or that we looked at had shavings in it. I planned on using our power washer on it after each use to keep it nice. |
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| If I'm travelling a long distance I do like to put a small amount of shavings in there if my horses pee. If I'm close to home then no, since my horse probably won't pee in the short time he is on the trailer anyway. |
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Duct Tape Bikini Girl
Posts: 2554
| To each his own, but I use shavings to absorb urine. It reduces the amount of urine that gets through to the floor of your trailer (beneath your mats).
Cleaning your trailer out after each use is definitely a good idea. However if you've yet to experience pulling trailer mats out to clean out urine that leaks through, it is an exhausting job. Trailer mats are heavy! Have some heart pills handy. |
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  Witty Enough
Posts: 2954
Location: CTX | We don't really go far enough for my horses to pee in the trailer, so I prefer not to use shavings. It makes cleaning out the trailer easier and faster. 2-3 times a year we (and by we I mean my hubby) will pull mats and wash out the trailer.
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Expert
Posts: 2531
Location: WI | I always use them. It absorbs both the wetness and odor. Things can get slick and stinky without them! |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2931
Location: North Dakota | Absolutely YES on shavings. It absorbs the urine, instead of letting it get under the mats. |
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 Coyote Country Queen
Posts: 5666
| I put down a bag of pellets and then a bag of shavings on top. Seems like my horses always pee, no matter the distance. And of course they all poop, too. I pick out the piles and wet spots every time I unload, and those two bags can last for quite awhile. We have WERM flooring, so no mats to pull. But I think my horses are more comfortable with the shavings in there. I have hauled without shavings, and the floor does get really slick and nasty. |
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 Too Skinny
Posts: 8009
Location: LA Lower Alabama | I don't think I have ever had one pee before but the poo is mushy and can cause them to slide so I do keep shavings. |
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 The One
Posts: 7997
Location: South Georgia | I do not use shavings. I have a horse styled stock trailer, as in there are 2 or three rails of open slots at the top on each side. A few months ago when I went to haul my mare to the vet, the condensation was on the mats and it was slick, so I put some shavings in there. I thought it was a good idea. What I did not anticipate was the snow flurries that would be produced by the shavings in the trailer that has a good bit of air flow. 10 minutes into the 2 hour haul, I had to pull over and put a fly mask on my mare to help save her face. She was covered in shavings! As soon as we got to the vet, I asked my husband to take all the shavings out! It was horrible.
So if you do use shavings, be sure they are the super chunky ones. |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| Yes with traditional mats for absorbency and so they don’t get slick.
I plan to have polylast put in the trailer we’re buying so I won’t use shavings at that point. |
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 Famous for Not Complaining
Posts: 8848
Location: Broxton, Ga | I need horses that don't pee.........lol cause all mine will and do!!
Yes to shavings! |
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 Expert
Posts: 1395
Location: Missouri | I don't use them, especially in warmer weather bc they just blow all over the place in my stock trailer, so it's a waste. I hose off the mats every time I use it when warm enough, and pull the mats up a few times a year.
If I'm going a longer distance (very rare), I will put down those pellet type shavings so my horse will pee. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | The thing about shavings is if you have a horse with respiratory issues or allergies then shavings is not a good ideal, I would go with the pellet type as someone else was saying thats what they use. |
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 The Bling Princess
Posts: 3411
Location: North Dakota | cranky B4 10am - 2018-06-12 12:37 PM We don't really go far enough for my horses to pee in the trailer, so I prefer not to use shavings. It makes cleaning out the trailer easier and faster. 2-3 times a year we (and by we I mean my hubby) will pull mats and wash out the trailer.
Oh my gosh the first thing my horses do is either pee or poop in the trailer!!LOL To the OP my trailer is ALWAYS bedded with a good amount of wood chips. Not only do they absorb urine, but you can wet them down in the summer to keep the trailer cool while your going down the road. |
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Expert
Posts: 1694
Location: Willows, CA | I use them all the time. |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| luckyjo - 2018-06-12 12:29 PM To each his own, but I use shavings to absorb urine. It reduces the amount of urine that gets through to the floor of your trailer (beneath your mats). Cleaning your trailer out after each use is definitely a good idea. However if you've yet to experience pulling trailer mats out to clean out urine that leaks through, it is an exhausting job. Trailer mats are heavy! Have some heart pills handy.
This. Mine wear soft rides to cushion the bouncing, shavings to absorb the pee. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | luckyjo - 2018-06-12 12:29 PM To each his own, but I use shavings to absorb urine. It reduces the amount of urine that gets through to the floor of your trailer (beneath your mats). Cleaning your trailer out after each use is definitely a good idea. However if you've yet to experience pulling trailer mats out to clean out urine that leaks through, it is an exhausting job. Trailer mats are heavy! Have some heart pills handy.
Man no kidding on how heavy the trailer mats are, that's why my hubby pulls them out for me and he uses vise-grips to pull out the mat's and after my cleaning he puts the mat's back in.. Heres a picture of the type of vise-grips he uses just in case some dont know what they are, they are very handy in pulling out mat's. 
 (51JtB14L7ZL._SX466_.jpg)
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 51JtB14L7ZL._SX466_.jpg (39KB - 206 downloads)
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I keep my change in my pockets
Posts: 2985
Location: MN | Using vise grips was the best thing I learned for pulling out the floor mats and putting them back!
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Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| I think I'll do the shavings... I don't need anyone slipping. Thank ya'll! It's an inexpensive investment in the safety of my horses. |
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 I hate cooking and cleaning
Posts: 3310
Location: Jersey Girl | want2chase3 - 2018-06-12 1:07 PM I'm just a few days away from picking up our new trailer and I'm just wondering if it's a good idea to put shavings on the floor. The floor feels very padded already with the mats in there and I probably won't be traveling very far, all the places I want to go ride at are pretty local.. but it seems like every trailer I see or that we looked at had shavings in it. I planned on using our power washer on it after each use to keep it nice.
If you have one that always pees in a trailer then I think shavings are a must have. |
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I hate cooking and cleaning
Posts: 3310
Location: Jersey Girl | dawnb - 2018-06-12 8:28 PM Using vise grips was the best thing I learned for pulling out the floor mats and putting them back!
There is actually a mat puller tool out there. Makes it very easy too!
https://www.sstack.com/Stable_Barn-Supplies_Stall-Supplies/EZ-Grip-Mat-Mover/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuNPnys_Q2wIVhECGCh2RSQduEAQYASABEgIPt_D_BwE |
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Location: Texas | Definetly shavings. My trailer stays cleaner and I clean the poop and wet shavings out after each haul. I find it helps with odor as well. |
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 Sorry I don't have any advice
Posts: 1975
Location: Sunnyland Florida |
I always use shavings, but I use the large flakes with minimal dust so it doesn't affect their airways as much. Mine all pee in the trailer (even on short rides) and the shavings help a lot.
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Coyote Country Queen
Posts: 5666
| I should have clarified, I use the pellets and shavings in my horse trailer. When I haul in the stock trailer I don't put anything down. Like someone else said, they would just blow out and be a mess! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1074
| I always use shavings. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
| I use the pellets and Beck's cobs. I have very little dust. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 883
Location: Southern Indiana | I ALWAYS use shavings/saw dust and try to wet them down to keep the dust down. I've never had an issue with them. So much easier to clean. I would be afraid of a horse slipping on mats, plus just the mess of trying to clean them. Plus its kind of extra protection if you have one that paws. |
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Sparklin Cowgirl
Posts: 4379
| I have done both. Now I have to keep shavings in the trailer because my gelding will not urinate without shaving. He also won’t p tied to the trailer.... |
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Born not Made
Posts: 2931
Location: North Dakota | WYOTurn-n-Burn - 2018-06-12 3:40 PM cranky B4 10am - 2018-06-12 12:37 PM We don't really go far enough for my horses to pee in the trailer, so I prefer not to use shavings. It makes cleaning out the trailer easier and faster. 2-3 times a year we (and by we I mean my hubby) will pull mats and wash out the trailer.
Oh my gosh the first thing my horses do is either pee or poop in the trailer!!LOL To the OP my trailer is ALWAYS bedded with a good amount of wood chips. Not only do they absorb urine, but you can wet them down in the summer to keep the trailer cool while your going down the road.
So do mine!
Heck, in the 10 minute drive from Walt Neuens last time we were there for BHC, both of my geldings pee'd and pooped. And there's only one stop light I wait at. Seriously? It's like they wait to pee in the trailer. Neither of them had pee'd all day either. Lordy horses!
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Born not Made
Posts: 2931
Location: North Dakota | horsegirl - 2018-06-12 2:09 PM I do not use shavings. I have a horse styled stock trailer, as in there are 2 or three rails of open slots at the top on each side. A few months ago when I went to haul my mare to the vet, the condensation was on the mats and it was slick, so I put some shavings in there. I thought it was a good idea. What I did not anticipate was the snow flurries that would be produced by the shavings in the trailer that has a good bit of air flow. 10 minutes into the 2 hour haul, I had to pull over and put a fly mask on my mare to help save her face. She was covered in shavings! As soon as we got to the vet, I asked my husband to take all the shavings out! It was horrible.
So if you do use shavings, be sure they are the super chunky ones.
Since I do use shavings all the time, I always haul my horses with full fly masks (ear and nose coverage). It keeps any debris out of their eyes and noses.
I also don't tie them when I haul, then they are free to lower their heads.
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 The Vaccinator
Posts: 3810
Location: Slipping down the slope of old age. Boo hoo. | I use the pellets for longer hauls -- under the gelding's belly and at the rear for the mare -- they soak up urine really well and no dust. Easy to clean trailer. Not slippery since urine soaks up. |
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Witty Enough
Posts: 2954
Location: CTX | r_beau - 2018-06-19 12:58 PM WYOTurn-n-Burn - 2018-06-12 3:40 PM cranky B4 10am - 2018-06-12 12:37 PM We don't really go far enough for my horses to pee in the trailer, so I prefer not to use shavings. It makes cleaning out the trailer easier and faster. 2-3 times a year we (and by we I mean my hubby) will pull mats and wash out the trailer.
Oh my gosh the first thing my horses do is either pee or poop in the trailer!!LOL To the OP my trailer is ALWAYS bedded with a good amount of wood chips. Not only do they absorb urine, but you can wet them down in the summer to keep the trailer cool while your going down the road.
Heck, in the 10 minute drive from Walt Neuens last time we were there for BHC, both of my geldings pee'd and pooped. And there's only one stop light I wait at. Seriously? It's like they wait to pee in the trailer. Neither of them had pee'd all day either. Lordy horses!
Oh wow, guess I'm just lucky then!! Ours will poop on the trailer, but that's about it. And I always clean that out after each trip.
I do always put fly masks on them. I always have hay in front of them, and there can always fly something into the trailer (dropdowns are always down on the LQ trailer, and the stock has slats. So don't want to take a risk.
Also, the LQ has slats on the butt-side, so when it rains I feel the shavings get wet and I've seen horses slip on them when wet...
I really would like to get the poly flooring in the LQ, but for now we just deal with pulling mats. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 911
Location: Northern Ontario | Mine likes to pee so lots of shavings on the stall and trailer. Its like he holds it in to wait for shavings....geldings I guess...my mare never did that |
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 Expert
Posts: 1210
Location: Kansas | I go out of my way to Orscheln's to get the super big flake shavings to put in my trailer because it adds a ton of cushion. It also makes it a lot easier to clean out the trailer, and when I have to pee in the back, it doesn't splatter back on me lol |
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 Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4553
Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah | My mats are ribbed so they have a little traction. I cant afford shavings. and I dont like the fact when they pee it stays in the shaving and the urine stays in the trailer. when it gets hot in there the fumes are enough to make a horse sick and me when I open the trailer. the very reason why I prefer not t to stall if I dont have to. it is up to you. |
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