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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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