Best Shavings

Lorna · 10-26-2005, 01:42 PM

My husband recently converted a 4 car garage into two 12x12 stalls for my horse and his future horse. We purchased heavy duty stall mats and want to know which type of shavings are the best to use. Please help!!

Lorna

**divinemisselle** · 10-26-2005, 01:48 PM

Lorna,

I live near a sawmill, so I'm able to get cedar shavings from them pretty cheaply. I can pick it up by the truckbedfull or have it delivered by a dump truck.

Be wary of doing this though if the mill doesn't guarantee it to be black walnut free, it will cause founder or laminitis. Mine doesn't saw the black walnut so I'm safe.

I know that you can buy it by the bag at TSC, but I like it better in larger bulk due to the number of horses I have. And it is cheaper than buying by the bag.

TheUpNorthCowgirl · 10-26-2005, 02:53 PM

I have learned the hard way not to use shavings from a mill or company who can't guarantee where it came from. I used shavings from a commercial wood chip company. The chips were hauled in a rail car that formerly contained a heavy metal, and my horses were poisoned by the bedding. One of my horses is in chronic liver failure from it. So I now use shavings from a Cedar Furniture Company and they bag them for me for $1 a bag. As DME said, Pick carefully.

Lorna · 10-26-2005, 07:23 PM

I had heard that cedar was the best. I will start researching around here for ceder shavings. There is a small stable near me that was not destroyed by Katrina (Bandit's stable was still under water last week--tack, bags of feed, shavings, etc. all gone)

and I thought about asking them if they would be interested in allowing me to order my shavings from their source. The owner of the stables is the guy who found Bandit for me. I am pretty sure he will be interested in making a deal. Appreciate the help!!!

Lorna

**taelesean** · 10-26-2005, 10:03 PM

Nafcore is by far the best horse bedding there is. It absorbs tons of moisture, cancels odors, and nerutralizes amonia. Almost no dust at all, and very warm and comfy for your horse - like sleeping on packing peanuts! Not many horses will eat it, and it lasts about three times as long as the WoodyPet stuff is supposed to. Its really easy to pick, and doesn't ever matt down.

Its made from the spongey core of the kenaf plant, which is grown for its fiber.

Here is a link to the Nafcor website.

http://www.nafcorehorsebedding.com/

pasomystic · 10-26-2005, 10:57 PM

We have our own bandsaw mill and used to plane floor boards we cut--so I had some wonderful planner shavings--fir and pine. I did not use cedar as many horses in my area had reactions to it--would break out in rashes, get hives or get breathing problems from the resin.
Since moving to Alberta where grain is king and straw is everywhere--guess what I use now, lol. Fortunately, MagicAl has free choice to go in and out of the barn and his stall--and very seldom poops in there.

10-26-2005, 01:42 PM
Lorna Newborn Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Belle Chasse, LA Posts: 37	Best Shavings My husband recently converted a 4 car garage into two 12x12 stalls for my horse and his future horse. We purchased heavy duty stall mats and want to know which type of shavings are the best to use. Please help!! Lorna

10-26-2005, 01:48 PM
divinemisselle Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 6,650	Lorna, I live near a sawmill, so I'm able to get cedar shavings from them pretty cheaply. I can pick it up by the truckbedfull or have it delivered by a dump truck. Be wary of doing this though if the mill doesn't guarantee it to be black walnut free, it will cause founder or laminitis. Mine doesn't saw the black walnut so I'm safe. I know that you can buy it by the bag at TSC, but I like it better in larger bulk due to the number of horses I have. And it is cheaper than buying by the bag. __________________ *Ditto.*

10-26-2005, 02:53 PM
TheUpNorthCowgirl Long Yearling Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Upper Michigan Posts: 1,022	I have learned the hard way not to use shavings from a mill or company who can't guarantee where it came from. I used shavings from a commercial wood chip company. The chips were hauled in a rail car that formerly contained a heavy metal, and my horses were poisoned by the bedding. One of my horses is in chronic liver failure from it. So I now use shavings from a Cedar Furniture Company and they bag them for me for $1 a bag. As DME said, Pick carefully. __________________ Hahahaha!

10-26-2005, 07:23 PM
Lorna Newborn Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Belle Chasse, LA Posts: 37	Shavings I had heard that cedar was the best. I will start researching around here for ceder shavings. There is a small stable near me that was not destroyed by Katrina (Bandit's stable was still under water last week--tack, bags of feed, shavings, etc. all gone) and I thought about asking them if they would be interested in allowing me to order my shavings from their source. The owner of the stables is the guy who found Bandit for me. I am pretty sure he will be interested in making a deal. Appreciate the help!!! Lorna

10-26-2005, 10:03 PM
taelesean Administrator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 5,756	Nafcore is by far the best horse bedding there is. It absorbs tons of moisture, cancels odors, and nerutralizes amonia. Almost no dust at all, and very warm and comfy for your horse - like sleeping on packing peanuts! Not many horses will eat it, and it lasts about three times as long as the WoodyPet stuff is supposed to. Its really easy to pick, and doesn't ever matt down. Its made from the spongey core of the kenaf plant, which is grown for its fiber. Here is a link to the Nafcor website. http://www.nafcorehorsebedding.com/ __________________

10-26-2005, 10:57 PM
pasomystic Coming two Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Alberta Posts: 1,528	We have our own bandsaw mill and used to plane floor boards we cut--so I had some wonderful planner shavings--fir and pine. I did not use cedar as many horses in my area had reactions to it--would break out in rashes, get hives or get breathing problems from the resin. Since moving to Alberta where grain is king and straw is everywhere--guess what I use now, lol. Fortunately, MagicAl has free choice to go in and out of the barn and his stall--and very seldom poops in there. __________________ We don't see things as they are. We see things as we are.