Horses need proper bedding when kept inside a barn or stable. Give your horse the luxury of lying down to sleep or rest anytime he wants to. A horse should never be forced to stand an entire day on hard floor.

One popular choice for horse bedding is straw. In addition to being inexpensive, straw bedding is warm and comfortable. On the downside, straw may contain fungal spores and the horse may eat straw bedding.

Other popular choices for horse bedding are dust-free wood shavings, rubber matting, and hemp. If you are using rubbing matting, place a layer of straw or wood shavings on top to provide warmth.

If a horse is kept stabled all day, cleaning or mucking should be done at least 3 times daily. Mucking involves removal of any fecal material, and leveling of the horse’s bedding. Soiled bedding should be separated from the still-clean bedding. The stable floor is cleaned with a disinfectant and allowed to dry. The clean bedding is then returned to its place; you may need to add some fresh bedding material if you have removed a considerable amount of soiled material.

Consult with your Effingham veterinarian about your horse’s basic needs. Click here to know more.