That question again! Straw or shavings??

[lauren123]

Well. As part of the deal in winter we pay slightly more and get adlib straw included. However I have never really got on with straw. Always been a shavings person. Felt straw had its place. But sox would eat it. Also I would be mucking out before work and I cant be smelling of straw while I am at work.
The YO said I could have shavings for sox if needed, mainly due to if he came down with lami I already have a supportive bed... Plus I find it much cleaner then straw and it doesn't smell as much. Though I am wanting to save some money, shavings aren't cheap. Also I struggle to get to grips with straw....

The only thing was if I was going with straw I was going to do straw bed and do the rest of his stable with mats Though I would have a few matts left over and not to sure where to store them. Though if I am going wih shavings I will need more matts. His stable is about 18ft by 14ft

 

[Trewsers]

I love straw (insert little dancing icon here) but sadly up here we can only get it at certain times of the year, so atm my little herd are on Bedmax which is costing Mr T and I a small fortune
However, I do understand the part about not wanting to go into work smelling of strawlol (mind you, I can think of worse smells I had a co-worker who had an "interesting" odour). Could you buy one of those painting and decorating suits to pop on over your work gear in a morning? Might look a bit odd, but hey, all horsey folk have their quirks!!!
Could you do a combo of shavings and straw??

 

[carthorse]

You can do a perfectly good shavings bed without using mats.

 

[Lemme]

we matted 2/3rds of stable and then have 1/3 shavings on that - use 1 bale a week approx , only 1/2 bale for the small pony stable - you don't need deep bed and banks with the matting down. we use bedmax we had to change from straw due to COPD/allergy

 

[MrC]

Being honest I prefer straw, cheaper and I don't find it hard to muck out (might just be the amount of years I've been on it) however like yourself I muck out in the morning and I just don't have time to have a shower before work so I use shavings due to the lack of smell. Kia's stable is outside facing so it gets plenty of air.

If I go back to a 9-5 job locally then I may put him back on straw as I would have plenty of time to muck out and go back to my house to have a shower and his bed would get plenty of airing being up all day.

 

[Lissie]

I'm a straw person! Much cheaper and think you can make much nicer beds. I muck out 2 beds every morning in winter, where latex clothes, get changed in tack room, use body spray and wash hands thoroughly when I get to work. Hope I don't smell I have had straw picked out my hair my the manager though lol.

I don't use mats with straw, I find they don't really work very well the wee just runs underneath and makes them smelly and horrible. I have deep beds and take out the wet every day. Once you get used to it it's quick to do.