Some horses eat their bedding, and for different reasons. Las leading horse bedding producer, Bed-Down advise on how to discourage horses from bed eating.
Finding your horse eating its bedding can be frustrating, particularly when you’ve just put down a fresh, clean bed. While the occasional mouthful may seem harmless, persistent bed eating could be a sign that your horse’s management or feeding routine needs a closer look.
One reason horses eat bedding is simply that they are hungry or have too much time between forage feeds. Horses are naturally predisposed to spending much of their time grazing, so providing plenty of suitable forage can help keep them occupied and reduce the temptation to snack on their horse bedding.
Some horses are somewhat more interested in eating their bedding than others. This is particularly noticeable when they’re newly stabled or have experienced a change in routine. Keeping forage available and maintaining a consistent management routine can help provide reassurance and reduce boredom.
But the type of horse bedding you choose can also make a difference. Some bedding materials may be more tempting to eat than others. Bed-Down offers naturally unpalatable equine bedding, particularly useful for horses that need to avoid consuming their bedding. Premium, Pure Shavings, Rapasorb and Lavender Shavings are all naturally unpalatable horse bedding products, helping to provide a comfortable stable bed whilst discouraging your horse to treat its bed as a food source!
A good-quality bed should of course provide somewhere comfortable for your horse to rest. Soft, supportive bedding encourages horses to lie down, while absorbency helps keep the bed dry and pleasant. Bed-Down’s EASY BREATHE™ dust extraction process also helps remove hazardous airborne dust particles from horse bedding, promoting cleaner air in the stable
If your horse suddenly starts eating large quantities of its horse bedding, it’s worth considering whether there’s been a change to its feeding, exercise or stable routine. Persistent or excessive behaviour should always be discussed with your vet, who can help investigate any underlying concerns.
By providing appropriate forage, a consistent routine and suitable, naturally unpalatable horse bedding, you can help make the stable a comfortable place for your horse to rest rather than a tempting place to graze.
Contact us today on 01986 785278 or at info@bed-down.co.uk
