When the temperature drops, using winter-appropriate horse bedding is extremely important. Two of the best are chopped straw and wood shavings.
What makes chopped straw and wood shavings such good winter horse bedding materials?
Both materials offer excellent insulation, moisture control and comfort, making them ideal for helping your horse stay cosy through the colder months.
Chopped straw and wood shavings both act as natural insulators, trapping air to help maintain warmth within the stable. This not only keeps the floor from feeling cold but also protects against draughts, particularly valuable when horses spend longer periods indoors over winter. A thick, well-maintained bed helps create a snug, inviting environment for your horse to rest in.
One of the key advantages of wood shavings is their high absorbency. They effectively soak up moisture from urine, keeping the surface dry and helping to reduce odour and ammonia build-up. Premium shavings brands are designed to provide a soft, cushioned layer while maintaining excellent moisture control.
Chopped straw, on the other hand, offers good drainage and allows urine to sink to the bottom of the bed, where it can be removed easily. The best chopped straw bedding (and bedding made from wood shavings for that matter) is dust-extracted, making it a healthy option for those with respiratory sensitivities.
A deep, supportive bed encourages horses to lie down and achieve proper rest, including vital REM sleep. Straw is naturally springy and provides excellent cushioning, while shavings mould easily to a horse’s shape, offering reliable comfort and support. Some owners find that their horses have clear preferences between the two materials, whilst the ideal horse bedding fr some is a mix of chopped straw and shavings; it’s worth taking advice and/or experimenting to establish which is more beneficial and comfortable for your horse.
It’s worth noting too that chopped straw is less bulky than traditional straw, making it easier to store and manage, and it produces a smaller muck heap. Wood shavings are lightweight and easy to muck out, requiring only regular top-ups to stay fresh. Together, chopped straw and wood shavings offer warmth and dryness – the perfect bedding combination for a comfortable and healthy horse throughout the winter months.
Bed-Down is one of the country’s leading producers of premium dust-extracted horse bedding. We offer a range of bedding products, and we’ll be pleased to help you choose the most suitable winter horse bedding for your stable and your equine companion. Browse our products and call us if you’d like us to guide you through the options.
Contact us today on 01986 785278 or at info@bed-down.co.uk
