Wood Burning Pellets vs. Horse Stall Pellets

Horse stalls have traditionally been lined with wood shavings or straw to provide bedding for the horse. Wood-burning pellets that are produced to burn in a pellet stove offer an alternative to shavings and hay. Many manufacturers now produce horse stall wood pellets that are designed specifically for this purpose.

  1. Considerations

    • There are a number of disadvantages to using straw and shavings. Wood shavings and straw can be difficult to clean up. They are not very absorbent and can create a lot of dust. They are difficult to store because they take up a lot of space. They are expensive because you need to use a lot more of these products to do the job. This has led to the use of wood pellets as an alternative source of bedding.

    Wood Burning Pellets

    • Wood pellets that are used to heat your home are made from compressed wood byproducts. They are small and resemble rabbit food. They are placed in a pellet stove to produce heat and burn very efficiently. Many horse farms and breeders have found them to be very effective in lining horse stalls. They are poured onto the floor of the stall and then sprayed with water. They expand and make an excellent bed for the horse.

    Factors

    • Wood pellets are made of compressed wood. Once they are sprayed with water they will expand up to five times their original size. They are extremely absorbent and soak up urine very effectively. To clean the bed of wood pellets, you simply remove the manure and add a fresh bag of pellets and add water. This provides less waste than a straw or wood shaving bed, which would have to be completely removed. Wood pellets are easier to store because they take up less space.

    Horse Stall Pellets

    • As more and more horse owners are turning to wood pellets, many manufacturers have begun producing specially designed horse stall pellets. These pellets are very similar to home heating pellets, but have a number of advantages. Horse stall pellets are made from only pine wood. Pine wood is a soft wood and is even more absorbent than other harder woods that may be in the heating pellets. Horse stall pellets are more carefully screened for contaminants and dust than ordinary pellets because they are used for horses. During the pelletizing stage, the wood in horse stall pellets is treated with high heat, which removes tars, oils, hydrocarbons and other potential allergens.

    Cost

    • The only disadvantage of horse stall pellets in comparison with home heating pellets is the cost. As of 2010, home heating wood pellets cost $2 to $4 per 40-lb. bag. Horse stall pellets cost $5 to $10 per 40-lb. bag. Many horse owners will tell you that it is worth the cost because it ensures a healthy horse. Either type of wood pellet that you choose will provide significant advantages over wood shavings and straw.