Things You'll Need
- Several bales of wheat straw
- Pitchfork
- Scissors and wire cutters
- Lime
Instructions
Selecting Straw
Select brightly colored wheat straw for stall use. While barley and oat straw can often be found at good prices, horses tend to eat these straws which can lead to colic and other gastrointestinal problems. While straw that is not a bright gold in color often makes good bedding, it is also a sign that it may have gotten wet. If so, mold can be a problem. Be sure to smell the straw for freshness, avoiding any bales that smell moldy.
Choose square bales. While big round bales of straw are often more economical, they are also harder to store. In addition, since these big bales are often "stored" outside, the first two or three inches may not be usable due to mold or weathering.
Select bales that are bound tightly whether with twine or wire. The type of binding is a matter of personal preference although wire-tied bales are often larger and easier to move without fear of them coming apart. However, twine can be easier to dispose of than wire.
Bedding the Stall
Remove any old bedding from the stall before bedding with straw the first time. Cover any wet spots with a light dusting of lime.
Open a bale of straw using either wire cutters or scissors depending on the type of binding. Be sure to remove all twine or wire from the stall.
Shake the flakes of straw over the stall until the floor is totally covered. Inspect the flakes carefully to make sure there is no mold present, discarding any flakes that show signs of it. Add additional bales as necessary until the straw is approximately 8 inches deep. If the floor of the stall is hard-packed dirt or concrete, you may want to add more. If the stall has rubber mats, less may be used.
Use the pitch fork to "fluff" the straw. This will make sure that the straw flakes are fully separated, allowing more cushion and absorbency. Some people like to bank the edges of the stall to make it less likely that a horse can become cast.