Types of Wood Shavings for Horses

No matter what type of horse you own, you need to provide him with a clean, comfortable stall. Part of proper horse keeping is making sure the stall is properly bedded, and for many horse owners that means using wood shavings. Horse owners have a number of choices for wood shavings, and it is important to shop around for the best solution.

  1. Compressed Wood Pellets

    • Compressed wood pellets are an interesting alternative to other types of horse bedding. These wood pellets are similar in appearance to the pellets used in wood stoves, but they have been carefully selected for equine use. That means no potentially toxic chemicals are used, and no black walnut is included. Many of the leading brands use only fresh pine for their shavings. As the shavings get wet, they puff up into sawdust, and this helps the bedding last longer. Compressed wood pellets are also easier to clean, because they do not get as wet and sticky as traditional wood shavings. Bags of these shavings are available at feed stores and tack shops around the country.

    Fresh Pine Shavings

    • Many tack shops and feed mills have pine shavings bagged and ready for purchase. Buying bags or bales of pine shavings is very convenient, and these shavings provide a soft bed that most horses find quite comfortable. The cost of these pre-bagged and baled shavings can vary quite widely, so it is always a good idea to compare prices. Some feed mills give discounts for buying in bulk, so if you have the room to store the shavings, you can probably save some money.

    Mixed Wood Sawdust

    • If there is a lumber operation or sawmill in your area, you might be able to strike a deal with the owner and buy mixed sawdust by the truckload. Some lumber mill owners allow horse owners to drive up and get a load of sawdust whenever they need it, sometimes for free but often for a fee. Even so, it can be much less costly to purchase a truckload of sawdust directly from the mill than to buy it in bags from the local feed store or tack shop. Just be sure that the sawdust you purchase does not contain black walnut wood, which can be toxic to horses.