9 Common mistakes people make with horse bedding pellets
You’ve made the leap of faith and decided to use horse bedding pellets in your horse’s stable.
But…you’re not sure exactly how to use them, or what mistakes you need to avoid.
We’ve listed 9 of the most common mistakes people make when using horse bedding pellets, and we’re going to tell you how you can avoid making them!
1. Adding too much water to the horse bedding pellets
It goes against the grain to add water to stable bedding. However, horse bedding pellets are designed to be re-hydrated with water prior to use. Some manufacturers recommended using as much as 9 litres of water to a 15 kg bag of bedding pellets.
People do make the mistake of adding too much water, which can turn the pellets into a soggy mess and cause them to lose their absorbency. So…follow the instructions on the packaging so you add exactly the right amount of water and you’ll be rewarded with soft, fluffy bedding.
2. Not adding enough water or soaking for long enough
On the opposite side of the coin, people also make the mistake of not using enough water, and not soaking the pellets well enough. This leads to lumpy, half pellet, half sawdust bedding that isn’t as absorbent as it should be. It’s also a waste because you’ll be throwing out pellets still full of compressed sawdust with the manure.
3. Adding the horse bedding pellets to the stable too soon
Wait until the pellets have completely expanded before adding them to the stable. If you add them before they’ve completely expanded, you’ll run into the same issues as not using enough water – lumpy half pelleted bedding that doesn’t do its job properly.
4. Using wood pellets that are not designed for horse bedding
There are wood pellets and then there are wood horse bedding pellets.
The 2 are not interchangeable.
Wood pellets for fires, for example, may contain wood that is toxic to horses (like black oak). They can also contain harmful chemicals.
Wood pellets manufactured specifically for horse bedding are made from non-toxic timber that is safe for horses, and goes through several cleaning processes to remove chemicals, debris, and any other contaminants that may be in the wood.
So do not (ever) use any other type of wood pellet for horse bedding.
5. Not using enough pellets for the size stable
Don’t cut costs by using less than the recommended amount of pellets for the size of the stable. It can result in inefficient bedding that is not only too thin for the horse to use comfortably but also doesn’t have enough mass to absorb urine properly.
6. Not replacing bedding as it’s removed with cleaning
Regularly replace the bedding as you remove it when you clean the stable so it retains its bulk and efficiency.
7. Not cleaning the stable regularly or properly
Clean the stable regularly, and properly, because old, soiled bedding is unhygienic and can also affect the performance of the bedding. The pellets are designed to absorb moisture, and if the bedding is consistently left full of urine and manure, its absorbency will be compromised.
8. Not fluffing the bedding
Fluff the bedding up before adding it to the stall. Not doing so can lead to a hard and dense surface that doesn’t absorb moisture properly and is not comfortable for your horse to lie on. Also regularly maintain it by fluffing and turning the sawdust over.
9. Incorrect storage
Horse pellet bedding is convenient to handle and store but it must be stored correctly. That means keeping it dry and bug free.
Key Takeaways About Using Horse Bedding Pellets
To ensure horse bedding pellets perform correctly, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions with respect to re-hydrating, cleaning, replacing, and storing them. That way you’ll avoid making many of the common mistakes people make.
