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  Discussion on Peat moss for bedding
Author Message
Member:
Swarnick

Posted on Saturday, Jun 28, 2003 - 12:24 pm:

I have tried all types of horse bedding available in my area; pellets, shavings, straw and peat moss but found the peat to be superior in all ways, if managed properly. Since I only have a quarter acre for my minis, manure/bedding management is key.

The peat I buy is slightly moist so dust hasn't been an issue. My minis had constant respiratory problems while on pellets and shavings and now even a snort is rare. The barn smells fresh, no more ammonia smell or having to put down Stall Dry. Also, their coats also brush out cleaner. One is a palomino and his mane and tail stay nice and white. My only complaint is that the water buckets get peat in them but since they are washed out every day, it’s only been a minor inconvenience.

If the peat bales are too dry when opened, I spritz with a bit with water. I'm obsessive about keeping the stalls picked clean and remove the wet spots each day. The horses have out door runs so it is rare when they have to stay in for more than 12 hours. The farrier said my horses have the perfect moisture content in their hooves and have never had even a touch of thrush--a difficult thing to avoid in our wet western Washington climate.

However, the "deep bedding” technique hasn't worked for me, and may be the reason peat hasn't worked well for others in this thread. I put down thick rubber mats in the stalls for extra cushion and bed with 4-6" of peat. My little horses sleep laying flat and fully stretched out so I’m sure they are comfortable. If they weren't put out, I think they'd sleep all day.

I use a fine tine manure pick to get rid of the apples and compost them under a black tarp and turn the pile with a garden claw tool every couple of days. Flies aren't attracted to the covered piles, except the good little white manure flies that help the composting process. In really hot weather, the pile breaks down in less than a month. I put the used bedding, which seems to out last the other beddings by triple, in my flowerbeds and as a top dressing for my lawn and have the most awesome flowers in the neighborhood. As for getting rid of any overage, it wasn’t a hard sell to my neighbors who clamoring for anything I have left over after seeing my garden. Before using peat I was lucky to get weeds to grow on this soil!

Shirley}
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