Best Horse Stall Bedding for Comfort, Health and Savings

Last updated: January 11, 2025

By: Miles HenryFact Checked

Did you know that poor bedding choices can lead to respiratory issues, joint pain, and even hoof infections in horses? Choosing the right bedding for your horse’s stall is about more than comfort—it’s essential for their health, safety, and overall well-being. Bedding impacts everything from hoof and joint health to respiratory function and stable cleanliness. As a lifelong horseman and trainer with years of hands-on experience, I understand how critical it is to select the best bedding.

This guide combines the latest scientific research with practical insights to help you choose the ideal bedding for your horse, ensuring a clean, safe, and comfortable environment while making your stable management easier.

Why Quality Horse Stall Bedding Matters

Bedding impacts not only your horse’s well-being but also how easily you can manage their living space. Poor bedding choices can lead to:

• Respiratory Problems from dust and ammonia buildup, which can irritate a horse’s lungs and contribute to conditions like heaves and inflammatory airway disease.
• Hoof and Skin Issues caused by prolonged exposure to wet or soiled bedding, increasing the risk of thrush and skin infections.
• Discomfort and Stress due to inadequate cushioning, leading to joint strain and poor rest.

Quality bedding should effectively absorb moisture, control ammonia, minimize dust, and provide comfortable support, all while being easy to manage and cost-effective.

In my experience, even small changes in bedding quality can make a big difference. One of my mares developed a mild skin irritation from wet bedding, but switching to a better quality bedding cleared up her issues.

Key Factors in Choosing Horse Stall Bedding

Choosing the right bedding is essential for your horse’s health, the smooth operation of your daily chores, and your bottom line. With seven horses stabled, I know how quickly bedding costs can add up. Balancing quality and cost-effectiveness is crucial, and finding the right mix of performance and affordability can significantly impact your annual budget. Here’s what to consider:

1. Absorbency:
   Bedding must soak up urine and moisture to keep the stall dry and prevent hoof and skin problems.
   • Peat can absorb up to 7.5–12 kg of water per kilogram of dry material, outperforming most other options. (Fleming et al., 2008)
   • In my experience, highly absorbent bedding like wood pellets layered under shavings helped keep stalls drier and easier to manage during rainy seasons.
2. Dust Control:
   Minimizing dust is critical for respiratory health, especially for horses prone to conditions like heaves.
   • Straw produces 2.60 mg/m³ of inhalable dust, wood shavings 0.70 mg/m³, while peat produces even less. (Moki et al., 2021)
   • Switching to low-dust bedding noticeably reduced coughing in one of my more sensitive mares.
3. Ammonia Control:
   Ammonia buildup from urine can irritate a horse’s respiratory system.
   • Peat’s low pH makes it highly effective at binding ammonia, helping maintain healthier air quality in the stall.
4. Comfort and Cushioning:
   Bedding depth is essential for joint support and comfort.
   • A 6–8 inch bedding depth encourages horses to lie down and reduces joint strain. (Burla et al., 2017)
5. Ease of Management:
   Bedding should be easy to clean, replenish, and store. Materials that compact too quickly or become heavy when wet can make daily stall maintenance more difficult.
6. Cost and Sustainability:
   Consider both the initial cost and long-term value, along with the environmental impact.
   • Rice hulls are a biodegradable byproduct of rice production, while peat is slowly renewable and often more costly.
   • Although peat costs more upfront, it can reduce labor and bedding replacement frequency due to its superior absorbency.
7. Manure Management and Composting:
   Bedding choice impacts manure handling and composting efficiency.
   • Wood shavings decompose slowly but balance nitrogen in compost.
   • Peat enriches compost but retains moisture, slowing breakdown.
   • I’ve found that mixing manure from wood shavings with straw speeds up composting, creating better fertilizer for pasture management.
8. Source of Bedding:
   Quality bedding from reputable suppliers is critical.
   • Bedding from unreliable sources may contain mold, chemical residues, or contaminants that harm your horse.
   • I always source kiln-dried shavings from a locoal supplier I trust to ensure minimal dust and maximum comfort.

Pro Tip: Mixing high-carbon materials like wood shavings with nitrogen-rich manure accelerates composting. However, peat’s high moisture content may slow decomposition. Turning the pile regularly can improve airflow and speed up breakdown.

Comparing Popular Horse Stall Bedding Materials

1. Peat Moss: Low Dust and High Absorbency

• Pros:
  • Exceptional absorbency and ammonia control.
  • Very low dust, ideal for horses with respiratory issues.
  • Studies show horses bedded on peat have significantly lower airway inflammation.
• Cons:
  • More expensive and harder to source.
  • Retains moisture, slowing the composting process.
• Best For:
  • Horses with respiratory sensitivities and stalls needing strong ammonia control.

2. Wood Shavings: Affordable and Accessible

• Pros:
  • Widely available, affordable, and provides good cushioning.
  • Supports composting when mixed with manure.
• Cons:
  • Moderate dust, especially with fine particles.
  • Less effective at ammonia control than peat.
• Tip:
  • Choose kiln-dried, large-flake pine shavings to minimize dust and improve comfort.
  • The University of Maine did an extensive cost analysis and found that wood shaving, even with labor costs factored in, is less expensive than wood pellets. .

3. Straw: Budget-Friendly but High Maintenance

• Pros:
  • Inexpensive and provides insulation in cold climates.
  • Breaks down quickly in compost.
• Cons:
  • High dust levels and poor absorbency.
  • Requires frequent cleaning and complete replacement when soiled.
• Best For:
  • Outdoor shelters and colder climates where insulation is necessary.

4. Hemp and Flax: Sustainable and Soft

• Pros:
  • Extremely absorbent and naturally low in dust.
  • Biodegradable, compost-friendly, and offers natural pest resistance.
• Cons:
  • Higher cost and less availability in some regions.
• Best For:
  • Horses with sensitive skin or allergies.
• Personal Insight:
  “I switched to hemp bedding for a mare prone to skin irritation. Its absorbency and softness kept her stall dry and her skin healthy.”

5. Wood Pellets: Efficient and Low Odor

• Pros:
  • Wood bedding pellets are highly absorbent when wetted, expanding into soft bedding.
  • Low dust and excellent odor control.
• Cons:
  • Requires pre-wetting for proper expansion.
  • Higher initial cost but cost-effective over time.
• Best For:
  • Horses needing low-dust bedding with easy maintenance.

6. Paper Bedding: Hypoallergenic and Clean

• Pros:
  • Virtually dust-free and eco-friendly.
  • Lightweight and easy to manage.
• Cons:
  • Can be flammable and may become soggy when wet.
  • Ink transfer can occur on lighter horses.
• Best For:
  • Horses with severe respiratory issues or allergies.

Comparison Table

Bedding Type	Absorbency	Dust Level	Ammonia Control	Composting	Cost	Best For
Peat	Excellent	Very Low	Excellent	Slow	$$$	Respiratory health
Wood Shavings	Good	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	$$	General use
Straw	Poor	High	Poor	Fast	$	Cold climates
Hemp/Flax	Excellent	Very Low	Good	Fast	$$$	Sensitive horses
Wood Pellets	Excellent	Very Low	Good	Slow	$$	Odor control
Paper Bedding	Moderate	Very Low	Moderate	Moderate	$$$	Allergic horses

Smart Bedding Management for Healthier Stalls

1. Maintain Adequate Depth: Use 6–8 inches of bedding for joint support and comfort.
2. Daily Cleaning: Remove wet bedding and manure daily to reduce ammonia buildup.
3. Layer Bedding Types: Combine materials (e.g., wood pellets under shavings) for balanced absorbency and comfort.
4. Composting: Mix carbon-rich bedding (e.g., wood shavings) with nitrogen-rich manure to speed composting.

My Experience with Different Horse Stall Bedding

Over the years, I’ve experimented with various bedding types to balance comfort, health, and ease of management. I’ve found that combining wood pellets and large-flake shavings provides the best blend of absorbency and comfort for my horses. The wood pellets handle moisture well, while the large-flake shavings offer soft cushioning.

During colder months, I switched to peat bedding for one of my mares with sensitive lungs. The reduction in dust and superior ammonia control made a noticeable difference—her coughing subsided, and she seemed more comfortable in her stall.

For my older gelding prone to stiff joints, I’ve found that increasing bedding depth improves his ability to lie down and get back up comfortably.

I always prioritize sourcing bedding from reputable suppliers to ensure quality and safety. I look for kiln-dried, low-dust options and avoid bedding made from chemically treated wood or contaminated materials.

Every horse is different. I encourage you to observe how your horse reacts to various bedding types and make adjustments as needed to support their health and comfort.

FAQs: Choosing the Right Horse Stall Bedding

Conclusion

Choosing the best bedding for your horse depends on their unique needs, your stable conditions, and your management preferences. Peat and wood pellets offer superior absorbency and dust control, making them excellent for horses with respiratory sensitivities. Wood shavings remain a cost-effective and versatile option for general use. If sustainability is a priority, rice hulls, hemp, and flax provide eco-friendly alternatives that are gentle on the environment.

In my experience, combining wood pellets with large-flake shavings delivers the best balance of comfort, absorbency, and ease of cleaning. However, every horse is different, and their comfort and health should guide your choice.

Take time to evaluate your horse’s current bedding. Could switching to a more absorbent or low-dust option improve their well-being? Try switching your bedding type for a week and observe how your horse reacts. Share your results with us in the comments or on social media!

Have insights or experiences to share? I’d love to hear what bedding works best for your horses! Let’s learn from each other to create healthier, happier stables.

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