Common Health Issues from Improper Horse Bedding
With the many types of horse bedding available, it is important to make the right choices to keep your horse healthy, safe and comfortable. There are many common health issues that occur with horse bedding, starting with the choice of bedding, its storage, use and management, and ending with disposal. Knowing what to look for and how to avoid the issues can save you a lot of time, money and anxiety.
To begin with, it is important to make the right choices in horse bedding. Bedding must be comfortable for your horse, but also have proper absorbency, be sturdy and easy to maintain. All of these factors must balance in order to create the proper, healthy environment for your horse and you.
A common issue in bedding is dust. Horses vary in their sensitivity to dust, and some horses are actually allergic to dust, so it is wise to reduce dust as much as possible. From simple movements of your horse, to the dust created by cleaning and removing bedding, a dusty environment spells trouble for the respiratory systems of both you and your horse. You can and should protect yourself by wearing a dust mask when handling bedding, but your horse doesn’t have that luxury. Respiratory problems can begin as a simple cough, and can worsen into “heaves” (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). Straw and hay bedding are the common culprits and horses in colder climates that are stabled indoors are more susceptible to airway problems.
Fungi, mold and dust mites can be found in even the cleanest hay and straw. These allergens can cause irritation in any horse, but horses with allergies can have a much more severe reaction. For some horses, the allergy exists from a young age, and will worsen as they get older. Older horses are also more likely to be kept stabled in cold weather, which can exacerbate their allergies if the wrong bedding is used. Hay is never a good choice in bedding, and straw is a poor choice because of the potential allergens, especially in stalls in cold weather.
Improper ventilation of horse bedding can create a dusty and moldy environment. Bedding should never be stored on a cement floor. Condensation will occur and increase the likelihood of bedding rot, mold and fungi. Stalls and barns should always be well-ventilated, even in cold weather. Windows, doors and half-doors on stalls should remain open to allow air to circulate. It is better to blanket your horse in the cold weather rather than reduce the airflow in barns or stalls.
Too much moisture in your horse’s bedding can cause many problems. Besides creating a good environment for mold, too much moisture can cause hoof illnesses. A horse’s hoof moisturizes from the natural blood flow. A healthy, well-hydrated and nourished horse will have healthy hooves without any additional moisture. A horse’s hoof, however, will absorb moisture from the environment. This can lead to over-moisturized hooves. A common cause of too much moisture is a wet environment with standing moisture. Once a hoof becomes too moist, it will become too soft to sustain the weight of the horse. This can lead to lameness. Stalls and paddocks should stay well drained, and wood bedding products should be used to ensure high absorbency of moisture.
Some horses may eat stall bedding out of boredom or hunger. For an overweight horse or a horse on a special diet, this can be very problematic. It is important to choose a bedding that a horse is unlikely to eat. Using hay for bedding is an absolute no-no, and straw can be very tasty to a horse.
If you use wood-based bedding, it is very important to know which kind of wood to use, as some woods are poisonous and others can cause allergies. Pine is clearly the best choice in wood-based bedding. Cedar can also be used, but the high oil content can cause sensitivities which may develop over time. Black Walnut and Maple (especially red) must never be used for bedding; they are extremely toxic to horses. Cyprus and Black Cherry are also known to cause allergic reactions.
The most obvious way to prevent health issues from your horse bedding is also the one most under your control: proper cleaning. Clean bedding substantially reduces the health issues described above. To keep your horse’s bedding as clean as possible, start with a bedding that is easy to pick and rake. Face it, you are much more likely to do a good job cleaning your stalls and paddocks if your horse bedding cooperates! Choose a bedding that has a high moisture and urine absorbency rate, and doesn’t get caught in your rake as you remove the manure.
In summary, choosing the right horse bedding and caring for it properly will help you prevent many common health issues in your horse. Choosing bedding that is dust and allergen-free, dry, absorbent and easy to clean will keep your horse healthy, save time and money, and keep you feeling good about your horse’s care.
