Guardian Horse Bedding Blog

How to Muck Out a Stall With Horse Pellet Bedding

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 13:13:38 GMT

When mucking out your horse stall, it’s important to find material that works well for your needs. For example, horse pellet bedding can provide the high-quality cleaning option you need to keep your stalls horse-friendly. Here’s a simple guide for this process to ensure that you give your horses the high-quality support that makes sense for their bedding and sleeping needs.

1. Rake the Bedding First

Wood pellets are a unique material option for stalls because, according to Equus Magazine, they can expand up to 2.5 times in volume when they’re used for horse bedding purposes. Starting with firm raking, use a pond rake to remove manure clumps and get rid of urine-soaked bedding and balls of fecal matter.

2. Clean and Dry the Floor

After raking your horse pellet bedding, it’s important to clean and dry the floor using appropriate cleaning materials. A simple floor cleaner is probably all that’s needed here. Make sure you scrub the flooring and let it dry out before you replace the bedding. It’s important to let the bedding dry out completely before putting it back to prevent bacteria problems.

3. Spread the Bedding

When putting the bedding back down in the stall (or adding new bedding), make sure that you spread it evenly across the floor. You need to make sure that it’s spread as evenly as possible because this helps to support your horse’s legs. If it’s uneven, there’s a chance that they might trip or get hurt.

4. Sanitize the Stable

Once you’ve gotten everything cleaned, it’s important to spread a stable sanitizing powder across the bedding. Horse pellet beds need a powder to avoid bacteria growth and other problems. Once you’ve carefully spread the sanitizer, you can wait for it to dry before bringing your horse back into the stall. Repeat this process as needed to muck out effectively.

Understanding this process can help you muck out your horse stall quickly and efficiently. You'll be well on your way to maintaining a safe and healthy environment for you and your horses. At Guardian Horse Bedding, we develop our horse pellet bedding products with healthy, environmentally-conscious pine that you can feel good about using. We're also certified through the USDA to guarantee quality products every time. Give us a call today to learn more!

The Benefits of Using Horse Pellet Bedding

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 15:30:44 GMT

You may already know that horse pellet bedding is widely used as a bedding material for horses. It is typically made from recycled wood shavings that have been compressed into pellets, which are then dried and screened. Pellet bedding offers many advantages over traditional straw or hay bedding, including better absorbency, less mess in the stall, and a more comfortable sleeping surface. Here are four benefits of using horse pellet bedding.

1. They Are Super Absorbent

According to Horse and Hound, wood pellets absorb as much as three times their own weight in liquid. This means that the bedding can quickly absorb any liquid and solid waste, reducing the amount of time it takes to clean up your horse's stall. The pellets are also quick drying, meaning they will reduce odors and keep your horse's stall fresh.

2. They Do Not Create as Much Mess

Another benefit of pellet bedding is that it produces less dust and debris than straw or hay. This makes the job of cleaning up your horse's stall much easier, as you won't have to spend time sweeping up all the bits of straw or hay. Pellets are also much more uniform in shape and size, which means they stay in place better, making them less likely to be spread around the stall.

3. They Provide a Comfy Sleeping Surface

Pellet bedding also provides a much softer and more comfortable sleeping surface for your horse. The wood pellets are designed to conform to your horse's body as it lies down, providing ample cushioning. This softer sleeping surface can help your horse to sleep more soundly, leading to better overall health.

4. They Are Cost-Effective

Finally, this bedding is relatively inexpensive compared to other types of bedding materials. Pellets typically come in large bags that last longer, so you won't have to purchase bedding as often. This can quickly add up to cost savings over time since you won't have to keep buying new bags of bedding every few weeks.

These are just some of the many benefits of using horse pellet bedding for your horse's stall. The absorbency and ease of use make it an ideal choice that saves you money over time. So if you're looking for a bedding material that can keep your horse comfortable and your stall clean, look for horse pellet bedding from Guardian Horse Bedding! We'd love to provide you with our high-quality products.

How to Choose the Best Shavings for Horse Stalls

Wed, 19 Oct 2022 12:31:43 GMT

Choosing horse bedding is not quite as simple as buying whatever is on sale. You want to choose the best shavings for horse stalls to ensure your horse's comfort and health. There are things you should look for in stall bedding to ensure you are providing a clean, healthy environment for your horse.

Moisture and Absorbency

The right horse stall shavings will be kiln-dried. According to J Gibson McIlvain, the moisture content in kiln-dried wood is six percent to eight percent. Kiln-dried wood is a good option because of its low moisture content. Additionally, you also want shavings to be absorbent. Shavings need to be absorbent to prevent a build-up of ammonia that can cause irritation to the horse's eyes and respiratory system. Typically, the thinner the shavings, the more absorbent they are. With that being said, you also have to be mindful of the potential dust created by thin shavings.

Comfort and Cushioning

Softer woods make for a more comfortable environment for your horse because they offer cushioning. Medium and large types of shavings can provide more comfort for your horse's hooves. This makes for a better bedding material. When your horse is comfortable, you will see benefits to its overall health.

Ease of Use

Ideally, the stall shavings that you choose should be easy for you to use. The bedding should come well packaged and be easy to spread. The right shavings will be easy to muck out and maneuver when it is time to clean out the stall. If the shavings are not packaged well and are difficult to use, you will spend a lot of time on horse stall maintenance.

Multi-Layer Approach

Many horse owners use different types of horse stall shavings in a layered approach. For example, they will use thin shavings as the first layer and then use medium to large shavings for the top layer. The thinner shavings are more absorbent, so they are used on the bottom. The larger shavings are more comfortable, so they use them as the top layer.

The most important part of choosing the right shavings for your horse stalls is to work with a supplier that offers premium choices. The right supplier will put your horse's health and comfort first. Learn more today by contacting Guardian Horse Bedding.

Different Types of Pellets and How They Can Help Your Horses

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 16:11:20 GMT

There are several types of bedding pellets for horses, differing in quality and cost. Most horse owners prefer straw cubes because they are the most economical choice. While straw cubes and shavings cost about three times the price of loose straw, they require less intensive labor costs, according to TheHorse.com. Here are a few other types of pellets and how they can help your horses.

Wood Bedding Pellets

When it comes to horse bedding, wood pellets are very accessible. Wood pellets usually come with low moisture content, and this makes them quite absorbent. They are also quite soft and comfortable for horses. Wood pellets are a perfect option if you are looking to neutralize odor in your barn or habitat. Make sure to find ones that contain no chemical additives. This makes them quite safe for horses.

You will also find that wood pellets are low in dust, which prevents respiratory issues harming your horses. Another advantage of these pellets is that they make it easy for you to clean the stalls. You can take away clumps of manure and urine-soaked areas easily, creating a clean environment for your horses.

Straw

Straw is the preferred choice of bedding for most horse owners. It can be used to create a barrier that prevents the horse from stepping directly on the floor of the stall. Since urine and feces sink to the bottom of the layer of straw, the horse's feet won't come into contact with them. However, to get this benefit, you need to use a thick layer of straw.

Peat Moss

Peat moss is made from partially decomposed sphagnum moss. This type of bedding is quite soft for horses, and it's also very absorbent. It can absorb up to about 10 times its own weight in moisture. Apart from that, it's also one of the best, if not the best, when it comes to absorbing odors. This results in sweet-smelling barns. Because of how soft and cushiony peat moss is, it provides excellent support for bones and joints. This is what makes it the perfect choice for senior horses. It's also the bedding of choice for horses with respiratory challenges.

Before you choose a pellet type, you need to consider the floor type you have and what choices work best with it. You may also need to consider the amount of storage space you have. For more information on bedding for horse stalls, contact Guardian Horse Bedding. Visit our website to see the range of bulk wood flake bedding we offer.

8 Tips for Choosing the Right Bulk Wood Flake Bedding for Horse Stalls

websites@hibu.com (Hibu Websites) — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 16:45:55 GMT

Horses spend between 800 to 8400 hours annually enclosed in stables. The environment provided within the stalls is a critical part of successfully running a barn. The type of bedding you pick may significantly affect the horses’ skin and respiratory health.

The primary purpose of equine bedding is to absorb moisture and toxic ammonia. It also provides comfortable cushioning for the horses, which reduces the risk of injury. Stable stewards have access to various horse stall bedding options, including wood flakes, straw, paper, and assorted plant fibers. Wood shavings are the most popular option due to their absorbent and ‘sift-ability’ properties. Here are factors to keep in mind when picking bulk wood flake bedding for horse stalls.

1. Safety

Your horses’ safety and health should be your primary concern when searching for bulk wood flake bedding. You may need to ensure that the material used is free from any toxins. Common hazards include black walnut (toxic), cedar (allergies), maple (toxic). You may also need to watch out for packages with mold, which may result in respiratory hazards.

2. Absorbency

In the equine world, the bedding serves primarily to absorb urine and moisture. Therefore, you may need a perfect blend of bulk wood flake bedding for horse stalls with incredible absorbent properties. High absorbency material reduces the risk of mold growth. It also reduces the risk of your bedding becoming soggy and heavy during collection and disposal.

3. Quantity

Another crucial factor is the amount of wood flake bedding that you require for your stables. Buying the products in bulk can provide cost savings through cheaper landing costs. It also reduces the risk of running out of pine shavings for your horses. However, you may also need to consider the storage options that you have currently in your barn.

4. Removal

Knowing how and where to dispose of the used wood flakes is a crucial feature to consider before purchase. Certain bedding materials may necessitate the use of special handling equipment during removal. You may require a higher rotational frequency if you prefer not to compose the soiled bedding.

5. Source

You may need to vet the source of the bulk wood flake bedding for horse stalls. You may not wish to use shavings with toxic resins or mold on your stables. Research more about the company supplying the wooden flakes. Insist on knowing their source for their product material.

You may also need to inspect the quality of the shavings yourself before making a purchase. The appearance, smell, weight, and consistency of your chosen bulk wood flake bedding for horse stalls may help you make an informed decision regarding its potential use in your facility.

6. Variety

You may access different shaving sizes for your horses. Guardian avails the bulk wood flake bedding for horse stalls in gold-standard, premium pine, swift flake, and pine pellet beddings. You may need to decide the correct type of wood flakes for your barn.

7. Delivery Options

You may also need to figure out how the bulk wood flake bedding will get to your barn. Inquire if the company provides delivery services for their products. If you have to pay for shipping, find out the total cost of getting the wood flakes to your farm.

8. Price

The final consideration to make when picking the right bulk wood flake bedding for horse stalls is cost. The simple unit cost is not the only factor in making this decision, however. According to thehorse.com, while straw cubes and shavings can cost up to three times as much as their loose counterparts, the labor you save may justify the extra cost. You may need to set a budget for this purchase. Consider carefully how much you are willing to spend on your horses’ comfort and safety.

The most important thing is safety and health for your horses! Knowing what will work best in their environment is very important so they can be comfortable while living in their stalls. Wood flakes are a popular bedding option due to their high absorbency and ‘sift-ability’ properties. If you wish to order bulk wood flake bedding for horse stalls, call Guardian Horse bedding. Our products use the highest quality pine material and are closely monitored for quality and consistency.

Why Guardian Horse Bedding?

websites@hibu.com (Hibu Websites) — Wed, 09 Jun 2021 17:50:59 GMT

We specialize in pine shavings and pellets made specifically for animal use.

The short answer is Equustock, makers of Guardian Horse Bedding was founded over 20 years ago and is operated by innovative, groundbreaking, professional and dedicated manufacturers who also happen to be lifelong horse and barn owners.

The horse bedding industry was started to dispose of waste stream from window/door manufacturers and sawmills. The people putting this product in a bag were not horse owners and knew nothing about the intricate respiratory system of the horse, or the negative health and performance impact "any" bedding can have on a horse. While this by-product material is still used for 50% of the pine bedding in the country (the balance being manufactured shavings) it took our expertise and desire to "build a better mouse trap". With this motivation we were able to wrangle the materials, the industry, and the equipment manufacturers to produce a product that was not only specifically designed for use in a horse stall, but for the pure health of the horse and the people who care for them.

We pioneered the proprietary high quality pine pellet bedding and an intentionally manufactured mini flake shaving in 2001. We made it different. We created new, high densification packaging that allowed us to ship 1350 bags on a truck rather than 900. This not only reduced the cost of delivery of each bag but also reduces the carbon footprint of each bag of bedding. We were first to develop a true product line to satisfy the diverse preferences of the horse bedding consumer.

Our revolutionary engineering of processes and equipment that …...

• Put more bedding in a smaller finished bag making it easier to handle and able to ship more on a truck.

• Eliminated dust and controlled moisture to maximize absorbency.

• Specifically engineered and classified shaving sizes to satisfy a variety of uses and preference.

….... established the industry trends of the last decade and the expected standards today.

We continue to hold close to our chest the proprietary processes that keep us ahead of the crowd. Our customer service is stellar and, our desire to put the best product under any animal keeps us producing high quality products at our multiple plants across the United States.

We would love to get to know you. We hope you will love knowing us!