Is straw just as good for ...

[SpiritHorse]

Horses who have a bruised hoof?
I can't find large amounts of shavings and trying to find some without Walnut is kinda hard.
I am putting my mare up in the barn lot and putting in straw would that help her walk a little easier since it isn't hard ground?

I am still trying to find the number of the guy who had truckloads of shavings for sale...

[Ronald Aalders]

Here in Europe 99% of the horses are on straw. They're doing fine and have been doing fine on straw bedding for centuries.

Some horses do tend to eat straw which in some cases may cause colic problems if that's about all they eat. But when fed adequately straw never really is a problem.

When the straw bedding is thick enough it's just fine for sore feet too.

Don't bust your you know what over trying to get shavings when you have ample straw available.



Ronald Aalders

[Katy Watts]

Here in the US, straw averages 10% NSC (sugar, starch and fructan) with a normal range of 4-16%. 16% is definately high enough to set off a horse with insulin resistance. Grass hay average around 13%. In cloudy Europe, this is probably lower. Their normal range does not include outliers on the very high or low side. If the grain crop is subjected to stem breakage, frost, or drought, that prevents grain filling, the precursor sugars poised in the stems, will stay in the stems, making some really high sugar straw.

See database at:
http://www.dairyone.com/Forage/FeedComp/disclaimer.asp

Laminitis is often associated with insulin resistance. These horses have a pathological hunger. They eat everything all the time. Have seen them eat a half bale of straw every night and swell up like ballons.

I would not bed a horse with possible laminitis on straw unless it was tested for NSC.
($20).
Katy

[SpiritHorse]

LOL I didn't bust my rump but we found some and put it in the smaller stall where she goes to stand/sleep under the light bulb.
She and my older mare who is having some setbacks with arthritis are in the barn lot and doing much better!

As to IR she has been tested she showed normal levels of both sugar and insulin awaiting hormone test of thyroid etc. I wondered about the starch content, I am avoiding anything with sugar or starch as best as possible.

Funny thing is, I thought I had an ad for straw but was actually hay only and I called three times to our local Orchelins who finally opened about 10 and we got the shavings I made sure there was no walnut in it.

The vet is coming to do her Xrays and look at the weird thing I found on her toe area either she has come through or it is an abcess ready to go.
But she is walking better and stands on it weird horse! LOL

[caballus]

SpiritHorse ... if you are able to, you might want to put down pea-stone. The pea-stone is smooth enough and small enough to provide not only comfort, but support, as well. The stone molds itself around the hooves. If you can clean the manure daily off the stone then clean up is easy. Pete Ramey found that foundered horses or others with sore hooves seek out and prefer to stand on pea stone rather than ground. I would think, too, that the stones are almost like a "massage" to the hooves.

Just something to consider.

:) -- Gwen

[Chuck Mills]

Spirithorse,
Pea gravel is a great bedding. I am currently treating a 20+ year old horse who has chronic founder and after putting him on pea gravel he is finally moving after four and a half years of the best treatment money can buy. A good six inches is best, since that will message the hooves with every step, build great callus, keep the feet drier, and is cheaper in the long run as long as it's kept up by daily cleaning. But before you buy try walking on it yourself. I think you'll find it will be very relaxing as long as it's of suffcient depth.

[SpiritHorse]

My gal heads for the hay pile LOL

Pea stone will look into it~~~

Here is a question about it for you guys.

Our farm was set up for cattle and the yahoo put gravel in the barn lot can I s****e this and put down pea stone in the lot itself? As well as stalls? Would it prevent runoff of water from the barn lot or improve it?
What does it run in your area price wise I am in MO.