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

Hibu Websites • Oct 07, 2021

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.


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Why Guardian Horse Bedding?

By Hibu Websites • 09 Jun, 2021
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!
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