Q: I was recently in my local feed store and I noticed that there were quite a few different options when it came to stall bedding. I was wondering if there is any added benefit to one particular kind over another. For example, straw versus shavings versus sawdust versus pelleted. Can you please offer some advice?

A: Bedding is more a matter of personal preference than medical reason. Most bedding types offer the same benefits of absorption and odor control; it’s more in their detriments that they differ. Straw is fairly inexpensive and is easily maintained. It has less dust than many other bedding types and should be used for foaling mares and horses post-surgery. One common drawback to straw bedding is that it can tend to be very slippery, even with added rubber stall mats. The key with straw is to keep it as clean and dry as possible in an effort to reduce slippage. Shavings are most commonly available in many feed stores in our area. They tend to be more expensive. The price, along with an increased amount of dust, are what make shavings less favorable than straw. Shavings are also packaged in bags that make storage and handling easier. They can be bought many bags at a time and kept in a dry place for months. For a similar “mucking” experience at a fraction of the cost, sawdust would be the way to go. Sawdust is most commonly purchased by the truck-load and usually stored in a pile outside, so it must be protected from the weather. It is also very dusty. Another bedding type is pellets. Pellets are generally made from some sort of compressed material, such as straw, sawdust, or paper. When the pellets come into contact with moisture, they begin to break down and expand as they absorb as much of the moisture as possible. These types of bedding are more expensive than other products, but their manufacturers’ claim that when used “correctly,” they will last much longer than other types of bedding. As with shavings, the packaging is an added benefit to pelleted bedding.  Large quantities can be bought and stored for longer periods of time than would be appropriate for either straw or sawdust. The bottom line here is that along with many other things in the horse industry, there is a wide variety of bedding types to choose from. The means that one barn chooses over another are mostly dependent on cost, availability, ease of use and more than anything else, the barn owner’s/manager’s preference. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your barn’s bedding type, please do not hesitate to contact your veterinarian.