respiratory system. Add to this the ammonia that’s in urine and you get the full picture. There are things you can do to help a horse with respiratory issues including turnout each day, not mucking out when he’s on the stable yard, soaking/steaming hay, using a respiratory supplement and opting for dust free or virtually dust free bedding. What’s also important is the ammonia as this could have a detrimental impact on the horse’s respiratory system…and it’s pretty unpleasant from an owner’s point of view too! What’s good is that when it comes to bedding, ammonia can be halted by choosing the right one. Pine wood contains natural agents that remove the smell of ammonia from urine without the need for any floor freshener or disinfectant. Aquamax is made from pure pine whitewood, and some other bedding products are too, so keep an eye out. As for the dust element, choose something that’s dust extracted during manufacture if your horse has an issue and, if you’re using a pellet or crumble, make sure the bed is adequately dampened before use. One of the great things about a bedding like Aquamax is that it’s always drying out, which is a great way to prevent a soggy bed that could compromise the horse’s hooves. If it gets too dry, just water it with a hosepipe- it’s as simple as that!
Mucking out isn’t the most exciting task, but choosing the right bedding can save you time, money, stress and could also be beneficial to your horse’s health and your sanity.
Aquamax is a wood crumble bedding made from cracked pine whitewood pellets with a large surface area. They are around nine times more absorbent than shavings, take up minimal storage space, naturally remove the smell of ammonia, are virtually dust free AND they can live outside. Most people use just one bag per week, even less when used with matting and we’ll even deliver them to your door. Better still, if you order a pallet, we’ll throw in a free gift!
For more information, visit www.aquamax.co.uk or ring 01285 648240.
34 December 2013, Issue 3 www.everythinghorseuk.co.uk www.everythinghorseuk.co.uk December 2013, Issue 3 35
Mucking out isn’t the most exciting task, but choosing the right bedding can save you time, money, stress and could also be beneficial to your horse’s health and your sanity.