bedding for the coughing horse

[Comegaitby]

What are your thoughts on the best type of bedding for a horse with coughing issues. While less stall time and more turnout is ideal, horse has to be inside more now because of winter weather.
He is very sensitive to dust/mold/anything and everything you could imagine. He always gets soaked hay etc. I am working with my vet closely but am trying to do as much stable management as possible to help him out too.
I am wondering if people have experiences with some bedding being better than others and what to look for.
thanks!

[2 tbs]

I board at 2 different barns and both of them happen to have a horse with heaves. At one barn they all live out 24/7 but the random reason that forces the horse with heaves to stay in causes him to cough. He used to be on a small amount of shavings (just enough to soak up the urine). His heaves were really bad this fall so they have switched him to the pelleted bedding (not sure the name of it but it's very expensive--or at least compared to what the owners are used to ;) ). Seems to be helping him tremendously as he hasn't coughed more than time or two since he's been on that (they do come in twice a day to eat so he was always encountering the dusty shavings even if for a short period of time).

The other horse at the other barn had a really good year in 2008. She also lives out 24/7 and is nearing the ancient status :cool: She used to have her stall bedded with peat moss but in '08 shavings were fine for her short visits to her stall. Peat moss is dark and doesn't seem like a great bedding but it's dust free and works! She didn't have to live in her stall so I don't know what it would be like in that situation.

[flyracing]

Paper (specifically recycled phone books, as it seems softest, read no paper cuts;) and soaks up urine well)

[Nancy]

Card board bedding. There isn't any dust.

[TheOrangeOne]

My godfather beds on deep deep sand for the ponies who come for the summer. No dust, very soft, easy to muck. I think you have to go in with a front loader once or twice a year and clean it all out, though.

[decorum]

Spirulina works wonders for respiratory problems. I swear by it, if my horse doesn't get it he can hardly breath during exercise, coughs and has the snots, if he has it he is fine to ride as much as I want. I feed about 1/4 cup a day for maintenance.

I tried the standard meds and it only worked when he was on the steroids, this stuff really works but without the side effects.

And it's cheap.

[bthatasitmay]

Straw pellets works well for my heavey horses. Ya, I have two of 'em.

[Buffyblue]

Vet recommended pine shavings over the pellets (which break down to a powder and get very dusty), or straw (while has mold and spores and whatnot in it).

[TrueColours]

Peat moss is dark and doesn't seem like a great bedding but it's dust free and works!

Not correct. I have worked closely with vets that have done studies and tests on various bedding mediums and peat moss is among the worst offenders for airborne particles. They did lung washes in peat moss stalls with "0" percent airflow, 10%, 25%, 50% and 100% and in call cases, once the bedding was stirred up from the horse walking on it, more than acceptable peat moss particles were found upon doing the lung washes

Straw pellets work better than shavings or sawdust or wood pellets. Vegetable Oil is added to the straw fines to keep the airborne particles down closer to the ground and while you will get some particles blowing up, they settle down quickly because of the weight of the straw fines

http://www.angelfire.com/on3/TrueColoursFarm/EcoStraw.html

Shredded paper is excellent - low to no dust, hemp also works well, pelleted and shredded cardboard is better than wood based products. I found the corn cob bedding very dusty. The other product I have mentioned in another thread is the waste "sludge" from pulp manufacturing plants. It is soft, fluffy and very absorbent and usually free for the taking and does not appear to have any dust with it at all. Its battleship grey in colour but hey - free is good too! :)

Good luck ...

[Highflyer]

Paper, or well dampened pellets/ shavings. Make sure the horse is on the end closest to doors/ has the most possible windows, etc. Never ever sweep/ blow the aisle while the horse is in.

[Miss-O]

Definitely paper! I keep my horses on paper bedding even though they don't have breathing problems. I figure why make them breathe in all the dust that sawdust creates if they don't have to. It's easier on my breathing as well when it comes time to clean stalls. Plus I don't have to dust out my tack room every few days now. The stuff is excellent.

[2 tbs]

Not correct. I have worked closely with vets that have done studies and tests on various bedding mediums and peat moss is among the worst offenders for airborne particles. They did lung washes in peat moss stalls with "0" percent airflow, 10%, 25%, 50% and 100% and in call cases, once the bedding was stirred up from the horse walking on it, more than acceptable peat moss particles were found upon doing the lung washes

Well. I didn't say it worked for everyone ;) It works for the horse who needs it. She never has an issue while bedded on it but as I stated-she doesn't live in her stall and I didn't know what it would be like for one that does. :)