What do you use on trailer floor?

[ToolTime]

Do you use straw, shavings, or something else? What do you prefer to use and why?

Thanks!

[Seven-up]

Shavings. But we don't have straw down here, so shavings are pretty much the only option.

[CosMonster]

I just use plain rubber mats for short trips, but bed with shavings for longer ones. I do it that way because I haul frequently and it is easier to clean the mats, and my horses rarely make much of a mess in the trailer. On longer trips they will sometimes pee in there and I worry it will get slick (although my mats have good tread), plus for a long ride I want them to have all the cushioning they can.

I did bed with straw once because I worried about the shavings blowing around in there (my trailer is fairly open up top) but found it was actually dustier when I opened the trailer with the straw than with the shavings. I took a test ride and found the shavings didn't blow around at all really so there you go. :)

[Beverley]

I just haul short or long distance with the very cushy rubber mats. My 2 horse bumper pull's aerodynamics are such that shavings, even straw, would get pretty blown around. Then again- I've never used anything but the floor that the trailer came with since I first hauled in the sixties, and the horses have always been perfectly content. I have hauled with friends who use shavings, and it is easier to spot clean than straw, as in stalls.

[Woodsperson]

Rubber mats with lots of shavings. One horse never poops in the trailer. The QH poops immediately upon stepping into the trailer. I swear he poops 6 or 7 times going to the vet who is maybe 5 miles away.

[shakeytails]

I just throw a few shovel-fuls of sawdust/shavings on top of the mats to absorb any wetness. It makes the trailer easier to clean out.

[ChocoMare]

Anyone use Equine Pine that's been soaked/fluffed? I have shavings but was just wondering.

[mvp]

Nothing-- just rubber mats for short trips.

For longer ones (4 hours one way or a day-long event), I'll put shavings under the place my gelding would pee and then wet down the surface of those to prevent dust. Does the job. I do clean out my trailer after each trip.

[ToolTime]

For those people that don't use anything but mats, doesn't it get slippery?

I am just putting my trailer back into service now. I used to use shavings, but I seem to recall them either blowing around or falling out all over the place when I unloaded.

[2DogsFarm]

I use just a thin layer of shavings over my rubber-matted floors.
I worry about the mats being slippery if they get wet.

My trailer is not a stock-type, windows are small, screened and high up and vents in the roof open toward the rear.

Can't say I've noticed any dustiness or shavings blown around on long trips.

[LuvMyNSH]

Shavings, always. I make sure to clear out any wet spots after every trip, so that they don't collect and hold moisture.

I've never had an issue with shavings really blowing around, and I haul with all the windows down (I have grates that stay up).

I've seen several horse slip badly on slick spots created by manure or pee over bare rubber, and I saw one go all the way down and then get caught under the divider trying to get back up.

Logically I know that a lot of people haul with just mats and are fine, but I've got a picture of that fallen horse stuck too firmly in my mind to ever attempt it.

[gdolapp]

Rubber mats and only rubber mats. Have never used saw dust or shavings and never will,
while hauling.

However, I did use my trailer as a stall for one of my horses when he got sick, I didn't have
any stalls built and needed one the only thing I could think of was to hook up the trailer and
use that, so I threw in an xtra set of mats, used shavings and tarped the trailer (weather was rainny) I hung a hay net, put a big bucket of water, my horse had the whole trailer
(16 ft stock). I hand walked him every day and made sure he was comfy. It was spring
the weather was still really cool so I didn't have to worry about shade because of heat.

[TheHunterKid90]

Shavings and lots of them...I banked around the edges and stuff too.

I've used the Equine Pine stuff before and it works well...but if you don't wet it enough it's either dusty or it is still in pellet form and is slippery. (sort of haha) Anyways, I prefer my shavings or everything else.

[snbess]

Just mats for me. They have grooves in them and that helps with traction. I've never had a problem with it getting slippery in there. She rarely pees in there, but it has happened. She poops each time she gets in and that's worked fine, too. I see no need, personally, to add anything to the mats.