In the kind of prolonged wet weather we’ve been enjoying in the UK this winter, many horse owners will be quite rightly concerned about protecting their horse’s hooves.
Hoof problems and disease are one of the most significant risks to your horse’s health, and with more horses in the UK now spending longer periods indoors, combined with increasingly wet and unpredictable weather patterns, bedding plays a vital role in protecting hoof health.
Excess moisture, whether from prolonged turnout on waterlogged ground or damp stable conditions, can quickly compromise hoof health. So one of the first things many horse owners look for when selecting bedding is optimum absorbency.
Stables are an ideal environment for bacteria and fungi to thrive, which is why good stable management supported by high-quality, absorbent bedding is essential. Effective bedding must provide support, stability and comfort while managing moisture levels and reducing ammonia build-up. This is particularly important for horses spending extended periods stabled due to flooding, restricted grazing, competition schedules or health concerns such as laminitis.
Highly absorbent bedding helps urine soak up quickly, making wet patches easier to remove during mucking out. The more urine that spreads across the stable floor, the greater the potential for ammonia to form. Ammonia can seriously damage the hoof wall over time, and Bedmax is recognised as one of the most absorbent beddings available. Our large flake pine shavings are purpose-made to drain moisture, cushion hooves and support overall hoof health benefits highlighted by equine experts and backed by performance in real stables across the UK.
Rapid changes in temperature and moisture levels directly affect hooves. Hot conditions can cause hooves to dry out and shrink, leading to cracking and infection, while wet conditions soften hooves, making them vulnerable to bacterial infections such as thrush.
Rapid transitions from wet turnout to a dry stable can further increase the risk if bedding does not provide balanced moisture control. Our shavings are dried at sterilising temperatures to a computer-controlled optimum moisture level that prevents hooves from drying out too much and cracking.
Although the hoof horn of the average horse is remarkably resilient, infections such as seedy toe, white line disease and onychomycosis are becoming more common. Stable hygiene and bedding choice are major factors in reducing these risks.
Bedmax shavings have been developed to deliver exceptional absorbency, support and comfort. Made predominantly from renewable Scots pine timber and designed specifically to help you safeguard your horse or pony’s health in the stable, Bedmax helps create a clean, low dust, dry, hygienic and supportive stable environment. Horse owners, vets and farriers across the UK trust our shavings for their consistent quality and for the benefits they offer to hoof care, respiratory health and overall wellbeing.
Because absorbency is increasingly important, in 2020 we launched a different kind of bedding: Strawmax straw pellets. Strawmax is an ultra-absorbent, low waste option made from 100% natural British straw and it provides a deep, dust-extracted bed with excellent moisture control and odour suppression. Many owners use it as a base layer below Bedmax shavings, creating a supportive, absorbent foundation while Bedmax provides the primary contact surface for your horse’s hooves.
With UK weather patterns becoming more volatile, investing in bedding that protects your horse’s hoof health, enhances stable hygiene and reduces ammonia exposure is essential for their long-term wellbeing.
