It never ceases to amaze me how many posts I come across on social media debating the best way to make a horse’s bed! There are dozens of comparisons, debates and even full-blown arguments from ‘horsey’ people who all think they know better than each other. Personally, as the owner of three donkeys and a couple of Shetland ponies, I don’t know how they have time to film themselves making these ‘beds’ and then go online to debate whose is best!

My theory is this. If the bed is clean, dry, and, most importantly, comfortable, does it really matter how it is made or what it is made with? Everyone who owns a horse, pony or donkey will have their own views on how best to make their animal’s bed, and they will all think their way is best. In all fairness, it probably is for their animal. No one knows your horse, pony or donkey as you do, and therefore, when it comes to doing what is right for an animal you own, only you are the right person to decide what constitutes comfort for them. For instance, how can someone like me, who has only ever owned miniature donkeys and ponies, advise someone on how to create the perfect bed for a Shire horse? See my point?

When it comes to creating a bed for your animal, trust your instincts and go with what you know. There is a considerable range of products on the market, all claiming to be the best; it is, after all, what marketing is about. Some equestrians will have their own personal favourites which they steadfastly stick to, whilst others will swap and change depending on cost, availability, offers and new products.

Personally, I consider several factors when choosing my bedding. Whilst I do have my favourites – Bedmax shavings for the Shetland ponies are one of them – I am not averse to trying new products that come to the market or those I haven’t tried before. Some things have worked for me, whilst others I wouldn’t use again.

My stables are lined with heavy-duty rubber mats, which provide a solid base to start with. They are warmer than the concrete floor, giving my ponies and donkeys an extra layer of warmth when needed. I have brick-built stables rather than wooden ones, which tend to provide better overall temperature regulation, as they retain heat in winter and stay cooler in summer. At my previous smallholding, my stables were wooden and very exposed, requiring extra bedding in the winter months. So, in addition to the animal being housed, you also need to consider the housing itself and its location when choosing the right bedding.

My Shetland ponies are stabled together because they hate being apart from one another. Their stable is of a good size, and as they are miniature, they have ample space to walk around, lie down and feed. Unless the weather is very cold and wet, they are free to access the stable, hard-standing and sand arena at leisure, and I leave their stable door open for them to come and go as they please. On top of their rubber mats, I place a thick layer of Bedmax shavings, which provide a comfortable bed for them to sleep on whilst soaking up any urine. Hay is provided for them to eat; however, I do not put any straw in their stable, as they would eat this in addition to their hay, and I have to be very mindful of their weight, given that they are prone to laminitis.

My three miniature donkeys are very different from the ponies. They live together in a large stable. The donkeys are remarkably good at using designated areas, so I have a section of the stable with Bedmax shavings that they use as their 'toilet' and a large area of flooring with rubber mats and a deep bed of straw for them to sleep on. They also have both hay and straw to eat.

The stables are thoroughly cleaned every day, and I use a powdered disinfectant to eliminate odours. Fresh bedding is laid, and water buckets are cleaned and refilled. Some equestrians won’t agree with what I do, and that is fine. I know my animals and what works for all of us, and that is really all that matters.



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