This is kind of a split question.. we have always used shavings just because they are versatile and easy to get. But I really never thought about it but I have heard that scratches come from the shavings? No matter what brand or treatment.

There is a stable down the road and they are using some type of small granular mix, I noticed it because the muckers wheel barrel had only "road apples" in it and nothing else in it... not half a bag of shavings stuck to them.

Please let me know if this concern is true.. I didn't ask what they used because of course I know everything and didn't want to show my true colors.