Shavings/Scratches - Horse Forums - Horse Forum Topics & Answers - Horse Training & Trainers

*CowboyDad* · 02-08-2007,

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.

*amydawn* · 03-01-2007,

I haven't heard anything about shavings causing scratches, but I haven't done much research into shavings honestly. I do know that they need to be completely removed and replaced like once a week or so because of ph levels.

We use pine pellets, and they are awesome! They absorb everything and break down into a dust free dirt that makes living in CA bearable. We had rain the other day... our corrals are half open, half covered... they were stone dry the next day. They sift easily too... even when broken down... so all you muck out is the poop. I can't rave enough about these since starting to use them.

I've checked out other places around us for boarding and I've noticed at least one place that uses rice hulls for bedding. I've never used them, and as far as I can tell, you have to order a huge truckload of them. I would think they'd kind of work like pea gravel.

*FancyHorse* · 03-01-2007,

I have never heard of such a thing myself and I use shavings. I love them and have never had a problem with them.

*P8ntCrazy* · 03-08-2007,

Pastern Dematitis (also called Scratches, Greese heel).Horses with long feathers on the fetlocks and pasterns tend to trap moisture and dirt the skin then becomes irritated allows an infection to start. It can be very painful if left untreated even making the horse lame. Any horse who is subject to a moist enviroment can develop scratches, muddy pens unclean or wet stalls. It really is a hygiene issue. So if the stalls are wet from either rain or urine and manure then I would suspect the the dirty shavings could cause scratches. The best thing to do if you think your horse has this is call your vet and have them asses how bad it is and prescribe a coarse of treatment. The hair is usually shaved and a medication is applied.

*Sergey* · 04-11-2007,

Many causes have been associated with this dermatitis, including: microorganisms, allergies, photosensitivity, nutrition, irritants and soil or bedding conditions. The most common cause is chronically muddy, wet and unsanitary conditions-the kind of conditions you see in small pens.
The most effective treatment I've seen is the use of SMZ, which is basically sulphur tablets made into a paste. This paste should be applied to the cleaned and dried infected area. You can get the tablets from you veterinarian and apply the paste yourself.