Bedding Finder
Shavings, pellets, straw, or mats?
Shavings, pellets, or straw -- the right bedding depends on absorbency needs, budget, and any respiratory considerations. Answer a few questions and we'll match you to a type, or browse the table below.
| Result | Best for |
|---|---|
| Pine Shavings | For a widely available, absorbent, moderately priced bedding |
| Wood Pellets | For maximum absorbency and reduced dust |
| Straw | For a traditional, economical option in the right setting |
How this quiz works
The Bedding Finder asks what matters most to you, whether your horse has any respiratory sensitivity and whether it tends to eat bedding. It scores the answers and points you to pine shavings, wood pellets or straw.
Why these questions
Bedding affects air quality, how much work you do and how much you spend. A horse with a respiratory sensitivity does better with lower-dust bedding, a horse that eats its bedding needs something it cannot eat in quantity, and absorbency decides how often you muck out and how much you throw away.
What the quiz cannot see
It cannot see your barn's ventilation, your local prices or whether your horse reacts to a particular product. Check the dust level, and never use black walnut shavings, which are toxic to horses. If a horse has a cough or breathing trouble, talk to your veterinarian. The Bedding Amount Calculator works out how much to buy.
Before you decide
Look at how the bedding behaves in a real stall: how fast it absorbs, how dusty it is when you shake it and how much you throw away each week. Compare cost per stall, not cost per bag, and think about where you will put the used bedding. Kiln-dried shavings are lower in dust than green shavings, and pellets need moisture to expand properly.