Straw and Berries

We are conducting an experiment at Fields Quarter Horses. Well, we are typically always conducting one experiment or another around here. With Wayne near the helm of the operation, science often takes the forefront and many of our processes and daily procedures are scrutinized and studied.

We will call this the case study StrawFile 21F-3GG. The purpose of the study is to determine the efficiency, affordability, durability, practicality, utility, and functionability of using straw for bedding the horses versus wood shavings. 

First, a little background regarding the bedding practices at Fields Quarter Horses. When the horses are housed in stalls, it is necessary to provide them with a surface that is comfortable and easy to clean. After all, (as Alexandria from riding lessons says) their bedrooms and bathrooms are one and the same. Typically, we bed the horses on wood shavings which are delivered to the farm in bulk. The shavings are finely chopped wood and are absorbant and fairly inexpensive. However, they are dusty. When foaling is immenent, we typically put straw on top of shavings so that the foal can have a fluffy soft cushion for his first attempts at being mobile. The shavings beneath are used to absorb the blood and guts which accompany the birthing process.

With either option, there is always the consideration of waste removal. An operation like ours can produce a lot of waste- and I'm not talking about our crew's McDonalds lunch debris. So, as our resident scientist Wayne charts the volume of debris we remove, the time it takes us to do so, and evaluates the comfort and well-being of the horses living at our barn, I remind myself that I am lucky to have a husband who is engaged and involved. In fact, as he watched me clean stalls today and was excited to discuss manure over dinner, I said to my self, "Self, you are a lucky woman."  My self agreed.