How to use Equisorb

You need fewer Equisorb bales per week than any other bedding type

top-clean-horse-stable

Equisorb represents far better value for money and substantially lower costs to you than any other bedding type.

When establishing a new bed, Equisorb is ideally applied to a clean floor at the rate of approx. 1 bale per m2. If on rubber matting, not all the area need be covered at this rate. Do not worry if your new Equisorb bed moves slightly when initially installed as the bed will quickly settle to form a long-lasting firm base.

Bedding type Expected week's usage
12 x 12 stable bare floor average horse 12 x 12 stable rubber floor average horse Larger stable bare floor dirty horse
Equisorb 1 - 1 ¼ bale ¾ - 1 bale 1 ½ - 2 bales
Long straw 3 - 4 bales 2 ½ - 3 ½ bales 3 - 3 ½ bales
Straw / shavings 2 - 2 ½ bales 2 - 3 bales 2 ½ - 3 bales
Equibed 1 ½ - 2 bales 1 ½ - 2 bales 2 ½ - 3 bales
Ultrabed 2 - 2½ bales 1½ - 2 bales 2½ - 3 bales
Hemp 1 - ½ bales 1 - 1 ¼ bale 2 - 2½ bales

Changing over to Equisorb from existing bedding

Straw bed: take all the straw out

Shavings or hemp bed: if clean, top up with Equisorb until the original bed has gone. The full benefits of Equisorb will not be apparent until the old bed has gone.

Managing your Equisorb bed

Remove droppings regularly, with rubber gloves or fork. Droppings will become easier to remove as the bed becomes established. Only remove wet material once or twice a week, topping up with sides or banks, and then top up sides with fresh material. Use a bedding fork to rake over surface, giving the bed a fresh, level finish whilst not disturbing the under-part of the bed.

Putting down your Equisorb horse bed

Solid floor: 7 – 8 bales. Empty bales on floor, carefully tread down, add water if preferred, to establish as firm a base to the bed as possible. The bed will move a little initially, but will settle within 7/10 days. Settled depth needs to be 8” (20 cm).

Rubber Matting: 5 – 7 bales. Aim to cover at least half the total area to a depth of 6” to 8” (15-20cm). The bed will settle well in 7/10 days but must have a good depth in order to absorb the wet. Brushing the rubber matting up to the bed line will give the bed a firm edge.

Superior absorbency

Equisorb is very easy to use and is considerably more absorbent than wood shavings. Usage will obviously depend on how wet the horse is and how large the area of the bedding is, however for a standard 12 ft x 12 ft stable and average horse you can expect to only use 1 bale of Equisorb per week. Many of the equestrian yards and professional owners that now use Equisorb rather than shavings have commented that with good management they are able to use just 1 bale of Equisorb per week per stable whilst still maintaining a dry and healthy bed for their horses.