If you are struggling to get your hands on straw this autumn, we’ve compiled contact details for the suppliers of 12 alternative types of horse bedding
Straw pellets: Nedz Advance
• Chopped and ground straw, sterilised then pelleted
• Launched 2008, available nationwide
• Tel: 01772 877096, www.nedz.co.uk
Chopped straw: Belvoir Bed
• A combination of wheat and rape straw that has been chopped, dust-extracted and treated with a natural formula containing lemongrass
• Launched 2008, only available direct from manufacturer
• Tel: 01772 877897, www.belvoirbed.co.uk
Rape straw: Bedrap
• Best-quality rape straw, which is cleaned, chopped and dust-extracted
• Launched 2005, available nationwide
• Tel: 01285 653738, www.bedrap.co.uk
Shavings: Bedmax
• From renewable forestry timber, with shavings cut to large, medium and small size for optimum cushioning, aeration, drainage and absorbency
• Launched 2000, widely available
• Tel: 01668 213467, www.bedmaxshavings.com
Wood pulp: Megazorb
• Virgin wood pulp, dried and sterilised
• Launched 2000, available nationwide
• Tel: 01759 318396, www.northerncropdriers.co.uk
Wood fibre: Easibed
• From clean white wood fibre
• Launched 2003, available nationwide
• Tel: 01613 702360, www.easibed.co.uk
Woodchip: Orchard
• Recycled hard and soft wood, graded, chopped and sifted
• Launched 2007, available nationwide depending on order size
• Tel: 01780 470045, www.orchard-equestrian.co.uk
Hemp/flax: Aubiose
• From hemp grown in Champagne region of France, processed via milling and sieving
• Launched 1973, widely available
• Tel: 0800 3891703, www.aubiose.co.uk
Cardboard strips: Shreddybed
• A mix of cardboard waste and large pieces of flat card, shredded
• Launched 2005, predominantly for purchase in the south-west, but available nationwide depending on order
• Tel: 01566 776756, www.shreddybed.co.uk
Shredded paper: Yesterday’s News
• Recycled newspaper, shredded
• Mainly Lincolnshire, but nationwide for bigger orders
• Tel: 01775 710171, www.yesterdays-news.co.uk
Miscanthus: Miscanthus Bedding
• Miscanthus plant harvested, broken down into optimum particles and softened
• Launched July 2010, mainly Midlands area, but nationwide for bigger orders
• Tel: 01889 500476, www.miscanthusbedding.co.uk
Softwood fibre pellets: White Horse Bedding
• Made from virgin softwood fibres compressed into low-moisture content pellets
• Launched summer 2010, available nationwide online
• Tel: 01672 838202, www.whitehorsebedding.co.uk
In some cases other suppliers are available — a websearch may produce more convenient sources
This is an extract from a feature first published in Horse & Hound (30 September, ’10)
