Horsemate Bedding Pellets 15Kg X 66

Horsemate Pellets for stable bedding

This is for 66 Bags (1 pallet) for Horsemate bedding pellets - 15kg per bag

Minimum order is 66 bags - 1 pallet.

What are the key benefits of Horsemate?

Absorbency:  Our pellets are up to 4 times more absorbent than shavings.  Wood pellets have an excellent absorption rate due to they way the pellets are formed, so kilo for kilo they are far more effective than shavings and chips. 

How is the bedding supplied and how much will I need?

We recommend for the initial setup between 12 – 15 bags depending on how deep you like the bedding and then topped up with 1 – 2 bags per week remembering that you will not need to muck out this stabe for many months, just remove the wet patches and muck each day.  We provide the pelletmate bedding in 15kg clear plastic bags on pallets containting 66 bags.

The pellets are manufactured from clean kiln dried pine off cuts in accordance with the most stringent quality control procedures This procedure allows us to assure you that no resins or additives are present in the final pellet.  Our pellets are 6mm in diameter with a clean appearance giving a soft and secure bed that is comfy underfoot.  Our product has distinct advantages over traditional bedding, easily manageable, reduced ammonia smell and highly absorbent. 

How does Horsemate work and why do you add water?

The science behind Horsemate is quite straightforward; the pellets are delivered with a moisture content of about 7% and the pellets are held together by a water soluble component in all wood called lignin.  The ideal moisture content of wood for best absorption is about 25%.  At this moisture content the capillary action, which draws the urine into the wood cell’s xylem vessels functions correctly.  Adding water is necessary for two reasons; the first is to dissolve the lignin and allow the pellet to expand and the second is to allow the material in the pellet enough moisture to reach a 25% moisture content in order to allow the capillary action, which is the mechanics behind the absorption, to operate. 

Capillary Action is the movement of liquid along the surface of a solid caused by the attraction of molecules of the liquid to the molecules of the solid. 

What makes Horsemate better than other types of horse bedding?

Horsemate works better primarily because of its ability to absorb moisture.  With other types of bedding Urine is able to pass through the bed and then spread once it hits the stable floor.  With Horsemate urine is absorbed before it hits the stable floor eliminating the spreading of the urine and keeping it in a small area.  As a secondary result of this less waste is produced which means that the size of the muckheap is greatly reduced and less bedding is used; making it cheaper to run a stable.  Finally there is no ammonia smell with Horsemate this is because when urine is absorbed into the wood fibres the ammonia bonds to the cells resulting in an odour free stable and a handy colour change. 

What is my saving compared to shavings?

Estimated saving is approx $400-$500 per stable per year. 

Is Horsemate environmentally friendly?

Yes, it is 100% biodegradable; it will rot down quickly and reduce the muck heap area by up to 50%.  It is a 100% natural product with no additives and can be spread on the land as fertilizer.  It will save you 30-50% on labour and transport costs as the bedding needs changing less often.  Muck heaps will have more manure, so it will be easier for composting and therefore there is less waste and a subsequent reduction in disposal costs.

Will using pellets for bedding save time? 

Because the solid manure separates easily, less time is spent removing the soiled bedding from the stable or horse box compared with traditional methods.  The urine-saturated areas will clump allowing quick and easy removal in their entirety ideally with a square nosed shovel.  Grooming time will be reduced as the pellets do not break down to a fine dust.  They are made from an optimal coarse material so it is less sticky.  Horses will simply shake it off and it can be quickly brushed out.

Are pellets more expensive than traditional beddings like wood shavings and straw?

If you consider that each 15kg bag is equivalent to about 1.5 bales of shavings, you can easily calculate the savings to be made in material costs.  Plus, it is anticipated that you will reduce your labour costs by 35-60% as bedding is added just once a week and only wet bedding and manure is removed. 

Will my horse eat the pellets?

Always ensure the pellets are entirely ready for the stable or horse box prior to leaving the horse on the pellet base. Wood pellets are typically less palatable to the horse than wood shavings.  Bedding pellets taste and smell like wood, so most horses will immediately recognise this and quickly spit them out once they have recognised that the pellets contain no nutritional value.  Always avoid ingestion of the pellets.  

How should the pellets be stored?

Bedding should always be stored in a dry and well-ventilated place.  Our equine bedding has proven to be an excellent product from the ease of storage, to the manageability of the bed right through to the reduction in your muckheap. 

Are wood pellets dusty? 

Many types of bedding can be dusty. Some horses are very sensitive to dust and need to be kept in dust-free boxes, while others are not bothered unless the dust levels are extraordinary.  If your bedding is dusty and your horse starts coughing you will need to increase the moisture content by spraying the surface, remember approx 25% is the magic number, you may also need to top up or to change the bedding.

Can Horsemate be spread on to Gardens?

Yes Horsemate can be spread onto gardens. The reason other types of bedding, such as wood shavings shouldn't be spread on to them is that they take nitrates from the soil in order to decompose and the lack of nitrates then stunts then growth of any crops.  Horsemate however does not take nitrates from the soil and when spread with muck will fully break down and naturally help fertilise the area.  One reason for this is because Horsemate has a far greater surface area than shavings so they decompose an awful lot quicker and without taking nitrates from the soil.