Bedding Pellets vs Shavings – Which is Best for Your Horse?

Choosing the best horse bedding in the UK can be tricky with so many options available. Two of the most popular choices are wood shavings and bedding pellets, but which is right for your stable? In this post, we’ll break down the pros and cons of each, helping you decide whether shavings or pellets, or even a combination, will keep your horses comfortable, healthy, and happy.

Shavings

Shavings are a long-time favourite in stables across the UK. They’re familiar, comfortable, and easy to spread straight from the bag. Depending on where you buy them, you can get everything from fine flakes to large, fluffy ones.

Pros:

• Variety: You can choose flake sizes to suit your horse’s comfort and your mucking-out style.
• Plenty of volume: If you like a deep bed, shavings can go a long way.
• Ready to use: Just open the bag and spread – no water or waiting required.
• All-weather friendly: Because there’s no water involved, they’re great for colder months when temperatures drop below freezing.

Cons:

• Bulky to store: Bags or bales of shavings take up more space than pellets and need to be kept dry.
• Inconsistent size: Flake size can vary slightly depending on the mill or batch.
• Dust: Even low-dust options can still irritate horses with allergies or respiratory sensitivities.
• Higher maintenance: Shavings beds often need daily mucking out to prevent ammonia build-up.
• Usually dearer per bag: Although shavings can look cheaper by weight, they often cost more per bag than pellets overall.

Bedding Pellets

Pelleted bedding has become increasingly popular in recent years. Made from compressed wood fibres, pellets expand into soft, fluffy sawdust when dampened with water. They can take a bit of practice to get right, but once you do, they’re incredibly efficient.

Pros:

• Compact and tidy: Bags of pellets are smaller and easier to store.
• Super absorbent: A single 40lb bag can soak up around 11 gallons of liquid – much more than shavings.
• Low dust: Because they’re compressed, pellets create far less dust, making them a great option for horses with allergies.
• Consistent quality: Every bag is uniform, so you don’t have to worry about flake variation.
• Composts quickly: Used pellets break down faster on the muck heap than traditional shavings.
• Efficient to use: You may find you use fewer pellets overall once you’ve got your system sorted.
• Cheaper per bag: While pellets tend to be more expensive per kilo, the bags themselves are usually cheaper and go a long way once expanded.

Cons:

• Higher cost per kilo: While individual bags are cheaper, the price per kilo is often higher than shavings.
• Need prep time: Pellets need water to expand, which can take 20–60 minutes. Warm water speeds things up.
• Climate-sensitive: In freezing weather, water can freeze before the pellets expand. In very dry climates, the bed can become dusty if it doesn’t stay slightly damp.

Mixing Shavings and Pellets

Many horse owners find that a mix of both works best. Pellets are great for soaking up wet patches or building up corners, while shavings can be used on top for softness and a classic stable look. Mixing the two can give you the absorbency of pellets with the cushioning of shavings.

Which Bedding Should You Choose?

At the end of the day, the best bedding is the one that keeps your horse comfortable and healthy, while fitting your yard routine and budget.

It’s worth trying both options to see what works for you – or even a mix of the two. Your choice might depend on what’s easiest to source locally, how much storage space you have, and how much time you want to spend mucking out each day.

The right bedding can make stable management cleaner, quicker, and more comfortable for everyone – especially your horse.