Shavings?

[PaintedLady]

I just got an offer I can't refuse. I'm getting wood chips (shavings) for the cost of delivery! But...I need to know...are there any shavings (besides Black Walnut) horses can't tolerate? My guys are fine with cedar (altho I doubt I get that...)

[WashingtonBay]

Well, I think you want to generally avoid hardwoods, because there are some maples that aren't good for horses either, but I'm curious too, to see the responses. I'd be interested in being able to buy in bulk from a saw mill too one day, when we have a better storage option.

[PaintedLady]

I was wondering about maple. Is it red leaf maple that's bad?? Because I think most of this *would* be maple of some sort!

[mandisue]

We have a sawmill and have used every shaving pretty much imaginable with my horses except the black walnut no probs here

[PaintedLady]

ALL RIGHTY!! Thanks Mandisue!!

[WashingtonBay]

I'm finding mixed answers on maple shavings in a brief search. Nothing definitive, much of it is forum conversation just like this one, wondering. Red Maple leaves are toxic, at least during the fall season when the leaves are wilting. That leads people to wonder about the shavings.

I would be very cautious about using it. I think there's a reason horse bedding is specified as 'white shavings' from pine or fir, or cedar... Commercially sold horse bedding is not ever mixed with hardwoods.

[PaintedLady]

Our shavings just arrived. This is from a tree service who provides all the shavings for the horse barns in the area, and none of them have ever had any problems. (Not that I've heard of, anyway....) The guy did know about the Black Walnut, and seems to be a really nice guy. He promised we'd never have a problem with that. I'll have to let you all know more as I do....