Hemp for horses? Yes, believe it. There are many benefits to hemp for horse bedding over shavings or straw, and no, your horse won’t try to smoke it! Hemp is a fast-growing plant that yields three times more fiber per acre than cotton. In addition, it’s durable, absorbent, resistant to mold and mildew, naturally termite-proof, fireproof (unlike the petroleum-based plastics used in most types of bedding), renewable (the stalks can be replanted after harvest), and biodegradable – all good reasons why you might want to switch your horse’s bedding from traditional wood shaving/straw hay mix to organic hemp bedding.
When looking for hemp for horse bedding, look for a pesticide, herbicide, and chemical-free product – organically grown.
Here’s what some of the hemp-bedding going into the stall looked like:
The most common horse bedding containing hemp type is shavings made from industrial hemp hurds or shredded bark from trees such as eucalyptus, cottonwood, maple, or fruit trees. Although shavings made from industrial hemp are not currently available commercially, they exist in smaller businesses, health food stores, and even at flea markets. More recently, water bedding has also appeared that is made from hemp hurds or shavings in the 30 to 80-pound range – in other words, very lightweight (and not meant for horses to stand on all night but rather an extra layer of padding).
Hemp shavings are less dusty than wood shaving, more absorbent, so they don’t get stinky as fast plus, because it’s organic matter, it helps reduce ammonia smells. Hemp-based bedding helps keep your horse clean by being so absorbent. It lifts the dirt away from his skin so he doesn’t have to step through the muck when he exits his stall. This reduces wear and tear on their legs.
Hemp bedding is also an excellent choice for stalls that house mares and foals or sick horses because it contains natural germ-fighting terpenes, antiseptic/antibacterial properties. Many horse people who use hemp bedding have noticed fewer respiratory problems in their barn since they switched from hay-straw or wood shaving-based bedding which can cause respiratory distress if moldy. Hemp shavings do not harbor fungi, mold, or bacteria due to their very low (if any) pH levels. The fact that hemp bedding is so absorbent also contributes to its lack of dust and mold.
Hemp shavings are also more sanitary than other unprocessed horse bedding because it contains less nitrogen, which prevents bacteria from rapidly multiplying. Bacteria growth is responsible for the ammonia smell associated with poor quality bedding. In addition, hemp’s natural resistance to rot means fewer larvae present in the manure, thus reducing exposure to parasites.
