Results of a trial by Jane Pryor - Drumnagesk Equestrian Park
Four horses used in the study, all stables having rubber mats.
Scoops referred to are a standard feed bowl scoop.
Kezia, 15hh mare, stable size 14' x 12'
Leo, 16.2hh gelding, stable size 14' x 12'
Thuggy, 13.1hh (recently gelded stallion, 7 years old) stable size 10' x 10'
Boo, 15.1hh gelding, constantly stabled as a veterinary patient with an eye injury, top door currently being kept closed constantly.
Kezia is clean in the stable and does all droppings at the edge of the box but not in a particular place and tends to pee at one corner. Doing her box is a pleasure, the droppings are easy to pick up and the small wet patch sweeps and dries quickly with a covering of 'old' Megazorb. She has approx 1" covering which is replenished with 2-3 scoops about 6 days a week. Very successful.
Leo is rather less tidy and he is best served with 4 scoops Megazorb on one side of the box, the whole lot generally requiring to be swept out each day, occasionally a clean patch can be left, but the box is kept dry as he has learnt to pee on the Megazorb. With Aubiose used on a similar basis the box was never as dry.
Thuggy was a stallion until November '04 and retains his stallion habits of one heap for all the droppings and pee in the same place. 3 scoops per day, swept out daily, and again, his box is nice and dry.
Boo is currently with us as a veterinary livery having an eye injury which requires thrice daily care. He is eating 4 nets of haylage daily so has quite a high output. He is swept out in the morning, gets 3 scoops down straight away, droppings being picked up regularly during the day and another 2 scoops at night.
General comments:
If too little is used, wet patches can become too slippery, but to use a thick bed with rubber mats could be considered wasteful and unnecessary as the horse cannot hurt itself on the rubber floor. Megazorb sweeps far better than Aubiose which tends to cling to the rubber. No horse has attempted to eat it. Any waste on the yard (sand and stone mix surface which is raked) disintegrates easily and is inconspicuous whereas Aubiose us very evident and does not break down and disappear as does Megazorb. The size of the bags makes for much easier handling than Aubiose, particularly for the ladies. We have discovered the string undoes easily if pulled from the 'B' end of Megazorb as written on the bag. We would gladly return bags for re-use as they are in perfect condition if the stitching is pulled rather than cutting the bag itself.
In conclusion:
At first we were not sure about Megazorb being better than Aubiose, seeming more expensive, but we have now got to grips with it and with a new horse you just have to find what volume will suit the needs of the individual. Kezia and Thuggy are my own personal horses and I would prefer to retain them on Megazorb. When Thuggy was gelded he went into the next door box for the operation with Megazorb on the floor. Although the vet at first thought it was cat litter, the benefits were great as any blood spillage was quickly absorbed and could be monitored. I was a bit concerned about the Megazorb sticking to the wound when the horse lay down in it but I found that although very absorbent it did not appear to stick to the wound and need to be bathed off which was very helpful.
I now like it very much and would strongly recommend it to anyone, particularly as a bedding to use in conjunction with rubber mats.
“MEGAZORB is so easy to use, I can’t manage without it now.
I am so impressed with it that I am recommending it to my friends.”
Maureen Holden of Woodton, Norfolk
