6 Best Low Ammonia Horse Bedding For Closed Barns Old Grooms Swear By
Explore 6 top low-ammonia horse bedding options for closed barns. These groom-endorsed choices help control odor and support vital respiratory wellness.
Walk into a tightly closed barn on a cold morning and take a deep breath. That sharp, stinging smell that catches in the back of your throat is ammonia, and it’s more than just unpleasant. For horses living in that environment, it’s a serious threat to their respiratory health. Choosing the right bedding isn’t about luxury; it’s a fundamental part of good animal husbandry, especially when ventilation is limited.
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Why Low Ammonia Bedding is a Barn Essential
Ammonia isn’t just a byproduct of horse ownership; it’s a chemical reaction. When the urea in horse urine meets bacteria in the bedding, it produces ammonia gas. In an open, airy environment, this gas dissipates, but in a closed barn, it gets trapped and concentrates right at floor level where your horse breathes and sleeps.
This constant exposure is brutal on a horse’s respiratory system. It irritates the sensitive tissues of the lungs, making them more susceptible to inflammatory conditions like heaves, also known as Recurrent Airway Obstruction (RAO). It can also cause eye irritation and weaken the hoof structure, creating a welcoming environment for thrush. Think of it as forcing your horse to live inside a poorly maintained litter box.
The bedding you choose is your first and best line of defense. Its job is to either absorb urine so effectively that bacteria can’t thrive, or to create an environment that actively inhibits the ammonia-producing reaction. Good ventilation helps, but you can’t open the barn doors wide in a blizzard. The right bedding works 24/7 to protect your horse from the inside out.
Aubiose Hemp: The Gold Standard for Absorbency
If you ask an old-timer what they’d use with an unlimited budget, many will point to hemp. Aubiose, a popular brand, is made from the soft, pithy core of the hemp stalk. Its structure is like a sponge, full of microscopic pores that trap an incredible amount of liquid.
The magic of hemp is how it manages moisture. It wicks urine straight down to the bottom layer, leaving the surface your horse stands on remarkably dry. This dry top layer is inhospitable to the bacteria that create ammonia. You end up picking out the solids and leaving the wet spots to be absorbed, which means you use far less bedding over time.
While the upfront cost per bag is higher than shavings, the long-term value is often better. You’ll be stripping stalls less frequently and hauling less material to the manure pile. Plus, hemp composts quickly, breaking down into a beautiful, soil-like material much faster than wood products. It’s a system that saves labor and waste once you get the hang of it.
Guardian Pine Pellets: A Dust-Free & Economical Pick
Wood pellets are the workhorses of the bedding world. They arrive as dense, compressed pellets that expand into a fluffy, absorbent bed when you add a bit of water. This process is key to their effectiveness. The heat and pressure used to create them sterilizes the wood, killing mold spores and drastically reducing dust.
Pellets excel at targeted absorption. They soak up urine in a concentrated spot, preventing it from spreading across the stall floor. This makes mucking out incredibly efficient—you just scoop out the saturated clumps, much like cleaning a cat’s litter box. By containing the urine, you dramatically shrink the area where ammonia can form.
Guardian is a well-regarded brand, but many high-quality pine pellets perform similarly. They are a fantastic choice for horses with respiratory sensitivities because of their low-dust nature. The main tradeoff is the initial hardness; you have to "fluff" them with water to create a soft bed, and some owners find they don’t offer the same deep cushion as traditional shavings. But for pure absorbency and cost-effectiveness, they are very hard to beat.
StreuFex Peat Moss: Unmatched Ammonia Control
Peat moss is a less common but incredibly powerful tool for ammonia control. Unlike other beddings that primarily rely on absorption, peat moss changes the actual chemistry of the stall floor. Its naturally low pH creates an acidic environment that inhibits the growth of ammonia-producing bacteria.
This bedding doesn’t just soak up urine; it actively prevents the ammonia-forming reaction from happening in the first place. The result is a stall with a uniquely earthy, fresh smell, even after several days. It’s also virtually dust-free and provides a soft, springy cushion for your horse’s joints.
The downsides, however, are significant. Peat is a non-renewable resource harvested from ancient bogs, making it an environmental concern for many. It’s also dark in color, which can make it harder to spot and pick out manure. For a horse with a serious respiratory condition where ammonia control is the absolute top priority, peat moss is an unparalleled solution, but its ecological and financial costs must be weighed carefully.
Tractor Supply Co. Pellets: The Practical Choice
Let’s be realistic: not everyone has access to or a budget for specialty bedding. This is where the house brand pellets from stores like Tractor Supply Co. come in. They are widely available, affordable, and they get the job done. For the hobby farmer balancing a tight budget and a full-time job, practicality often wins.
These pellets are typically made from pine and offer good absorbency. They function on the same principle as premium brands—expanding to soak up moisture and lock it away. They are a massive step up from poor-quality, dusty shavings or straw in a closed barn environment. You can maintain a dry, low-ammonia stall with them if you are diligent about mucking.
The tradeoff for the lower price is often consistency. One batch might be fantastic, while the next might be a bit dustier or break down into mush faster. You may go through bags a little quicker than you would with a premium pellet. But if you understand this going in, they represent a solid, pragmatic choice that makes good horse care accessible. A well-managed stall with budget pellets is far better than a poorly managed one with expensive bedding.
Stall-Span Shavings: Kiln-Dried for a Drier Stall
Not all shavings are created equal. The key difference between cheap bulk shavings and a quality bagged product like Stall-Span is the drying process. These shavings are kiln-dried, a process that bakes out excess moisture and sterilizes the wood. This makes them far more absorbent than standard shavings.
Think of it like trying to wipe up a spill with a damp sponge versus a dry one. The kiln-dried shavings have a massive capacity to soak up urine the moment it hits the floor. By keeping the stall environment drier overall, they rob bacteria of the moisture needed to convert urea to ammonia. They also tend to be screened for dust, making them a safer choice for respiratory health.
Compared to pellets, shavings offer a fluffier, more traditional bed that provides excellent cushion. However, they are less dense, so a single bag doesn’t go as far. The choice often comes down to priorities: if you want maximum cushion and a traditional look with good absorbency, kiln-dried shavings are a great fit. If you want maximum absorption and minimal dust, pellets might have the edge.
Equinola Flax Bedding: A Compostable Option
Flax bedding is another plant-based option that behaves much like hemp but with its own unique advantages. Made from the woody stem of the flax plant (a byproduct of linen production), it’s chopped into small pieces that are surprisingly absorbent. It creates a bed that is firm and supportive, yet soft.
One of the biggest selling points for flax is its rapid decomposition. If you manage your own manure pile, you’ll find that flax bedding breaks down into rich compost significantly faster than any wood-based product. This can be a huge benefit for gardeners and those with limited space for a manure pile. Like hemp, it’s also very low in dust.
The main considerations are availability and cost, as it’s a specialty item in many areas. Some also worry that horses might be tempted to eat it, though this is rare and usually stops after the first day. For the eco-conscious farmer who values a quick composting cycle, flax is an excellent, sustainable choice that doesn’t compromise on performance.
Matching Bedding to Your Barn Management Style
There is no single "best" horse bedding. The right choice is a balance between your horse’s needs, your budget, and the time you have for barn chores. The key is to be honest about your priorities.
Start by identifying your primary goal. Is it absolute ammonia control for a horse with heaves? Or is it finding the most economical option that still keeps a healthy stall? Your answer will point you toward the right product.
Here’s a simple framework:
- For the Health-Focused Owner: If your horse has respiratory issues, your best bets are Aubiose Hemp or StreuFex Peat Moss. The superior ammonia control is worth the price.
- For the Budget-Minded Farmer: Tractor Supply Pellets or quality Stall-Span Shavings offer the best performance for your dollar. They require diligent management but deliver great results.
- For the Time-Strapped Homesteader: Guardian Pine Pellets or Aubiose Hemp used in a deep-litter method can significantly cut down on daily mucking time.
- For the Gardener & Composter: Equinola Flax or Aubiose Hemp will break down quickly, giving you usable compost much faster than wood products.
Don’t be afraid to try a few different options. What works perfectly in your neighbor’s damp, old bank barn might not be the ideal solution for your newer, drier pole barn. The goal is a system that works for you and keeps your horse breathing easy.
Ultimately, your bedding choice is a critical management tool, not just something to cover the floor. It directly impacts the air quality your horse breathes for hours every day. By matching the right low-ammonia bedding to your specific needs, you’re making one of the most important investments you can in your horse’s long-term health and comfort.
