I know several Champers have horses, do any of you use straw and if so have you found your horses scratching a lot. I had to change to straw as my Bones is dirty and spending £12 a week on chipping was getting a bit much, but I have noticed that in the last few weeks he is scratching himself on anything he can find. I can't see anything in his coat and its not sweet itch.

could be mites... ask the vet to check and also change him to easi-bed? I have that down in the field shelter :D

i hated straw, theres a fantastic bed called mega zorb which is abit like shredded egg boxes, its fantastic!

Thanks Chloe I will get some shampoo for mite. I had to use it years ago on a horse I bought. Do you think it is the straw that is causing it although a few months ago there was a pony on the yard that had mites and Bones used to stop and talk to her. He has his own field so he doesn't mix with the other horses on the yard. I am not too keen on straw either and did consider rubber matting but because of his condition he walks around all the time and everything gets mixed up so straw is cheaper. Never heard of Easybed what is it made up off.

I know you can get mites from hay and they irritate rabbits and GP's so I would imagine you could get them from straw aswell....

Easy bed is like a non-dusty shavings bed - its about £5 for a massive bale but it lasts ages and its easy to manage :)

What condition does he have?

He has wobblers which has advanced now so he is not safe to be ridden any more and it also affects his sight, one eye does not react properly which was not a problem as I always rode out with a lead horse so he didn't get spooked by things but now the other eye is going the same way. The annoying thing is about four years ago he spent two days in the vets and they turned round and said "don't know what is wrong with better have him pts" I turned him away for 18 months and then started gentle work and eventually started jumping him again but he started going lame again so called another vet out who took one look at him and said wobblers. The work had advanced it. If he had been treated the first time I won't have had to retire him. He's just my pet now but he has spavins in both hocks and possibily artheritis (spelling) in back legs and wobblers can make the neck painfully, it clicks. This makes him walk his stable all the time and stamp his legs as they don't go where he thinks he has put them.

Oh bless him :( I really feel for you, its terrible to see such a magnificent animal with a condition like that :( Easi-bed might help him more than straw though - support wise - and it doesn't get kicked around by box walking.

He's quite happy Chloe especially now the weather has got warmer, he doesn't like the wet and cold and he has a clean bed and food every day. That is all that he wants. I couldn't pts him just because he can't be ridden.

I agree - I wouldnt have a horse pts just because he couldn't be ridden - and if he's happy then there's nothing more he could want :)

Thanks Chloe I will get some shampoo for mites. I had to use it years ago on a horse I bought. Do you think it is the straw that is causing it although a few months ago there was a pony on the yard that had mites and Bones used to stop and talk to her. He has his own field so he doesn't mix with the other horses on the yard. I am not too keen on straw either and did consider rubber matting but because of his condition he walks around all the time and everything gets mixed up so straw is cheaper. Never heard of Easybed what is it made up off.

have a look here ;)

Is it barley or wheat straw?  The former is generally worse.

Its wheat straw which he also like to eat.

well I guess it depends on your source. i would consider a mite infestation....they love the base of the tail/mane etc. I have given up on buying "up country" wheat straw from nearby dealer as its too prickly & now have some very nice soft Barley straw in their stables. Its all down to preference (unless horse actually has respiratory allergy problem of course :() but I would only ever use straw....none of these new fangled things that come in plastic wrappers! :D: