Coconut Fiber Bedding

[UlysMom]

I posted this in an Around The Farm thread, but thought I would throw it out here in Off Course to see if anyone else had any experience with this bedding.

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So…I have been trying an experiment with new bedding the past month. I’ve been using coconut husk fiber exclusively to test it’s effectiveness as stall bedding. Using the Coconut Cowboy brand. It’s pricey. But I was told it would last for a few months, you don’t remove the wet spots (just fluff and the bedding dries out quickly without an odor), and it wouldn’t blow away in our crazy Santa Ana winds. Thought if it lasted as long as they said, it would definitely be worth the price.

My horse lives in a large pipe corral, with rubber mats lining half his stall. The bedding has been on half of his mats.

So far I have been pleased with the product. If the bedding is turned every day, it does stay dry and fluffy. Unfortunately, I’m in a boarding situation, and while the primary stable hand understands to turn the bedding and not throw out wet product, his helpers don’t always follow that. So, I have lost some pricey product due to their cleaning efficiency. But, in general, 2 bags have lasted for about 5-6 weeks now (and should for at least another 6), my horse actually stays really clean and shiny sleeping in this as there is no dust whatsoever, and I really like the spongy consistency (think peat moss). If you don’t turn and mix the bedding, you will get soggy wet spots that smell of ammonia. But, and I know this sounds weird, once you mix and let the wet dry out, the smell goes away. I truly didn’t believe it when the girls at the feed store told me that. But they were right.

Anyway, I haven’t seen much posted in here about coconut fiber bedding, so thought I would share my experiment so far. Anyone else have experience with a similar bedding? Pros/cons? Likes/dislikes?

[UlysMom]

So no one has tried anything like this?

[Simkie]

I’d love to try it, but it looks like distribution is limited to a few areas of California.

Just how much does it cost, if you don’t mind me asking?

[LuvMyRide]

Where do you find this bedding? I’m in SoCal.

[UlysMom]

I paid $26.99 a bag. And I was really not ready for the price tag at check out. Lol. (Like i said, it was an experiment…). I have read online that it’s used quite a bit in Europe (the product, not this vendor), though I don’t know if that was just a marketing ploy or not. I really like the concept and I like the product, but I don’t like the price tag. It just seems cost prohibitive for a multi-horse barn.

If I could find a bulk supplier of coconut husk fiber, I would be all over this. Everything I have read shows it being imported from places like Sri Lanka and I’m sure the cost for import for just my usage isn’t even worth the trouble. Unless someone else has experience or ideas about obtaining more product outside of the one local source marketing to horse owners here?

[UlysMom]

LuvMyRide, I’m in OC. Where are you? I found it at a local feed store, but I believe they stock it regularly out in Norco (I think the owners may be local to the IE).

[Simkie]

Here’s the distributor list I was able to find:

https://www.facebook.com/CoconutCowboyBedding/app_190322544333196

(I hope that goes to the right page.)

Fifty bucks for 12 weeks isn’t bad! Two bags for a 12 x 12 ish type area? I would try it!

[UlysMom]

I will check back in and let you know if it does, in fact, last for 12 weeks and what condition it stays in throughout.

[piaffeprincess98]

I’ve been wanting to try this for a bedding test for an upcoming story and after repeated phone calls, messages and Facebook messages to the company, I haven’t had a response so I gave up!