Do most racing barns bed on straw?
For the ones who get shavings why?
I like straw but it’s more allergenic, imo.
It depends on the policies of the track you are stabled at. In most instances the mushroom farmers will BUY used straw bedding from the track, whereas the track must pay to have used shavings bedding removed. Most tracks I am familiar with have a straw only policy unless you remove your own bedding (or pay to have it removed).
Oh, that’s right. I forgot about that !
It’s just track to track. In New Mexico almost nobody bedded on straw, some tracks would fine you for using straw, some tracks will fine you for using shavings, some don’t care. Of course some horses have special needs and you could get permission to use a different bedding but you couldn’t just throw that bedding in with the rest of it.
At Palm Meadows (at least a few years ago) they were manufacturing this god awful bedding that they required everybody stabled there to use and you had to get special permission to bed a stall with anything but.
Are you talking about Struefex, Stronachs bedding? It was used in the recieving barn at Laurel for awhile untill everyone complained. We typically will bed on straw unlesss we have a bleeder, then the shavings come in.
Struefex was my guess too. That stuff is absolute garbage in my opinion. I know at Penn the HPBA got a big chunk of change from the sale of straw and manure.
At Emerald, you have to use pellets. Thus, you also have to use haynets. 
Some people bed their ponies on cheap hay but straw is a no-no.
Yes! Strufex, couldn’t remember the name, god it was horrible. Looked dirty, got all packed in the horses feet like rocks, nasty stuff.
I miss the fresh mushrooms the guys from Fastrak would always bring to the barn! I started bringing in baked goods for them because they were giving me so many
Down at Calder, its all shavings.
[QUOTE=Laurierace;6337875]
Struefex was my guess too. That stuff is absolute garbage in my opinion. I know at Penn the HPBA got a big chunk of change from the sale of straw and manure.[/QUOTE]
Do you know how much you get for the straw manure…one of those really big trucks…full…$63.00 so it take ALOT to get a chunk of change…those dumpsters they remove every day are no where near a full truck. Plus its by weight not volume and alot of straw doesn’t weigh nearly as much as my bunkered pit that we pack full.
Also the driving distance and fuel costs play into how much you get. Since my guys do Penna Nat. I know…
I miss the fresh mushrooms the guys from Fastrak would always bring to the barn! I started bringing in baked goods for them because they were giving me so many
Cut backs don’t get now except Christmas…
If you aren’t at least a 3/4 load they charge your $50.00 to haul the manure away as well…
I was on the board of director of the HPBA, I don’t remember the numbers but the straw money definitely was a chunk of our budget especially when you consider we were more or less selling other people’s trash.
never pondered this
My mushroom consumption has now come to a complete halt!
The canned stuff all seems to come from China, so they have not been on my pantry shelves for some time now. So much stuff from China, especially food sorta scares me. Last couple of cans had the rubbery consistancy of escargot. Yes, I do eat escargot. More of a proving I am not too afraid to thing, than actually savoring them. Just tastes like garlic butter & chews like rubber. But my button mushrooms should never chew like rubber!
The fresh grown in the USA, I never really thought about… Stable bedding from how many boarding places, but worse yet race track bedding? With all the DRUGS, anitbiotics & other unknown cr@p in horses, especially race horses? :eek: Ok, not passing my lips any longer.
Darn, as I really love a good portobella! Heck, I make portobella’s as the main course sometimes. Thick cuts, in white wine, with yummy cheeses melted over; sauteed or baked to perfection. Oh how sad, one of my favorite meals has now to come an end. Darn. Darn. Darn.
