My trailer has mats and I use shavings. I buy the big flakes that come in bags, vs the really fine stuff that tends to be more dusty. I’ve yet to have a problem.
Without shavings, your horses may be less likely to pee in the trailer, just a thought.
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I’m not sure what you are referring to. Can you post a picture or a link?[/QUOTE]
We use shavings and have mats in both of our horse trailers. I do put extra shavings in the trailer when we go on long hauls (6hr +) to absorb the urine. We have never had any issues and I have gone in the back of the trailer when it was moving. The windows were open as well as the vents, and no shavings were moving around.
We did have a door at the side of the trailer open once (the top door of a 2 + 1 trailer) and the shaving were blowing around quite a bit. We stopped and closed the door but opened the window and it stoped the wind tunnel. The back doors can be opened with no issues though.
I know lots of people who trailer with shavings and a few who don’t. I think its really up to you.
Most of my trailering is short hauls and I never used to include shavings. Then I hauled my mare back from clinic post colic surgery and post lots of:eek: mineral oil.
First stage of clean up after removing poop was dawn dishsoap scrub of mats, folloed by a layer of lightly wetted pellets. Since then have used either the pellets or shavings, no generally deep, just enough to simplify cleaning. None of mine have ever peed in trailer, knock wood.
Hmmm. I started putting bedding down (straw) with my new horse since he pees on the trailer. But maybe I won’t after reading this thread. It does help with clean up though.
Grooved mats and NO shavings.
When I have tried to use shavings, I can see the shavings in my side mirrors swirling around.
My horse has no trouble peeing in the trailer without shavings - does it nearly every haul.
This also makes cleanup easier. If I put shavings in, I would want to strip out every piece when I was done. Wet or dirty shavings sitting in the nooks and crannies of your trailer will make it rust or rot faster. Now, I just splash a bucket of water to rinse out the pee and sweep everything out.
Maybe our mats are different, and I have seen a variety of them, but they’re squishy-it’s like a gym mat to a horse, their feet squish in and they have traction. I have to admit I’ve never understood the wet mat/slippery concern. We also tie our horses so they aren’t doing laps and I’m sure that helps but in all the hundreds of miles we’ve hauled horses in everything from heavy traffic to two track rock roads we’ve never had one go down.
My trailer is matted. I use shavings at the “business end” of the horses to absorb anything they decide to leave behind. If there’s no urine, I just pick out the “pieces” after using the trailer and leave the shavings for the next time.
I find it very interesting for all the different ways people haul.
I still want to have shavings in the trailer, but I think I will try wetting them down before I go and leave him un-tied He is a good hauler so he shouldn’t get himself into trouble, and then he’ll be able to put his head down to keep his airways clean.
I use the hay left over that they pull out from the last trip - and only put it in the middle for pee (all geldings). That absorbs without the dust of shavings.
I have one 'o each so I have to accommodate "multiple pee points with the shavings… 
Mats and straw. Trailer is mucked out, after each use, and clean straw is piled to side, so all dries.
Grooved mats no shavings. I did something so stupid, I hauled to the vet clinic and she pooped and came off. I didn’t pick the poop before re-loading and she slipped, kicking herself badly behind. She has a permanent lump that didn’t go away, despite care.
I feel terrible.
I ordered shipping boots too. Waiting to see how they fit, etc. or if wraps will be better. sigh 
Mats, but since I have access to tons (literally) of straw, I use that instead of shavings. I used shavings when that was what I bedded on and didn’t have straw. So many horses dislike having urine splatter on their legs, so I would never trailer without something to absorb the urine
I started out using shavings (always use mats) for years, then quit because of respiratory concerns.
I then had a mare slip on wet poo/pee as she made her exit. She landed on her knees on gravel. Big lump was the result, and back I went to shavings. I wet them down right before we load to reduce dust.
I wet hay down also if I’m going to feed it in the trailer.
If you are going to a public place or park, please pick up any mess you leave behind, and that means shavings, too…meaning ‘people’, not any of you guys personally. Surprising how much shed out hair, manure and shavings are left in the parks I go to.
Straight load two horse. Textured mats, no shavings. We remove the top panels of the back doors (basically dutch doors) in the summer and I could imagine the shavings swirling up.
I keep shavings on the floor of my big trailers- those mats get slippery if peed on- so there’s fluffy shavings under the urine spots and the butt.
In my run around trailer it’s too airy- shavings go everywhere- it’s a real mess. I do not put shavings in that one.
I don’t like shavings in the trailer. Hubby wanted then when he hauled but wet shavings get stuck between the mats and corroded the floor. Pee runs out and they wear shipping boots on long hauls.
Matted (Merhow slant) (or in the case of my Hawk straight load) Rumber floor, with shavings, preferably the big flake kind. However, there are times I haul with no shavings in the Hawk—the floors are very grippy–on short, frequent hauls (one barn to another for lessons). Have never had problems either way. Even with windows and vents open, I don’t get shaving swirl. I prefer shavings for hauling, makes it so much easier to clean up and helps with soaking up urine. I’ve been behind trailers when a horse pees…nothing like washing horse pee off your windshield! Ugh.
