If wood shavings are used as bedding, what type of shavings should be avoided?

When using wood shavings as bedding for horses, black walnut shavings should be avoided due to their toxic properties. The wood of the black walnut tree contains substances that can be harmful to horses, potentially causing laminitis and other health issues. Even small amounts of black walnut shavings mixed in with other bedding can lead to serious health problems for horses, including lethargy, increased heart rate, and colic.

In contrast, pine, hickory, and elm shavings do not possess the same level of toxicity and are generally considered safe for use as bedding in equine facilities. The focus should be on ensuring that bedding is clean, dry, and free from harmful substances to ensure the health and comfort of the horse. Thus, the recommendation to avoid black walnut shavings is based on their significant risk to equine health.