Anyone who organises a horse show knows that the event is won or lost in the things the public never sees. Riders remember the arena, but they also remember whether their horse spent three nights in a damp stable with too little bedding and plenty of dust. And that counts when they decide whether to come back next year. That is why choosing the right wood shavings for horse shows is part of the planning, not a last-minute detail.
At Visecorsa we have been supplying wood shavings to equestrian centres in Spain and Portugal since 1996, and every season we prepare wood shavings for horse shows with organisers who all need the same thing: clean bedding, in the right quantity, delivered where and when it is needed. Here is how we plan it.
Stable bedding is part of the show too
A showjumping, dressage, endurance or eventing competition brings together dozens or hundreds of horses for several days. Many arrive after hours in a horsebox, with their respiratory system already under strain, and go into temporary stables set up in marquees or sheds with less ventilation than their home yard.
That is where the bedding works for you. Dust-free shavings protect the horse’s airways just when it has to perform. A well-bedded stable tells the owner the event is well run. And absorbent shavings that are easy to muck out cut down daily cleaning and keep odours in check in areas with plenty of visitors.
How many bales of shavings you need for a show
Our wood shavings come in heat-sealed bales of around 15 kg. The rule of thumb used by equestrian centres is simple: half a bale to refresh one stable. From there, the total depends on how many stables you set up, how many days the show lasts and how deep you want the first bed to be.
We are not going to give you a fixed consumption table, because it would be misleading. The real quantity changes with humidity, the time of year, how messy each horse is and what each groom considers a good bed. What we do is work it out with you: tell us the number of stables, the number of days and whether the floor is concrete, earth or rubber, and we will suggest a quantity with a safety margin so you do not run short on the last day.
How wood shavings for horse shows are delivered
There is no room for delays at a show, so we confirm the transport before anything else. There are two ways to receive the shavings:
- By pallet, with a delivery company. Each pallet holds 21 or 24 bales depending on the type of lorry. The lorry has a tail lift, so you do not have to unload anything yourself.
- As a full load, on an articulated lorry. That is 33 pallets. The trailer has no tail lift, so you need a forklift or a tractor with pallet forks to unload it. We tell you the delivery day in advance so you can have the equipment ready.
You can also send your own transport or hire whoever you prefer. If you would rather we handle it, we ask the carriers we usually work with for a quote and pass it on to you.
For unloading we need truck access and a firm surface for the pallets, as close as possible to the stabling area. The bales are shrink-wrapped on the pallet and will hold up outdoors for a few days if covered. You will find all the details in our article on wood shavings by the pallet.
Dust-free wood shavings for horse shows in temporary stables
Show stables are usually set up in marquees or halls where the air is not renewed much. The dust from cheap shavings hangs in the air and horses, grooms and riders breathe it all day.
Our shavings go through double screening at our plant in Betanzos, which removes the fine dust. We explain the process in the article on respiratory health and dust-free shavings. What is left is soft bedding that smells of wood and does not raise a grey cloud every time it is moved.
It is a detail you can mention to competitors. “Stables bedded with dust-free shavings” is something owners appreciate and it barely adds to the cost of the event.
What to do with the bedding afterwards
When you dismantle the stables you will have several tonnes of shavings mixed with manure. Because it is natural wood with no chemical treatment, it can be composted, and many organisers give it to local farmers or garden nurseries. It is a good idea to agree where it will go before the event, so that clearing it does not become a problem on the last day.
Frequently asked questions about wood shavings for horse shows
We regularly deliver in Galicia, Castile and León, Castile-La Mancha, Catalonia and Portugal. For other areas, ask us well in advance and we will find transport.
For a show, ideally confirm the order three or four weeks ahead, especially in spring and summer.
Yes. We work with agencies, clubs and federations, and we adapt invoicing to whatever the event needs.
Yes. The difference is the quantity, not the product. Horses that spend more hours in the stable benefit from a deeper bed.
Your next show, with the stabling sorted
If you are organising a horse show and want to arrange the bedding with a single supplier, tell us the dates, the number of stables and the venue. We will prepare a quote and a planned delivery so that on the day you only have to think about the arena.
