Why Hemp Bedding is the Best Choice for Your Horses

Oct 16

5 min read

Cost Savings Compared to Other Bedding

Discover why horse owners are switching from pine to hemp bedding. Hemp is more absorbent - longer lasting and better for the planet & horses. More and more stables are discovering that hemp bedding, though it looks more expensive at first glance, actually saves money, reduces labour, and keeps horses healthier.

While pine or straw may seem cheaper upfront, they come with hidden costs: constant replacement, higher waste disposal, and health risks. Hemp lasts 2–6 times longer, reducing overall usage, transport, and disposal costs.

Overseas trials show hemp bedding can:

Cut bedding costs in half.
Reduce mucking-out time by 75%.
Lower vet bills by improving hoof and respiratory health.
720kg of hemp bedding can replace up to 2000kg of pine shavings monthly
Some users only change hemp bedding every 4 weeks

The Key Benefits of Hemp Bedding

Superior Absorbency

Horses urinate many times each day, and excess moisture can quickly damage hooves and create unpleasant odours. Hemp absorbs up to four times more fluid than pine, clumping and wicking liquid to the bottom and leaving the surface dry and clean. This reduces the risk of hoof rot and keeps your stable fresher for longer.

Low Dust for Respiratory Health

Horses can only breathe through their noses, making dust a major concern. Vital Equine Hemp Bedding is dust-extracted, creating a healthier environment for horses and handlers alike. This makes it especially valuable for horses prone to coughs or allergies.

Natural Odor Control

By locking urine into compact clumps, hemp prevents ammonia build-up and keeps the barn smelling fresh. Less smell also means fewer flies and a more pleasant environment for everyone.

Natural Pest Repellent

Thanks to natural compounds, hemp may help repel flies, ticks, and other pests. Horses stay happier and healthier, with fewer insect-related irritations.

Comfort for Joints & Muscles

A thick hemp bed creates a springy, cushioned surface that encourages horses to lie down more often. It’s ideal for performance horses, broodmares and foals who need maximum comfort and recovery support.

Sustainable & Compostable

Hemp uses up to 70% less water than traditional crops, and produces four times more fibre per acre than wood in just 100 days. Hemp is tree-free and completely forest friendly and is grown by Australian farmers. After use, it composts in half the time of wood shavings, returning nutrients and carbon back to the soil.

Introducing the Vital Equine Hemp Bedding System

Our hemp bedding system is more than just bedding — it’s a complete solution for horse health and farm efficiency. It includes:

Non-woven hemp fibre underlay mats for insulation and comfort.
Super-absorbent, dust-extracted hemp hurd litter graded for size
Natural microbial deodorising and composting sprays for easy waste management.

This all-in-one approach reduces labour, lowers bedding consumption, and leaves you with compostable, soil-building material at end-of-use. Simply spray used bedding with our microbial disposal spray to transform it into premium, nutrient rich living soil with no ongoing labour!

Real Horse Owner Experiences

At a show-jumping stable in the Byron Bay area, the results speak for themselves:

“We’ve recently tried your hemp bedding and we’re absolutely in love with it – the horses are too!”

International stables confirm the same benefits:

European barns report one bale of hemp lasts 4–6 times longer than pine shavings.
American trainers say labour time has been cut by up to 75%.
Owners consistently notice healthier hooves, reduced odours, fewer flies, and happier horses.

The verdict is clear: hemp delivers real-world savings and superior comfort.

How to Use Hemp Bedding

Our Hemp Bedding is available in:

15kg compressed bales — easy to transport and handle. One 15kg bale covers 1.1 x 2.1 metres (2.3m2)
350kg bulk bags (2,692L) — for cost-effective large-scale use.

Standard Bedding System

Lay 3–4 15kg bales as a base (45-60kg)
Top up with 1 bale every 3–7 days.

Deep Bedding System

Lay 6–8 bales as a base (90-120kg)
Top up as needed.

Maintenance Tips

Maintain a minimum depth of 10cm for optimum product performance
Remove manure daily with a muck fork.
Take out clumps of urine (they bind like kitty litter).
Fluff and spread the clean bedding back across the stall.
No need to strip the entire stall each week — just refresh the wet patches.
Some users replace hemp bedding every 4 weeks

The Smart Choice for Horses & Owners

Switching to Vital Equine Hemp Bedding means: ✅ Cleaner air for your horses. ✅ Softer, drier stalls that protect hooves and joints. ✅ Less labour and lower costs. ✅ Faster composting and true sustainability. ✅ A safer choice — naturally fire-retardant and chemical-free.

And unlike imports, our Hemp is grown, processed, and packaged in NSW, supporting Aussie farmers while cutting shipping emissions.

Vital Equine | Premium Hemp Nutrition for Horses

Vital Equine has been formulating hemp products for horses since 2018. Because horses come from the wild and need natural food.

Hemp may have been an integral part of the ancient horse diet across many different cultures in the past. Horses are inclined to a varied and wild diet and Australian pastures are often deficient in essential micronutrients. This means that your Horse doesn’t always get the natural nutrition that it needs.

Why Choose Vital Equine?

At Vital Equine, we create premium natural nutrition that fills in the missing pieces from your horse’s diet. Our Australian made horse care products are designed to keep your horses healthy, happy, and competition-ready.

Introducing Vital Equine Camelina Gold

Discover Camelina Sativa, the non-hemp alternative. Nutritionally similar to hemp, Camelina Sativa is a non-cannabis alternative to hemp, making it the ideal supplement for performance horses.

The Moulin Omega Blend – Omega-rich, Camelina prebiotic meal for gut health support, digestion, mood, and coat shine. Boosts digestion, immunity, and recovery in performance horses. Competition-friendly formula.

Cold Pressed Camelina Gold Oil delivers a perfect balance of omega-3, 6, and 9 fatty acids, along with vitamin E and antioxidants for optimal joint function, glossy coats, and enhanced energy.

Camelina’s properties are similar to hemp but without the regulatory challenges.

The Vital Equine Functional Range

Equine Hemp Feed Pellets – A safe, balanced daily supplement for energy and gut health available in 4 & 20kg packs.

Pelletised Whole Hemp Seed Nutrition (not just the hull) Rich in Omega 3, 6 & 9, antioxidants, and all 20 amino acids. Whole hemp seed contains Protein & Fibre: Hemp seed hearts deliver 30% protein; hemp hulls add soluble dietary fibre for digestion and gut health plus cool energy and broad spectrum micronutrients.

Targeted Support: Cold-pressed hemp and camelina oils provide support for gut, joints, skin, and coat aswell as GLA, Omega 3-6-9 and antioxidants. Hemp & Turmeric Oil offers Joint and gut support.

Skin & Joint Balms – Natural relief and skin barrier support for Queensland Itch and joint issues

Shampoos – pH-balanced cleansers with botanical oils.

At Vital Equine, we’ve been pioneering sustainable hemp innovation since 2018. After establishing Hemp for Horses, our facility was tragically destroyed in the 2022 Lismore floods. But we’re back — stronger than ever — with our Vital Equine range of feeds, oils and balms alongside our Vital Equine Natural Hemp Bedding System.