What should I keep in mind when using straw to keep horses occupied?

I think there are plenty of benefits! The single most important thing, though, is that the straw is of good hygienic quality. That is not always easy to find, as a lot of straw is dusty and carries mould spores. One tip is to ask about the hygienic quality before you buy, so you do not waste money on poor straw.

A lot depends on how "hungry" a breed you have. I have kept Icelandic horses that tended to stand and eat from morning to night when I gave them free access, even to wheat straw. That was no problem in very cold weather, but I would have liked them to move around the paddock a bit more, so it is worth experimenting. Feeding a couple of kilos of straw alongside the hay or haylage at each feed is another option to free access 😊☀️