[Terrier]

my plot is in the city so not many riding stables around all the the advertised free manure is all in the countryside so had resort to buying some farmyard manure which was on offer in the local garden centre

Which I'm sure isn't guarenteed  Aminopyralid free!

[nipper31]

Does it matter if the horse is stabled on straw or shavings? I can get both but not sure what it would do to the fertility of my soil.

[muntjac]

my plot is in the city so not many riding stables around all the the advertised free manure is all in the countryside so had resort to buying some farmyard manure which was on offer in the local garden centre

 does not manchester have a mounted police division...

[Yorkie]

Does it matter if the horse is stabled on straw or shavings? I can get both but not sure what it would do to the fertility of my soil.

I don't think they will have much impact on the fertility of your soil if applied when well rotted - manure is far more about soil structure than fertility.

That being said, I'm not sure how quickly wood shavings would rot down.  Hopefully someone else will be able to help on that score.

[kingston boy]

I'm not sure how quickly wood shavings would rot down.  Hopefully someone else will be able to help on that score.
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I dug a spade depth trench and put 4-6" of fairly new horse manure with 1/4" wood chippings and it took 2 full seasons to rot down completely. Had really great caulis