Depending on your requirements, rubber horse stall mats can be purchased in a variety of standard dimensions, or can be made to measure. They can also be purchased as a system of smaller interlocking rubber tiles that cover the surface area required. This can be a convenient option if you are looking for versatility, as their light weight gives them better portability, enabling them to be used in other applications, such as in a horse trailer to provide a comfortable non-slip surface for the horse to stand on when travelling long distances. Typically manufactured from hard wearing rubber, horse stall mats come in a variety of textures and finishes to suit your needs.
The benefits of using rubber horse stall mats as a substrate over conventional flooring are numerous.
Comfort: The soft yielding nature of rubber matting provides a comfortable substrate for the horse to lie on, alleviating body, hoof and joint injuries caused by jarring or bumping on a hard surface.
Warmth: Conventional concrete and earthen floors are cold and damp, especially in winter, whereas given its insulative properties, rubber flooring is warm in comparison and thus a blessing in winter.
Safety: Rubber horse stall mats improve safety as they provides excellent grip for the horse to prevent slipping. They come in either a smooth finish to facilitate easier cleaning, or a non-slip textured finish that is ideal for use in wash areas or walkways. Reversible rubber horse stall mats that have a smooth side and a textured side for extra versatility, are also available.
Hygienic: Unlike wooden or earth substrates, rubber flooring is remarkably easy to wash and disinfect, making it a very hygienic alternative.
Things to Consider When Installing Rubber Horse Stall Mats
When choosing rubber horse stall mats it is vital that you take the matter of drainage into consideration. Matting that allows good drainage will be more economical as you will need to use much less bedding to absorb animal waste. There are porous mats available that allow liquids to pass through the mat, leaving the surface nice and dry. A system of flooring made up of interlocking sections will allow liquid to drain off at the joints. If you opt for horse stall mats that allow drainage then it is important that there are grooves or feet on the underside of the matting to allow the urine to flow away.
That said, you will need to take into account where the urine will flow away to. If the matting is resting on a porous surface such as compacted crushed stone, then this is not an issue as the liquid waste will drain away naturally into the ground. However, if you have a concrete surface below the matting, it should ideally be gently sloping to facilitate liquid runoff. If drainage is poor under the matting, it would be prudent to select a lighter mat, perhaps in smaller sections, to allow for frequent lifting of the mats to facilitate frequent hosing of the lower substrate. This is necessary to avoid urine build up that can result in ammonia being released into the air, which can cause equine health problems.