| Horse stall mats are becoming increasingly popular, due | | | | the surface of the mat. If the materials or production |
| to the advantages they provide over other stall floor | | | | methods are of low quality, the mats may be partly |
| surfaces: | | | | permeable, resulting in urine entering the mat and |
| - Yielding. The traditional concrete floor is very hard. | | | | producing odours. |
| Unless you provide a thick layer of bedding, this | | | | - Porous. Some mats are porous, allowing urine to |
| hardness can stress joints, possibly injure feet, and | | | | grain through. However, the majority are not porous, |
| cause sore points where the horse lays down to rest | | | | although urine can drain through the joins where the |
| or sleep. Mats provide a softer and more yielding | | | | mats meet. With smaller mats, there are more joins, so |
| surface which is more comfortable for horses and | | | | the urine tends to run through more. This can either be |
| less likely to result in impact stress injuries. | | | | an advantage or a disadvantage (see discussion |
| - Warmth. The materials used to make horse stall | | | | below). |
| mats are naturally insulating. This is both more | | | | - Flat, grooved or footed bottom. Many mats have flat |
| comfortable and healthier for horses, especially in | | | | bottoms. With flat bottoms, any urine that gets under |
| winter. | | | | the mats (for example, draining through at the joints |
| - Traction. Concrete and wooden floors can be | | | | between mats) can be trapped there. If you have a |
| slippery when wet; mats provide better traction and | | | | permeable surface under the mats (e.g. compacted |
| reduce this risk to horses. | | | | stone) this may not be an issue, but if you have a |
| - Smooth. Many mats have a smooth surface, which is | | | | non-permeable surface (e.g. concrete) under the mats, |
| much easier to clean than concrete or wood surfaces. | | | | you do not want to have trapped urine releasing |
| - Sterilization. Stall mats can be easily sterilized with a | | | | ammonia and odours. With groves or feet, such urine |
| disinfectant, which is difficult with absorbent surfaces | | | | may be able to drain off (whether this happens in |
| such as wood or earth. Especially in the case of a | | | | practice will depend on factors such as the slope of |
| horse contraction a contagious disease, the ability to | | | | the underlying surface and whether there are dips in |
| sterilize the stall floor is important. | | | | the underlying surface). |
| - Drainage. Unlike concrete, mats allow urine to drain | | | | - Portable. Some mats are designer to be portable, |
| off. Usually this happens at the joints between mats, | | | | others are not. Factors to evaluate when considering |
| although a few types of mats allow the urine to drain | | | | portability include: weight, size, ability to roll up. If they |
| through the mat itself. | | | | are interlocking, check that they can be locked and |
| - Bedding. Many owners find that less bedding is | | | | unlocked easily and without special tools. |
| required with stall mats, partly because the mats | | | | - Reversible. Some stall mats have a top side and a |
| perform the function of bedding (insulation, soft and | | | | bottom side, while others can be reversed (flipped |
| comfortable surface, shock absorption, traction) and | | | | over). The advantage of the latter is that when one |
| partly because the ability to drain off urine means that | | | | side shows wear, you can flip them over to extent the |
| less bedding is soiled. This saves not only on bedding | | | | lifespan. |
| costs, but also in terms of the time and money | | | | - Flat or textured top. Some mats have a flat and |
| associated with stall cleaning. | | | | smooth top, while others have a textured top. Smooth |
| A mat floor can be laid on top of any hard, non-moving | | | | tops are easier to clean (the groves or bumps on |
| surface such as concrete, asphalt and wooden floors. | | | | textured mats tend to trap dirt), while textured tops |
| As such, mats are more a floor covering, rather than a | | | | provide horses with better traction. Some people buy |
| stand-alone floor. Some mats (the thicker and stronger | | | | mats with a grooved bottom and then flip them over |
| ones) can also be laid on compacted stone, provided | | | | so that the grooved side is up; this is particularly done |
| that that stones do not exceed a certain size (large | | | | for high-traffic areas such as corridors or washing |
| stones can cause bumps or even tears in the mats). | | | | areas (where the water and soap would otherwise |
| Soft surfaces, such as earth or sand, are unsuitable as | | | | produce a slippery surface). |
| they can move under the mats, resulting in depressions | | | | - Cut to fit. Stall mats come in a great variety of sizes. |
| in the mats. Eventually, this can lead to separations | | | | However, to get a close fit, you may need to cut the |
| between the mats or even tearing of the mats. | | | | mats. In this case, before buying the mats, check that |
| Stall mats vary in types, quality and performance | | | | they are designed to allow this. |
| characteristics. Consequently, selecting a stall mat for | | | | Price. Prices vary, but as a rough indication look at |
| individual requirements requires consideration of a | | | | 20-40 euros per square meter. |
| number of factors. The important differences between | | | | Drainage |
| various stall mats are in terms of: | | | | If the urine drains through the mats rather than resting |
| - Material. The most commonly used material is rubber, | | | | on top of them, the amount of bedding which is soiled |
| although there are different types and qualities of | | | | is greatly reduced. This reduces the amount of time |
| rubber used (largely dependent on manufacturer). | | | | required to clean the stall, reduces the amount of |
| There are also non-rubber mats, made out of | | | | replacement bedding required, and reduces the amount |
| high-tech materials such as EVA. High quality rubber | | | | of storage space required for soiled bedding. |
| tends to be more expensive, but is more durable. | | | | Although all of these are important benefits, one must |
| High-tech materials such as EVA tend to have | | | | consider what happens to the urine after it has drained |
| somewhat different performance characteristics (e.g. | | | | through the mats. If the surface underneath has good |
| more shock absorbent) and tend to be lighter for a | | | | drainage (e.g. thick layer of crushed stone), then the |
| given size. | | | | urine can drain off. However, if the surface underneath |
| - Size. Mats usually vary in size from about 30cm | | | | is impermeable (e.g. concrete), then the urine simply |
| square (a square foot) to about 2 square meters (3 | | | | builds up under the mats, where it can release |
| square yards). However, we have seen mats up to 12 | | | | ammonia into the air (which is unhealthy for horses |
| feet by 12 feet (almost 4 meters by 4 meters), | | | | stabled there, in particular for their lungs) and produce |
| designed to cover an entire stall with a single piece | | | | unpleasant smells. Although one could from time to |
| (which weighs 600 pounds or almost 300kg). Large | | | | time lift up the mats and clean underneath them, the |
| mats are heavier (the bigger ones weight 100 Kg. or | | | | fact remains that cleaning urine under the mats is more |
| 200 pounds each) which make placement more | | | | difficult than cleaning urine on top of them. |
| difficult. However, their weight and size is an | | | | Consequently, depending on the underlying floor |
| advantage in that it makes them less likely to move | | | | surface you may prefer that urine drains through, or |
| once put in place and also less likely for edges or | | | | you may prefer that it does not. Depending on your |
| corners to curl up. Smaller mats are easier to work | | | | preference, you should chose mats accordingly: small |
| with. In the event of a tear or other damage, it is | | | | mats drain more than larges ones (joins are closer |
| cheaper to replace a small mat than a large one. | | | | together and there are more of them), straight edge |
| - Thickness. The thickness varies from about 1 | | | | mats drain more than interlocking, porous mats drain |
| centimeter to over 2 centimeters. Thicker mats have | | | | more than non-porous. |
| 4 advantages: tend to be more durable, are less likely | | | | If you decide to use mats that easily allow urine to |
| for the edges to curl, less likely for the mats to move, | | | | drain through, you should consider the following: |
| thickness is usually an indication of quality. However, as | | | | - Choose a mat with grooved or footed bottoms, so |
| thickness increases, so do both price and weight. | | | | that the urine can flow off rather than being trapped. |
| - Weight. The weight depends on the type of material | | | | - Try to have a floor with good drainage. If this is not |
| (EVA is much lighter then rubber) and the thickness of | | | | possible, allow the urine to run off by using a floor |
| the mat. Heavy mats are more likely to stay in place, | | | | which is flat (no dips where urine can pool), smooth (so |
| whereas lighter mats are convenient if you are often | | | | that liquids run easily) and with a slant so that liquids run |
| travelling with your horse (e.g. between horse shows | | | | off. |
| and competitions) and like to take a portable mat with | | | | - Consider choosing mats whose design and weight |
| you. One of the advantages of a mat made from | | | | allow them to be easily lifted out, permitting periodical |
| EVA instead of rubber is that it weighs only about a | | | | washing down of the floor underneath. |
| quarter as much as rubber, so is more suitable if you | | | | Alternatively, one can opt for a liquid rubber floor |
| need to move it often. | | | | instead of rubber mats. A liquid rubber floor is a thin |
| - Interlocking. Some mats interlock, while others have | | | | layer of liquid rubber which is spread over the stable |
| straight edges and rely simply on their weight to hold | | | | floor and then allowed to harder to form a seamless |
| them in place. All else being the same (size, weight, | | | | and non-porous surface. Although it does not allow |
| thickness), the interlocking mats stay in place better | | | | liquid to drain off, it provides many of the other benefits |
| and are far less likely for edges to lift. Some mats are | | | | (e.g. soft, insulating, high-traction floor) without the |
| designer to lock and unlock easily (for easy transport if | | | | problem of urine running underneath. |
| you move locations with your horse often) while | | | | Cleaning |
| others are designed to lock firmly in place (making | | | | A stall with rubber mats is cleaned out in much the |
| transport more difficult, but providing better | | | | same way (hay fork and/or shovel) as any other stall. |
| performance in static installations). | | | | Many people also periodically use a water hose to |
| - Quality. Like any product, quality varies. A long | | | | wash them down periodically. If the mats have feet or |
| guarantee (5 to 10 years) is an indication of quality. | | | | groves underneath, this can also help to flush out urine |
| Thicker mats are usually of better quality than thin | | | | that has drained through between the joints (see |
| ones. Given 2 rubber mats of the same size, if one is | | | | above discussion about drainage). |
| substantially heavier it is probably of better quality (the | | | | One can also use a pressure jet. While this is very |
| lighter one is probably not pure rubber, but instead | | | | effective, be careful not to hold the pressure jet |
| rubber mixed with inferior and lighter materials). None | | | | immediately against the mat surface as this may |
| of these is an absolute mark of quality, but usually they | | | | damage the mat (your pressure jet manual should |
| are good indications. It is also worth checking if the | | | | state the minimum distance to hold the pressure jet |
| manufacturer has a reputation for producing quality | | | | away from surfaces being cleaned). |
| products. Also ask if the rubber has be revulcanized | | | | If your mat must be absolutely clean, other cleaning |
| (which is good) or if the rubber has been bound with | | | | tools that may be useful are a scrub brush, soap and |
| urethane glue (lower quality). | | | | disinfectant. Before using any chemical product on |
| - Permeable. The mats should not be permeable, | | | | your mat, just the instructions provided with your mat |
| which is to say that urine should not be able to enter | | | | to make sure that the chemical will not harm it. |