Create a Huge Difference in Your Horse by Using Horse Mats

     It may seem like an extra, unwanted expense, but using horse mats is the best option for your stable. There are several advantages to having them, and your horse will appreciate it. Horse fanciers use them to make better stalls and happier horses, and so can you.

Without these specialized floor coverings, horses do suffer from cold and damp floors. Though concrete can be easier to clean, it is uncomfortable to stand on. The hard surface is equally uncomfortable for lying down. And the low temperatures and moisture it can harbor are particularly problematic when it comes to keeping any horse more healthy. These animals do appreciate the cushioned surface when standing and resting.

Improving stall conditions may be as simple as adding stall matting designed for comfort and safety. Most owners will mention that their stalls are much easier to muck out. They also say that they use much less bedding chips to cover the floor surface, which keeps costs down.

Good equine matting can give more traction, which helps to reduce slipping and injuries. Often, the thicker surfaces create a feeling much like walking outdoors. This produces more confident stepping and movements in the stall areas.

Whether the flooring product you choose is interlocking, custom cut or rolled, your choice will be heavy and durable. These products are made to withstand enormous amounts of use. They are designed to be stable and will stay in place during the course of all sorts of activity. Some may be laid flush with the stall walls and then held in place with a rubber molding strip. Others are laid in sections with a flush fit, but left without molding for easy adjustments.

When expecting a new foal, it is possible to buy foaling mats. These are reasonably priced under a few hundred dollars. They also give that extra measure of comfort during that time. Along the same lines, equine mats are also good to use in semen collection stations, to reduce standing fatigue among stable hands, and to use in aisles where extra secure footing is needed.

Some are designed with groves on the top surface to facilitate washing the stall. Others feature open weave design so that water will not pool, but roll off and away. Still more come with smooth surfaces that provide comfort for the animal, while retaining the easy cleaning features that you need in your stable.

Most of this flooring comes in thickness just under one inch, but other thicknesses are available. Though some require glue or tape down to lay, the majority are dry lay. The majority of brands are made of recycled rubber, and therefore friendly to the environment. They usually come with a warranty for several years. Once installed, the products are very easy to maintain.

All of these products make your stalls easy to clean and maintain. Keeping the stalls in good condition helps your horses to feel more secure. Horse mats can make a huge difference in the comfort, cleanliness, and safety or your horses.