Horse Stall Mats
A Brief How To Guide
Horse stall mats are pieces of equipment that serve to keep your horse comfortable when stabled for extended periods of time.
If you have a horse that spends more hour indoors than out, a mat will cushion or provide additional support under his feet.
There are a few different types of horse stall mats and they come in different sizes and shapes. You may have a few questions about what to look for and where to go.
Face it, we all want the best for our horses. Below we will be discussing how to go about finding the right stall mat to fit your needs.
Types Of Mats
Flat Edge: Most stall mats
are available in a flat-edge variety. When shopping for this type of
horse stall mat you will want to take into consideration a few factors.
Research the company you are looking at buying from for thickness,
surface texture, and any product guarantees.
Manufacturers usually offer warranties for their products and specific guarantees such as no curling or tearing of the product. The thicker the horse stall mat, the more support it offers your horse. This also indicates that the mat will likely be more heavy and expensive than a thinner mat.
Surface texture help the mat stay in one place on the ground. The texture allows the horse stall mat to grip into the ground, preventing it from sliding or moving around when your horse walks on it.
Interlocking Mats: Sets of interlocking stall mats fit together like puzzle pieces. The locking feature on this type of mat allows each piece to connect together very tightly. This prevents shifting or a separating of the mats as they lay in the stall.
If you've had the lovely experience of tripping and falling in a horse stall due to a shift between stall mats, you might appreciate using a locking type of mat.
The locking feature also reduces the amount of water or urine that leaks through to the floor surface. Some companies sell kits which come with some pieces having flat edges for use along the walls of the horse stall.
Drain Through Mats: Drain through or ring mats allow large amounts of water to drain off the surface of the mat to the floor. This type of horse stall mat is best used around wash racks, grooming areas and cross tie areas.
Water and other liquids are able to drain quickly off the mat to the nearest drain, keeping your horse comfortable while reducing a risk for slipping.
: A portable horse stall mat is usually a little lighter in weight allowing for easy transportation. Portable mats come in flat edge, interlocking, and drain through variations.
If you are traveling to a horse show where your horse may be standing on concrete for the weekend or the week, it may help reduce the stress of standing on his legs if you bring a mat with you.
They can be very beneficial to bring with you by making the experience more comfortable for your horse while reducing the amount of bedding you will need to purchase. However, they can be time consuming to set up and take apart at the end of the show.
Custom: When shopping for stall mats, you can also easily find a manufacturer willing to custom cut a mat to fit your needs.
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Shopping & Care Tips
What to Look For:As we discussed the different types of stall mats above, you need to decide what horse stall mat is most beneficial for you. You want to make sure you take the time to research a few different manufacturers.
Compare pricing on the different mats, shipping costs, and services offered such as warranties. Keep in mind that you want good quality product materials to ensure a long lasting product.
Also review return policies in case what you purchase doesn't work out for you.
Where to Shop:
We have found one of the best places to start shopping for a horse stall mat is through online resources. It is a quicker method to find what you need and compare prices.
If you have a local tack shop make sure you check out any mats they have in stock. They also may be able to order through a specific dealer they work with.
Even if they can't help to provide you with what you are looking for, they may be able to provide you with recommendations on where to shop for stall mats.
If you visit a place that sells horse trailers, they may have recommendations on manufacturers they prefer when adding stall mats to the trailers.
Basic Mat Care:
Stall mats are usually cleaned pretty easily. The challenge with the heavier varieties is that they are almost impossible to lift out of the stall for cleaning.
Most stall mats are good without a thorough cleaning. Certain types, such as the portable mats or drain through mats should be a least hosed down on a regular basis after use.
Some people opt for using some cleaners on their stall mats between uses which is perfectly useful for maintaining cleanliness over the higher traffic areas of your barn.
We hope this guide has been helpful to get you started in selecting the right horse stall mat. Whether you need it for a stall, horse trailer or wash rack, make sure you take the time to research and compare between manufacturers. This will allow you to make a highly informed decision.
