Horse Stall Mats – What You Need to Know to Choose the Right Mat

Whether its your first time shopping for horse stall mats or your seventy second, there are a few things you need to keep in mind before pulling out your checkbook.

There are many benefits to using stall mats in your barn. One of the biggest benefits being the joint pressure relief they provide the horses standing on them. This pressure relief also allows owners to reduce the amounts of bedding they use in the stall which can save money over time. They also help to reduce your stall cleaning time.

Below we will be discussing a few different types of mats along with some helpful shopping tips.

Mat Types:

Flat Edge: A flat edge stall mat is very easy to find among many manufacturers and may be a more cost effective option than other mat types. Flat edge mats are meant to be placed side by side in a horse stall. The texture on the under surface is meant to keep the mat in place to reduce shifting.

This type of mat does have a little more of a tendency to shift and move over a period of time. The thicker the mat, the more durable it will be during its use.

Interlocking: Interlocking horse stall mats fit together like puzzle pieces in the stall. The locking feature reduces the amount of urine leaking through to the stall floor.

This helps with hygiene in the stall with an increased amount of these liquids being absorbed in the bedding and therefore picked out of the stall instead of lingering under the mat.

Ring Mat: Ring mats are a type of stall mat that allow excess water and liquids to be drained off the surface of the mat. These are best used near washing and grooming areas due to the excessive amounts of water present.

It is also best to combine these horse stall mats with areas that have sufficient drains nearby to prevent a pooling of water on your barn floor. The ring mat allows for increased horse comfort near wash or grooming areas while reducing the risk of slipping due to it’s draining features.

Portable: Portable mats are an option for horse owners who travel with their horses. They are cost effective for horse shows by reducing the amount of bedding you need to buy without sacrificing comfort for your horse.

Portable mats are available in flat edge, interlocking, and drain through varieties depending on your needs for travel. Though cost effective, they also can present an added challenge when toting them to and from shows with your horse.

Setting them up in a stall can be a little time consuming. Taking them out of a stall at the end of the show has added disadvantages because you now have to lift a used horse stall mat that likely has some urine and feces on it.

Custom: If you run a larger horse facility or are willing to spend the money, many companies offer custom cut mats. With a custom mat, the company usually cuts and installs the mat for you.

Keep in mind the mat is much heavier because it is one solid piece rather than several pieces. For this reason, professional installation is usually required.

These stall mats offer added benefits to owners. They tend to be more durable than other mat types and are completely seamless. You never have to worry about a shifting or curling of mat edges.

Custom mats also fit a stall from one wall to another also allowing for reduced leaking of urine to the stall floor.

Top Shopping Tips:

Here are a few tips to help you when looking for new horse stall mats:

• Start your search online to compare company prices and services
• Review shipping costs between manufacturers
• Review warranties offered between manufacturers
• Decide on a thickness of the horse stall mats
• Check out company return policies
• Local tack shops or horse trailer dealerships can give helpful recommendations on which companies they prefer to work with
• Remember, quality materials may be a little more expensive and may also be more durable in the long run
• Take accurate measurements of the area you need to cover with a mat
• Call companies with specific questions to help make your decision

I hope this article has been helpful to guide your first steps in shopping for horse stall mats.

About The Author:
Lynn Wenger invites you to visit http://www.stock-horse-show-source.com/horse-stall-mats.html for more information on horse stall mats and their benefits.

Lynn has been active in riding and showing horses since 2000. She is a lifelong equine addict with no hopes of recovery and admits since buying her first horse as a young adult that she is an expert on not being an expert when it comes to owning and showing horses. She is also the creator and founder of Stock Horse Show Source http://www.stock-horse-show-source.com, developed to educate novice equine enthusiasts on the basics of horse keeping and showing.

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