Rubber Stall Mats

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Rubber Horse Stall Mats

Rubber Stall Mats

Clearing Through the Clutter of Choosing a Rubber Mat For Your Horse Stalls
Rubber Matting, What Are The Differences? Does Your Horse Care? Does It Really Matter? by Terrie Smith – Vice President of Scenic Riders, Inc.

“It is April, spring is in the air. I am so excited. I have finished writing my checklist for all of the improvements I want to get accomplished before riding season arrives. The barn is built, the fencing is up, and the stalls are all constructed. I have decided to use rubber matting but I am confused on which mats to choose. I have contacted numerous companies and am totally overwhelmed. Please help me to clear through the clutter of all the various choices available.” This is a typical scenario heard overwhelmingly this time of year by customers talking to sales people about rubber matting.

Of course, everyone wants the best quality at the cheapest price. What are the differences in mats & does it really matter? I emphatically answer YES!!!

This is how the consumer can make a wise choice:

First of all, do your homework so you can make an “informed” decision.
Research what mats are on the market and available to you. You can ask other horse owners who have rubber mats what they recommend. Also, look in equine magazines and newspapers, do an online search through Google, Yahoo or go to a website that specializes in horse advertising such as Infohorse.com.

Then the fun part starts. You need to compare the differences and decide which features about the various mats you prefer and are willing to pay for.

Do you want a mat that will last 6 months, 3 years, 10 years or 25 years? Do you want to put a mat down that will cost more initially but be cheaper over the life of the mat or do you want to spend very little and have to replace them frequently?

Horse facility with rubber mats. An important question to ask the seller is, “What is this mat made of”? Cheaper mats are cheaper for a reason; .they contain excessive amounts of glues and fillers. By using these, the cost of manufacturing mats is drastically reduced thereby passing on the savings to the customer. However, by doing this you pay a high price in losing quality in the long run. The mats that have a higher glue and filler concentration will absorb urine and will break down over time. This will cause the mat to curl, buckle and harbor bacteria. The higher quality mats are completely nonabsorbent and made of post-consumer tire-derived rubber material and are re-vulcanized thereby producing a long lasting durable mat. All urine must be removed or drained away from a horse stall; otherwise, high urine concentrations in the stall or in the ground under a stall can be toxic. The fumes will build up and could cause very serious health problems for your horse. Make sure for the safety of your horse you buy a mat that is non-porous!

Another consideration in purchasing mats is do you want a straight cut mat or an interlocking one? With a straight cut or interlocking mat you must be sure to have them cut to fit within 1/16th of an inch against the walls of the stall to diminish gaps.

With interlocking mats a tighter joint is formed when placed together. Most people prefer the interlocking system because of the low maintenance involved. The cost is a little more for interlocking but once it is installed it will act as a solid piece. No bedding will get lodged underneath the mats and the horse will not be able to shift the mats.

If the straight cut mats are installed correctly they may work fine on asphalt sub-surfaces or concrete. But if your horse likes to paw there is a possibility it could move the mats allowing bedding to lodge underneath causing an uneven surface which could allow your horse to trip and fall. An uneven surface is very frustrating when trying to clean the stalls. If bedding is lodged under the mat you will have to take the mats out and continually be cleaning them underneath to prevent bacteria from growing and to help eliminate the odor.

How deep the PSI of the hoof sinks into the surface is important for your horse’s safety (durometer reading of the mat). That is what determines the traction your horse will have in the stall. The surface pattern does not indicate this. The reading should be between 59-63, the higher the reading the less traction available for your horse. Virgin rubber products and urethane bound mats range from 65-80.

One thing you might not have considered is the fact that by choosing a good quality mat the cost of the mats is recovered by the savings in terms of bedding, soil replacement and labor costs. The total savings on bedding is contingent on how frequently and how carefully you clean them, the amount of urine and how much bedding you use in your stalls.

What Do Top Horse Trainers Look For When Purchasing Rubber Stall Mats?

Horse trainers make their living by training horses so they want the best footing in their stalls for those horses. They want a mat that is interlocking so it doesn’t move around. They desire one that is durable and will last up to 25 years. They want a mat that will not curl nor buckle, so they can save time when cleaning out their stalls and not break pitch forks saving on cost. You use less shavings with mats. Also, they don’t want urine to seep under the mats causing odor and bacteria to grow. They want the urine to go out with the bedding so they have a nice clean smelling barn. They want a mat that is slip resistant so the horse doesn’t fall and injure itself. Mats can even help prevent bed sores. Horse trainers want their horse to be safe and comfortable. They also want a mat manufactured by a company that has been around for a while and proved its dependability. Someone they can count on for service if the need arises. Many prefer to have their mats installed at a reasonable price because then they can get a custom fit and have a nice looking stall when finished.

The following top horse trainers were interviewed concerning what their mat concerns were; John Lyons, “America’s Most Trusted Horseman”; Josh Lyons, carrying on the “Lyons Legacy”; Tommie Turvey II, the “Equine Extremist”; Lynn Palm, 34 times “World & Reserve World Dressage Champion”; Kenny Harlow, “Training with Trust”; and Bob Jeffreys & Suzanne Sheppard, “Training Two as One”.
All of the above trainers use Ray E. Smith Rubber Mats because his mats deliver all the criteria the trainers have requested.

Our company has been in business since 1907. We have earned our reputation of being dependable and have a 99 ¾% customer satisfaction record. Our customers all say putting down the interlocking rubber mats was the best decision they could’ve made. We service the whole United States. See our product advertisement on Infohorse.com under Footings.

We kindly appreciate your time and consideration in purchasing your flooring. We are here to serve you. Please do not hesitate to contact us.

Contact: Ray or Terrie Smith
12957 Harrison Street
Summerville, Pennsylvania 15864
Phone: 814-856.2081or 1-866-MAT-MATS (628-6287)
Email: rayesmith01@alltel.net
Website: www.patrailride.com/mats

Product information copied by permission and mats are manufactured by Humane Mfg. LLc.

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