- Your source for stall mats, rubber arena footing, arena harrows and arena dust control.
One of the biggest considerations to keeping your horses comfortable and healthy is choosing horse stall mats as an integral part of stable management. These mats give a cushioned and stable traction surface for our horses to stand and lie on. They also have what could be considered an even more important part in the hygiene and simplicity of cleaning your stables. The thickness of these mats is one the very important aspects that needs to be considered when choosing the right matting for your application. In this post, we will discuss how to identify the right thickness for your horse mats so that both you and your hoofed friends can be in happier health!
Understanding the Importance of Proper Thickness:
Cushioning and Comfort: First and foremost, your horse stall mats need to offer a cushioned surface to keep your horses comfortable. Because it all contributes to not having joints and being able to avoid other diseases related to spending hours on hard ground.
Durability & Wear: With thicker mats holding up better versus thinner ones to the rigors of wear and tear, they are likely going to be a higher durability choice for heavy traffic areas or other applications where horses may paw or shuffle in their stalls.
Better Insulation and Moisture Protection: The thicker the mat, the better insulation you gain from sleeping on cold ground and protection against moisture. It is important to keep the hive dry and warm, especially in cold climates.
Choosing the Right Thickness
So, you’re trying to figure out the perfect thickness for your horse stall mats? No worries, we’ve got you covered! Let’s break it down based on different needs:
Walkways / Aisleways & Short Term Use – 1/2″ Mats:
When it comes to horses, I wouldn’t recommend using any mats less than 1/2″ thick. 1/2 inch mats work great for short term standing areas such as aisleways or wash stalls. These mats can also work great for stalls where horses are only kept for short periods or for smaller horses or ponies that don’t need a lot of cushioning. 1/2″ mats are often used in horse trailers as well; presumably for weight considerations, but if you regularly take your equine friend on long trips, I recommend full 3/4″ thick mats for horse trailers as well.
Stall Mats – 3/4″ Thick Mats:
When it comes to horse stalls, we almost always recommend 3/4″ thickness. 3/4″ offers the cushioning and support required for horses standing for long periods of time reducing the strain on horse joints and legs.
Special Cases – 1″ Mats and Thicker:
1″ mats may be the best choice if you have a very large horse breed such as Clydesdales, Shires or Percherons. If you have an injured horse, you may want to use a therapeutic option such as 1″ EVA-rubber composite mats or a cushioning base layer to go under your standard 3/4″ mats to create a thicker, more supportive flooring. It is however important not to create a surface that is too soft as this can be as bad or even worse than a very hard surface. If you’ve ever stood on your bed you know how this kind of surface puts a lot of stress on ankles and joints.
Additional Considerations
Material Quality: As already stated, it isn’t just about the thickness of the suit but also the quality of material as well. Choose a high-density rubber mat. These bags are built tough and offer plenty of durability as well as padding.
Size and Fit : Ensure proper sizing so that the mats don’t have too many large gaps where a horse could get caught. If your mat is too small, it’s probably going to slip and slide, or your feet are going to fall off the edges. This isn’t just annoying; you can also injure yourself more easily if there aren’t smooth flat surfaces all around.
Ease of Maintenance: Think of how easy it is to clean and maintain the mats. The heavier thick mats might be difficult to move when it comes to time for cleaning the stall.
Cost: More often, remember that the thicker mats are usually more expensive. As such, consider your horse’s needs and balance your budget with long-term savings in bedding and vet bills.
In Conclusion:
Choosing the right thickness for your horse stall mats is a big deal. It is about ensuring that your horses are comfortable, healthy, and safe. By realizing what your equines need as well as looking at things like health or conditions in their stalls, you can make a wise choice for yourself and your horses in future. However, always remember that a happy horse is a comfortable one!