Stall Mats 2020

[Pico_Banana]

Hi all,

I know this has been discussed before, but I’m wondering what recent opinions there are on alternatives to traditional rubber stall mats.

I had strongly considered purchasing Equimats, but they won’t send me a sample of their mat and I can’t stomach spending over $5000 on something sight unseen.

I don’t like the idea of the ones with the crumb mattress under the waterproof cover. It seems like the crumbs would get lumpy and uneven over time. I’ve been able to feel those at Equine Affaire so I know what they feel like.

So I’m looking for ones that have a flat pad as their base. So far I’ve identified the following as contenders:

1. ComfortStall by Haygain https://www.haygain.us/pages/haygain-comfortstall-flooring
   I’ve heard good things about this one and it seems to be popular.

2. SoftStall http://www.softstall.com/softstallpage.html
   This one I only learned of as a result of googling, but I like the sound of it.

3. SoftBed Comfort https://footingsolutionsusa.com/softbed-comfort-stall-mattresses/
   This one is interesting in that it’s just one 6x8 piece that you put on top of whatever else you have. I kinda like the idea of this because it would give the horses the option of standing/laying on the soft mat or standing/laying on regular rubber mats, as they prefer. This would work particularly well in my stalls that are 10x15. On the other hand, I can already hear my friends who work at barns saying that shaving will get stuck under the mat and it will be a pain to clean.

4. FoamTech https://www.foamtechchina.com/products/farm-foam-products/interlocking-horse-mats/
   I’ve heard nothing about this brand at all. This style is interlocking mats, rather than a two layer system.

I have a number of reasons for looking for an alternative to regular mats. My mare is recovering from laminitis, so I like the idea of a therapeutic surface for her (especially as we are trying to transition from regular shoes to hoof boots and that means she’s barefoot when she’s in her stall. Right now she’s bedded on deep shavings for additional comfort.) Also, it’s just me in charge of horse care so I’m looking for efficiencies. I’m thinking that if I get a softer mat, I can possibly use less bedding, which will making mucking easier. I am also thinking that I could use pellets rather than shavings, to make less waste for me to have to dispose of.

Any thoughts on these or suggestions on others to consider?

Also, if you have an alternative mat, what kind of stall floor do you have? This is a new-to-me barn and I’m replacing the flooring (right now it’s asphalt that is uneven and has some huge holes). I had been thinking of compacted stone dust but that seems somewhat pointless with the style that has the one-piece waterproof cover that you attach to the walls. I’m planning to do a concrete aisle with traditional rubber mats, so I could also do concrete in the stalls at the same time.

[Pony_Someday]

Those look like fairly expensive options, but I understand wanting to do the very best for your mare’s laminitis care. Another consideration might be a thick layer of straw bedding, instead of shavings, on top of your mats, although it sounds like you’re trying to avoid adding more bedding. How much is she going to be stalled?

I chose a layer of stone dust (aka ag lime in the Midwest) on top of a layer of gravel for my stall base. We have TSC rubber mats and regular shavings for bedding, which seems to be enough comfort for my senior mare when stalled. I might consider straw for winter depending on how cold it gets this year, just to add some additional warmth and cushion. I would say that the durability of these mats is an advantage, but I have no experience with any alternatives. Sorry for not being much help, but I’m interested to hear others’ thoughts.

[BlueDrifter]

Just to make your decision harder – did you consider cow mattresses?

I have always been a fan of Summit Rubber interlocking 3/4 rubber mats. No need to have the stall perfectly plumb, because once interlocked, they don’t shift. Then I have used wood pelleted bedding with shavings on top. I have also done “deep litter” and don’t clean out the pee spot, but just comb clean shavings over, and then remove the now compacted and soft pee spot once a week… but you need a horse that doesn’t poop in her shavings for that to work well.

http://northbrookdairy.com/cow-beds/superstall-cow-mattress-systems/

[Pico_Banana]

@Pony Someday

Those look like fairly expensive options, but I understand wanting to do the very best for your mare’s laminitis care. Another consideration might be a thick layer of straw bedding, instead of shavings, on top of your mats, although it sounds like you’re trying to avoid adding more bedding. How much is she going to be stalled?

I chose a layer of stone dust (aka ag lime in the Midwest) on top of a layer of gravel for my stall base. We have TSC rubber mats and regular shavings for bedding, which seems to be enough comfort for my senior mare when stalled. I might consider straw for winter depending on how cold it gets this year, just to add some additional warmth and cushion. I would say that the durability of these mats is an advantage, but I have no experience with any alternatives. Sorry for not being much help, but I’m interested to hear others’ thoughts.

My eventual plan is to put in run outs, so even when stalled she’d be able to get outside. But that’s not going to happen until next spring if I’m being realistic. So in the short-term I will give her as much turnout as I can, but she will be stalled when it’s dark out … and I’m in New England.

[Pico_Banana]

@BlueDrifter

Just to make your decision harder – did you consider cow mattresses?

I have always been a fan of Summit Rubber interlocking 3/4 rubber mats. No need to have the stall perfectly plumb, because once interlocked, they don’t shift. Then I have used wood pelleted bedding with shavings on top. I have also done “deep litter” and don’t clean out the pee spot, but just comb clean shavings over, and then remove the now compacted and soft pee spot once a week… but you need a horse that doesn’t poop in her shavings for that to work well.

http://northbrookdairy.com/cow-beds/superstall-cow-mattress-systems/

I haven’t considered those … I don’t see interlocking mats on that site. It looks like a memory foam mattress and then a top cover. Am I missing them?

[BatCoach]

Following for the Softbed Comfort pad. As a boarder with a horse who always gets hock sores no matter how many extra bags of bedding I supplement, being able to throw this stall mattress in the stall without having to install anything could be a worthwhile solution.

[SharonA]

I may be missing something, but what about just doing her stall in a thick layer of dampened pellet bedding, over traditional rubber mats? It seems like a simple solution, and the dampened pellets are much, much cushier than shavings, and don’t shift around the way shavings do. Of course, in New England, the dampened pellets can freeze for times when temps are in the single digits for more than a few days, but, deep pellet bedding for a few months might give you time to do more research into other options.

[Goforward]

Stall Savers!
Not expensive, love the wall to wall coverage.

[Pico_Banana]

@SharonA

I may be missing something, but what about just doing her stall in a thick layer of dampened pellet bedding, over traditional rubber mats? It seems like a simple solution, and the dampened pellets are much, much cushier than shavings, and don’t shift around the way shavings do. Of course, in New England, the dampened pellets can freeze for times when temps are in the single digits for more than a few days, but, deep pellet bedding for a few months might give you time to do more research into other options.

Thanks! This is what I plan to do in the short-term while I figure the rest of it out.

[Pico_Banana]

@BatCoach

Following for the Softbed Comfort pad. As a boarder with a horse who always gets hock sores no matter how many extra bags of bedding I supplement, being able to throw this stall mattress in the stall without having to install anything could be a worthwhile solution.

I called them to see if they would send me a sample, but they won’t. They are based in CA, so it’s $750 for the pad and about $350 in shipping to get to MA. So am probably not going to go with them. If shipping were less, I might try one. If I were going to remain a boarder like you, I’d probably do it.