What are you using for stall mats, new construction?

[Sansena]

I stumbled across 1/4" thick, 4’ wide by 25’ long rolls at TS just now for something like $6.50/foot.

I’ve also found 1/2" thick, 3’x4’ for something like $23/mat
And 3/4" thick 4’x6’ for $48? mat.

I have to say, I’m very tempted to use the 1/4 thick ones that are cut to fit. Better to have to wrangle 2 long rolls and one seam vs those heavier/ thicker mats and all those seams.

My stalls are 15x15.

What’s the latest, greatest that you like? Which ones do you regret purchasing? Is there anything on Amazon that’s worth the price of shipping and risk of dubious seller standards?

[Bluey]

For stall flooring, you really need 3/4" thick mats or they will wrinkle, shift and curl with a horse walking regularly on them, I think?

That is what we have and even those can shift around.

Let us know if you try thinner ones and they work ok?

[enjoytheride]

I use the thicker mats for stalls. They still move around a bit, but if you have them even and flat not so much.

[Bluey]

3/4" mats are heavy to move around, so we use a couple of these welding vice grips with a rope or chain between them to drag them here and there:

https://www.weldingandcutting.com/Locking-Pliers-Two-Jaw-Weld-Clamp-p/KH911.htm?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpdGMoeqa5wIVEfDACh1iaQCjEAQYDCABEgJwuvD_BwE

It makes life much easier and you can even drag them from those with a lawnmower if you are going any distance.

Lowes and Home Depot also carry those and I would expect TSC also does.

[Sansena]

Yes!! Bluey I discovered those clamps years ago and found them invaluable. Never occurred to me to attach a chain between them then drag them by tractor or golf cart 😊

[clanter]

we got the same mats that were then commonly used by vets, back then they were sold by Whitehouse Trading, now it appears to be Summit Rubber… 3/4 inch 4 by 6 …weigh about 100 pound each …been in the stalls over interlocking Pavestone concrete pavers for thirty years…still there. Horses are stabled every night and during inclement weather (rain/snow/ice/cold northern wind/hot summer days) … mats show little to no wear.

(As a note: where ever there is an intersection of four mats…that is where the horse will pee)

Back then the suppliers had regional warehouses, Dallas was one location so we were able pick up the mats with our truck, three loads if I remember correctly

Back then in the old days they were $35/mat, today they appear to be about $90 each

Suggest while you are doing this to get Fans installed for the summer

[fordtraktor]

In my new construction I put down geotex, landscape stabilization grid and crushed stone 6 inches deep, and stall savers. I like the stall savers much more than mats – they are one piece, pee and water can drain through, and so far no shifting at all (though I did put in a very solid base). They were also around $200/stall, much cheaper than the 3/4 mats I had in my older barn, and the drainage saves bedding.

[Simkie]

3/4" mats. You really don’t want 1/4" and it definitely won’t hold up in your stalls. I like vice grips to move them, but use the hay forks on the tractor if they have to go any distance.

The mattress systems might be worth exploring if you have the cash to upgrade.

[Bluey]

Remember we are trying to provide horses with our stall floor choices with two antagonistic needs.

Horses need smooth ground to stand on comfortably, not lumpy and bumpy and soft ground to lay on.

Traditionally we have provided that with smooth flooring for standing and bedding for laying down.

Not sure horse’s needs would be served by a hard smooth floor to lay on or a wavey, lumpy one to stand on.

Watch your horses, see how they live in their stalls.
Note where they choose to stand, how they work their bedding around, where they lay down, to tell you what is most comfortable for each horse and then provide that for each one.

Adding to that, many horses also have to use stall space for bathroom and that can change how they manage that small space, not just the kind of flooring and bedding.

We will never know exactly what a horse thinks is best, but by watching, we can make a good guess and provide for what we think each horse prefers.
Build so you can change to accommodate each horse best you see it prefers.

[XXS]

I like this type of mats. In my area worth to check internet platforms where they are sold 2nd hand for a good price.
https://kraiburg-belmondo.com/en-gb/products/loosebox/belmondo-classic/

[Sansena]

@fordtraktor

In my new construction I put down geotex, landscape stabilization grid and crushed stone 6 inches deep, and stall savers. I like the stall savers much more than mats – they are one piece, pee and water can drain through, and so far no shifting at all (though I did put in a very solid base). They were also around $200/stall, much cheaper than the 3/4 mats I had in my older barn, and the drainage saves bedding.

link please?

[Sansena]

@Bluey

Remember we are trying to provide horses with our stall floor choices with two antagonistic needs.

Horses need smooth ground to stand on comfortably, not lumpy and bumpy and soft ground to lay on.

Traditionally we have provided that with smooth flooring for standing and bedding for laying down.

Not sure horse’s needs would be served by a hard smooth floor to lay on or a wavey, lumpy one to stand on.

Watch your horses, see how they live in their stalls.
Note where they choose to stand, how they work their bedding around, where they lay down, to tell you what is most comfortable for each horse and then provide that for each one.

Adding to that, many horses also have to use stall space for bathroom and that can change how they manage that small space, not just the kind of flooring and bedding.

We will never know exactly what a horse thinks is best, but by watching, we can make a good guess and provide for what we think each horse prefers.
Build so you can change to accommodate each horse best you see it prefers.

What do you use, Bluey?

[fordtraktor]

[QUOTE=Sansena;n10564211]

link please?
[/QUOTE/]

www.stallsavers.com

The stabilization grid we put under is basically identical to the Lighthoof product sold by Ramm. We installed it the same way too.

[Sansena]

@Salo

I like this type of mats. In my area worth to check internet platforms where they are sold 2nd hand for a good price.
https://kraiburg-belmondo.com/en-gb/products/loosebox/belmondo-classic/

See, those interlocking mats won’t work, I’m fairly sure of it. All this ragged edges to flip up when stepped on. And oh so many edges for a pitchfork to get caught up on.

My reason for matting is to add bedding overtop and make mucking out easier/ quicker. I have a mild rib injury right now and every time my fork hits and edge it makes me want to cry.

Around here, nobody beds. They simply replace the sand once a year or so. Which I think is a phenomenally labor intensive approach to bedding. I mean, keep the horses out as much as you can, yes. But if they’re in a stall, make it so they can get away from that ammonia stench. Especially since they’ll pee in the same spot, then you’ve got a drastic change in footing depth/ texture, which I think is just bad overall.

[Sansena]

[quote="“fordtraktor,post:13,topic:465295”]

@Sansena

link please?
[/QUOTE/]

www.stallsavers.com

The stabilization grid we put under is basically identical to the Lighthoof product sold by Ramm. We installed it the same way too.

Thanks for that.
I worry that if the urine can soak through, it will cause a stench underneath over time.
See, bedding horses I expect to pay for bedding. Not just hope the urine goes away “somewhere” to be dealt with later.

How do you feel about that?

[fordtraktor]

[quote="“Sansena,post:15,topic:465295”]

@fordtraktor

Thanks for that.
I worry that if the urine can soak through, it will cause a stench underneath over time.
See, bedding horses I expect to pay for bedding. Not just hope the urine goes away “somewhere” to be dealt with later.

How do you feel about that?

Personally I haven’t noticed any smell. You can “clean” under there by stripping it and pouring Pine Sol and water on it, which neutralizes the ammonia.

Pee seeps in the cracks of mats, too, and that is much harder to address without pulling up the mats completely.

I always try to bed deeply enough that nothing has to get down in there, anyway. I don’t think they’d be good in a barn where, like many, they just put a smattering of shavings on the mats. But those barns are always gross no matter what, so YMMV.

[Sansena]

[quote="“fordtraktor,post:16,topic:465295”]

@Sansena

Personally I haven’t noticed any smell. You can “clean” under there by stripping it and pouring Pine Sol and water on it, which neutralizes the ammonia.

Pee seeps in the cracks of mats, too, and that is much harder to address without pulling up the mats completely.

I always try to bed deeply enough that nothing has to get down in there, anyway. I don’t think they’d be good in a barn where, like many, they just put a smattering of shavings on the mats. But those barns are always gross no matter what, so YMMV.

Agreed. I can’t stand it when horses bellies and blankets are saturated with dried pee.
If you bed similarly to how I do, I think they would work fine for my purpose.
I have caliche base… pretty much self ‘tamping’. Cant beat the price of your product, that’s for sure.

The other matting products I’ve lightly researched go from $600 - $1200 stall or so. Not including labor to cut them down for exact fit and tamping down the base…

[XXS]

I have good experiences with Belmondo mats, they did not flip up or move. Another idea - friends of mine got them for free because municipality replaced them - are playground safety mats.

[Garythesquirrel]

Another vote for Stall Savers. I put mine in 4 1/2 years ago and like them just as much now as I did when we first installed them.

[Sansena]

@Garythesquirrel

Another vote for Stall Savers. I put mine in 4 1/2 years ago and like them just as much now as I did when we first installed them.

This is all very encouraging. I had a farm sitting client that had these, I think. They were a bit ‘buoyant’ under foot though. The stall savers appear to lay flat against the under flooring. Or is that pillow effect an option?

I’ve got an email in to the manufacturer. Thanks so much Garythesquirrel and Fordtraktor…