One thing that makes the environment safe and comfy for the horse is the stall flooring. Horse owners have conventionally bedded them in straw, shavings, or sawdust. However, nowadays, stall mats made from rubber become favorites not only because they are easy to clean and very durable but also because they will ensure general horse health. In today's blog, we're comparing the use of rubber stall mats versus traditional bedding to determine which is better for your horse.
What Are Horse Stall Mats?
Rubber stalls, alternatively known as rubber stall mats, are thick, strong rubber mats to serve the purpose of covering the flooring of your horse's stall. Rubber stall mats are designed to give cushioning and comfort to your horse while also improving cleanliness and hygiene inside the stall.
Rubber mats come in several kinds. One of them is interlocking stall mats that can lock together to prevent moving or shifting, and large single-piece mats to cover the whole floor of the stall. All of them are made of superior quality rubber that can resist wear and tear and have great damp and temperature resistance.
Traditional Bedding for Horses
Traditional bedding for a horse within a conventional stall is nothing new. The most common materials include straw, shavings, sawdust, and even sand. They serve two purposes: they cushion and support the place the horse likes to lie on, and they absorb the moisture and waste from the stall. It is effective in several ways, but using conventional bedding also brings multiple challenges: it involves repeated renewals of bedding; also, dust and mildew can be harmful to the health of a horse.
Key Considerations for Horse Stall Flooring
Many factors already determine which one is better, between rubber stall mats and traditional bedding. So here's the major considerations.
1. Comfort for your Horse
The first reason behind investing in some good stall flooring for your horse is to make sure your horse is comfortable enough. A large portion of a horse's time is spent standing up, hence all dependent on whether the flooring will be hard or soft, on the health aspect of the joints.
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Rubber Stall Mats: Rubber mats make it easier for horses to walk with their legs and joints on a rubber mat rather than on hard surfaces such as concrete. Thick rubber stall mats offer excellent shock absorption, especially great for older horses or those with joint issues. They also create a non-slip surface, reducing the risk of injuries that may be caused by slipping.
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Traditional Bedding: Straw or shavings may be softer upon which to lie, but as they compact or get wet, that comfort disappears. Continuous replacement and remixing of bedding must be maintained if the horse digs into the bedding.
Winner: Rubber mats maintain a consistent comfort and require less maintenance to keep a surface comfortable in comparison with traditional bedding.
2. Cleanliness and Hygiene
A clean stall is one of the most important requirements in maintaining equine health. Bad hygiene results in respiratory issues, hooves problems, and hundreds of other problems.
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Rubber Stall Mats: They are easy to clean. Rubber mats never soak urine or moisture, waste can very easily be removed from the surface and so the maintenance of a dry clean stall is not such a big issue. Interlocking stall mats create sealed surfaces that prevent urine from flowing below and hence they are hygienic.
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Traditional Bedding: Bedding materials, such as straw and shavings, are absorbent but retain bacteria and odors. Wet bedding can become, within time, a breeding ground for hazardous bacteria and fungi. Bedding has to be changed periodically in order to keep it hygienic otherwise it becomes cumbersome and costly.
Winner: Rubber stall mats are really easier to clean compared to traditional bedding, thus much cleaner.
3. Durability and Lifespan
The longevity of the stall flooring, then, generally pays for much to ensure worth with respect to cost-effectiveness.
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Rubber Stall Mats: The rubber mats are much sturdier and could even last for several decades. They could very well withstand the wear and tear, even with a good amount of usage. It is highly abrasion-resistant and will never lose shape and effectiveness under the weight of a horse. The interlocking stall mats are also quite strong because they can stay in place even if there is movement from the horse.
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Traditional Bedding: Olden days bedding was mainly straw or shavings that had to be replaced frequently. This may be daily, weekly or as the stall is cleaned and how many horses are kept in the stall. After some time, this cost, whether monetary or in terms of labor, can be quite enormous.
Winner: Rubber stall mats have far better durability and cost-effectiveness in the long term compared to traditional bedding.
4. Cost
Cost is always one of the high factors when one decides on choosing the right horse stall flooring.
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Rubber Stall Mats: Although the initial cost of rubber mats is fairly high, especially if purchasing the deluxe mat or thick rubber stall mats, because they are so durable and do not require much upkeep, long-term costs are relatively low. You will not have to constantly restock on bedding materials, which can really add up over time.
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Traditional Bedding: Bedding materials are pretty inexpensive upfront, but the costs are going to really add up pretty rapidly because they will run out constantly. Depending on the material you use and how often it is to change that, traditional bedding can actually end up being much more costly in the long run than rubber mats.
Winner: The rubber mats cost more to purchase, but they pay for themselves in the long run as the product has a much longer life and does not break down nearly as often.
5. Environmental Impact
Owners who own horses could also be more mindful of what their decisions mean to the environmental factors; stall flooring is definitely not an exception.
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Rubber Stall Mats: Rubber stall mats are usually made from recycled rubber and are, therefore more eco-friendly. Moreover, as rubber stall mats stay in the stalls for such a long period, you are less likely to contribute to the mounting heap of landfill waste associated with traditional bedding.
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Traditional Bedding: Beddings like straw and shavings, although biodegradable, need to be changed frequently. They can lead to a great deal of waste, which in itself might not only be difficult to dispose of but also causes an environmental hazard. Moreover, harvesting sources like wood shavings contribute to deforestation and other environmental hazards.
Winner: Rubber mats are far more environmentally friendly compared to the bedding traditionally used, especially in the long-run end.
Rubbmat: Trusted Name in Rubber Mat Solutions
Rubbmat is a recognized supplier of top-quality animal rubber mats, providing hard-wearing, durable solutions for livestock as well as horses and other animals. Our variety of products covers thick rubber matting, interlocking stall mats, and rubber stall mats geared toward maximum comfort, support, and safety for the animals. With durability, hygiene, and easy maintenance in mind, the rubber mats by Rubbmat are best suited for cleaner, healthier environments in barns, stables, or stalls. For that reason, we at Rubbmat are working to deliver the best standards to ensure your animals will be quite comfortable and protected.
Conclusion: Which Is Better for Your Horse?
Although both have its merits, rubber stall mats, in most cases, turn out to be a better alternative for most horse owners. They ensure that comfort is always consistent, hygiene is more than perfect, durability is at its best, and even cost effectiveness will definitely be seen in the long run. Of course, rubber-constructed stall horse floor mats would also be considered as environmentally friendly and for easier cleaning, thus a convenient and efficient way of keeping stalls healthy and shiny.
However, owners prefer a combination of rubber mats and a thin layer of bedding. It could just provide the best of two worlds: comfort and hygiene of rubber mats with some level of softness and moisture absorption from the bedding. Most importantly, it is according to your horse and your taste as a horse owner.
If you are renewing your floorings, upgrading horse stall mats, which especially consist of interlocking stall mats, would be a good investment. They can give all-in-one comfort, cleanliness, and long-lasting durability-for your horse to stay healthy and comfortable in the years to come.
