Stable mats are becoming increasingly popular because of the advantages they offer compared to other stable surface:

Yielding. The traditional concrete floor is very difficult. If you have a thick layer of waste, this hardness can stress joints, possibly damaging her feet, causing sore spots, where the horse lies down to rest or sleep. Mats and yield a smoother surface, which is more comfortable for the horses and less likely to result in impactsStress injuries.
Make heat. The materials used for rugs are naturally stable insulator. This applies both convenient and healthier for the horses, especially in winter.
Traction. Concrete and wood floors can Slippery When Wet, mats for better traction and reduce the risk to horses.
Mats Smooth. Many have a smooth surface, much lighter than concrete or wood to clean surfaces.
Sterilization.Stall mats can be with a disinfectant with absorbent surfaces such as wood or the soil is difficult to be sterilized. Sterilize Especially in the case of a horse contraction of an infectious disease, the capacity of the barn to the ground is important.
Drainage. Unlike concrete, so that the urine discharge mesh. Usually happens in the spaces between the mats, although some types of carpets in the urine can dissipate through the rug itself.
Available beds. Many ownersStall mats that read less necessary as the mats because the function of the beds (insulation, soft and comfortable surface, the shock absorption, traction) and partly because of the ability to drain urine means that the number of beds are less polluted. This not only saves the cost of bedding, but also in terms of time and money associated with cleaning the stall.

Mat is not placed on any hard-moving surface such as concrete, asphalt and wood floors. Such as matsslower, but as a stand-alone plan. Some carpets (the second largest and most powerful), can also be laid on granite, provided that these stones can not exceed a certain size (large stones or shock), but the tears in the mesh. Soft surface, like the earth and sand, unsuitable because they can move under the mats, which are depressions in the mat. Finally, there may be divisions between the mats, or even a tear in the mesh.

Stall mats vary in style,Quality and performance characteristics. Consequently, the selection of mat stable for individual needs requires consideration of a number of factors. The substantial differences between the various stand-mats are in relation to:

Material. The most common material used is rubber, although there are different types and grades of rubber used (mainly employees) by the manufacturer. There are also non-rubber mats, made of high-tech materials such as Eva. High-quality rubber –tend to cost more, but is more durable. High-tech materials such as EVA tends to be slightly different performance characteristics (eg, more cushioning) and are generally easier for a given size.
Dimensions. Mats typically vary in size from about 30 square centimeters (one foot square) to about 2 square feet (3 meters square). But we mesh) up to 12 feet by 12 feet (4 meters by 4 meters, he saw a barn complete with a single cover (which weighs 600Pounds, or nearly 300kg). Large mats are heavy (weight greater than 100 kg. Complicating or £ 200), the mediation. However, their weight and size is an advantage that makes them less likely to move, once created, and also less likely to curl up the edges and corners. Smaller rugs are easier to manage. In the case of a crack or other damage, it is cheaper to replace a small piece as a large.
Thickness. The thickness is about 1Centimeter to less than 2 centimeters. Thicker carpets have 4 benefits are permanent, as a rule, are less likely to curl at the edges is less likely to move the mats, the thickness usually an indication of quality. However, as the thickness, the higher price and weight limits.
Weight. The weight depends on the type of material (EVA is much lighter than rubber) and the thickness of the carpet. Heavy mats are more likely to remain, while the carpets of light are very useful whenoften traveling with your horse (for example, between the horse), shows and competitions and take a pad portable. One of the advantages of EVA placemat is made of rubber, which weighs only about one quarter as rubber, it is better if you often need to move.
Locking. Some interlock mats, while others are straight edges and simply rely on their weight, keep it in place. Everything else being equal (size, weight, thickness), whichCan not escape interlocking mats better and are far less likely to lift the edges. Some carpets are designed to lock and unlock easily (for easy transportation transfer, if often) with your horse, while others are intended to establish firmly in the correct position (making it difficult to transport, but better performance in static equipment).
Quality. As with any product, quality varies. A guarantee long (5 to 10 years) is an indication of quality. Thicker mats are betterQuality of those subtle. Data 2 foam pad of equal size, much more difficult if it is probably of better quality (this is probably a mild pure rubber, but rubber mixed and bottom), lighter materials. None of them is a mark of absolute quality, but usually have good references. E 'useful even if the manufacturer has a reputation for producing high quality products. Also ask if the gums are revulcanized (which is good) or if the tirewere bound), with a urethane adhesive (of lower quality.
Permeable. The mats should be non-permeable, which means that the urine should not be able to give the surface of the pad. If the material or manufacturing processes, low quality, so that the mats can be partially transparent, mat and urine in the production of odors.
Porous. Some mats are porous, so that the corn through the urine. However, the majority is not porous, although the urine can flow throughoccurs when the meeting of mats. For smaller rugs, there are other links, so that the urine runs much more. This can be an advantage or a disadvantage (see discussion below).
Flat, corrugated or feet down. Many mats have a flat bottom. With a flat bottom, urine that is) under the rug (for example, drainage of the joints between the pads imprisoned there. If you have a permeable surface under the rug (for example, granite), this is not a problem butIf you have a non-porous surface (eg concrete) under the mats, you do not want to have to develop ammonia and urine odors trapped. With trees or feet, as urine is able to drain (if in practice this will depend on factors such as the slope of the document and if it appears) in the soil.
Portable. Some carpets are designed to be portable, others are not. To evaluate the factors when it comes to portability are: weight,Size, the ability to roll. If you make sure that they can be locked, lock and unlock easily and without special tools.
Reversible. Some carpets have a higher stall and a lower part, while others can be reversed (be reversed). The advantage is that when the latter shows a side to take, you can flip to extend the life span.
Flat or structured top. Some carpets have a flat top and smooth, while others have a high structured. Smooth tops areeasier to clean (the plants, or shock) on mats textures tend to remove the dirt, while providing structured tops with the horses better traction. Some people buy carpets with a grooved bottom, then rotate so that the grooved must be, and this is especially for high traffic areas such as hallways or washed out areas (where water and soap, otherwise it creates a smooth surface ).
Cut to fit. Stall Mats are available in a variety of formats. However, to be a close-fitting, youneed to cut the mats. In this case, ensure before buying the mats, which are intended to enable this.
Price. Prices vary, but as an estimate of views of 20-40 euros per square meter.

For photos of different types (equipment, structures), see the mats horse.

Drainage

When the urine passes through the mesh does not rely on them, the number of beds, which is contaminated, is significantly reduced. This reduces the amount of timenecessary to clean the stable, reduced the amount of the replacement value beds needed, and reduces the amount of space for dirty laundry.

Although these are important benefits, one must consider what happens in the urine after running through the mats. If the area of good drainage (for example, a thick layer of gravel), then to drain the urine. However, if the area under water-resistant () as the cement, then the urine is based simply onunder the mats, where the ammonia in the air (which gave the horses in the stable, there are unhealthy, particularly for the production of the lungs), and unpleasant odors. Although it may from time to time you lift the mats and clean beneath them, the fact remains, cleaning the urine in carpets is more difficult than cleaning urine on them.

Consequently, depending on the surface of the floor below, you may prefer that flows through the urine, or if you'd rather not.Should, depending on your preference, it is chosen according to Mats: Mats little more than biggest drain (occurring together, and there are more of them), mats straight edge of the canal lock, the flight of larger mesh porous non-porous.

If you can use the mats, which allows the flow of urine easy to decide, you must consider the following:

Choose a mat with grooves or less feet so that the flow of urine out of place, the case.
Try to have a floorwith good drainage. If this is not possible, you can perform the urine, and always in a plane is flat (no diving pool, where urine), smooth (so that liquids, easily) and run with a gradient so as to drain.
Consider mats, whose design and weight make it easy to remove upwards, allowing a regular washing under the definition of land.

Clean

A barn with rubber mats are clean (in the same way, and pitchfork or shovel) as any otherStable. Many people also use a regular washing with water hose at regular intervals. If the mats under your feet or groves, this can also help ferret, which has drained through the urine seen between the joints (before the discussion on drainage).

It 'also possible with a pressure jet. Damage while it is very effective, be careful not to print directly onto the surface jet opaque, as it should take to the mat (the jet manual pressure, the minimum distance to keep the stateShower pressure is removed from surfaces).

When the carpet has to be absolutely clean, the cleaning of other instruments that may be useful to have a brush, soap and disinfectant. Before using any chemical on the carpet, only the instructions that came with the mat, make sure that the chemical will not hurt.