Walking On Volume 6, Issue 9, September 2019 | Page 12

Back to Basics
Horse Mats For Comfort And Convenience
By Adriana A Noton
Many little girls and boys dream of one day having
a horse. Animal lovers, young and old, often spend
hours doing research and learning how to care for their
four legged friends. Whether you already have a horse
in your life, or you’re considering bringing one home,
there are some important things you need to know.
Along with feeding, watering and grooming, the stall
in which your horse spends time needs to be well taken
care of. The use of horse mats, in the stall, can make
cleaning up more efficient and less time consuming.
These mats can be easily placed on the floor, allow-
ing your horse a sturdy, comfortable surface to stand
on. When giving birth they also provide cushioning
and shock absorption to foals who are prone to falling
over, and a bit of added comfort to mares who are lay-
ing on them. These mats can also be used on the walls
and doors of the stall to help prevent injuries from an
accidental, or purposeful run in.
Mats are also pretty easier to haul around. They can
be put in trailers, or anywhere safe footing might be a
concern. Carrying straw or chips can be a pain, load-
ing and unloading wheel barrows can cause sore mus-
cles and blistered hands. Using mats can considerably
lower bedding costs. Most are made out of rubber and
can be easily cleaned and sanitized, quickly, thoroughly
and safely.
Whether you need one mat for a spe-
cific small area, or you want to have the
whole stable floor covered, there is a de-
sign for it all. Using them in the bathing
area, provides much needed traction for
the smooth hooves of the horse being
bathed. Slippery floors can cause painful
injuries not only to the horse, but to the
person bathing them as well.
Cleanliness of stalls is very important
to prevent the many problems associ-
ated with a horses hooves. The bedding
used in stalls, along with droppings will
become caked in the hooves and need
to be picked out daily. Horses allowed to
stand for long periods of time in dirty
stalls are very susceptible to develop-
12 • Walking On
ing diseases and problems in the feet that can lead to
lameness.
Most horse owners know that a horses feet are one
of the most important parts of a horse, and special care
needs to be taken to ensure the health of the hooves.
Picking, and trimming are things that definitely need
to be done. Making sure the stalls are free from layers
of packed up urine and feces is another must, in order
to keep a horses feet healthy.
Dirt floors allow horses to “dig” creating an uneven
and sometimes dangerous surface. Concrete floors
might be easy to clean, but they are not comfortable for
horses to stand on for any length of time.
By lining the floors with horse mats, you will not
only decrease your work load, you will also be add-
ing to the comfort and overall health of your equine
friend. These mats will also pay for themselves many
times over, by allowing you to use less bedding materi-
als in the stall.
Looking for a cost-effective stall mat for your horses? These
environmentally-friendly rubber mats may be just what you need.
Rubber stall flooring provides comfortable support for your horses,
and helps to relieve joint pressure by absorbing shocks.
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Adriana_A_
Noton/459786
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