People are moving away from traditional beddings of wood fibre and straw in their droves. Rubber stable mats are fast becoming the preferred choice of the masses. So what are the reasons behind this? Is it about time you put aside your bales of straw and joined the rubber revolution?
Stable mats, often known as horse mats, are not just for horses as many people would naturally think. They can be used for any livestock or animals kept in stables. Every responsible animal owner has the welfare of their animals at heart and we think that the benefits of using stable mats will appeal to such people.
Cost
This is often the big barrier to people thinking about buying stable mats. The initial purchase and fitting cost can be quite high. However, the ongoing costs of stable mats are very little. Once fitted stable mats are low maintenance and you will recoup your initial outlay over the months and years that follow.
Costs are saved through:
- Using 80% less bedding. You only need a thin covering of bedding, enough to absorb the urine. If you have good drainage you may need even less bedding.
- Save on health costs. A healthier horse means fewer visits from the vet and lower healthcare costs. We cover the health benefits of using stable mats later in this article.
- Lower cleaning costs and less time spent mucking out in comparison to using traditional bedding.
Mucking out
Not most people's idea of fun and unfortunately stable mats won't eliminate this chore either, but one of the main benefits of using stable mats is that they do make cleaning up a lot easier. With less bedding in use, this can be quickly swept away and replaced with fresh bedding. The mats can be hosed or pressure washed in a fraction of the time it would usually take.
Mats can be lifted for cleaning beneath or for storage. Lifting rubber stable mats is usually a two man job because of their heavy weight, which is why lighter stable mats made from EVA are now proving popular.
Heightened level of comfort
If you were to stand on a cold, hard concrete floor all day, it's likely that you would soon be suffering from an aching back, aching legs and cold, sore feet. Well the same goes for a horse, we all suffer from fatigue.
Rubber stable matting provides an extra layer of insulation against the cold and being softer on the hooves than concrete, gives good anti-fatigue relief.
Health benefits of using stable mats
We have just covered the increase in comfort levels being a benefit of stable mats. A more comfortable animal is a less stressed animal and this helps to keep them calmer too. Coupled with the fact that rubber stable mats are a lot softer and provide a safer surface, as a consequence, rubber stable mats reduce the risk of injury to your horse or animal.
The softer surface also leads to less wear and tear on hooves as well as joints and bones in the legs. Following a day running around in the field, a more forgiving surface will be a welcome relief and will aid recovery. This will help to ensure your horse is in good physical condition for the following day.
By using rubber stable mats you will use around 80% less bedding. Traditional bedding creates a lot of dust in your stables, which is a known cause of respiratory diseases. By using rubber matting you will eliminate the majority of harmful dust inside the stable.
The majority of rubber stable mats are not porous and so they will not absorb liquids, such as urine. Liquids simply flow off the mat, or sit atop until cleaned away. In contrast, concrete floors allow liquids to soak in and this can result in an accumulation of bacteria which is a lot more difficult to remove.
Stable mats are not just for stables!
You can use stable mats wherever you need protection and comfort for your horses or animals. Use them in a holding area outside of the stables whilst the stables are in the process of being cleaned. You can also use stable mats placed end to end to create walkways or runs to the field. Stable mats can be quite versatile.
What to do next?
We hope that we have helped make your mind up about the many benefits of using stable mats. It is clear why so many people now choose to use stable mats and will never go back to traditional bedding.
If you're ready to buy, then you can view our range of stable mats on our Mats4U website here: http://www.mats4u.co.uk/product/rubber-matting/stable-mats.html
Otherwise, we're happy to provide you with further information on, or samples of, our stable mats. Please call us on 0121 313 6748 or you can use Live Chat during UK office hours.
