Horse Stall Flooring: Good, Better, Best

by Lisa Kiley – Published in The Horsemen’s Corral September, 2022

As summer comes to an end, the fall is a great time to get some projects done around the barn especially in preparation for the winter.  Before horses are spending more time inside, maybe it’s a good idea to look at the stall floors and consider making some upgrades.  Is the floor bare and uneven or covered with old mats that are askew making stall cleaning even more of a chore? 

Adding mats can have several benefits for horses and saves time and money in the long run.  Mats create a supportive layer, protecting your animals from the damp, cold and hard surface which can result in soreness and fatigue.  Stalls that are lined with mats are typically easier to clean and can help save on bedding costs.  There are multiple rubber mat options from good, better, or best to fit virtually any budget.

Starting with an even base is the key to having mats lay flat which will result in minimal future adjustments.  The base will either be porous (like screenings, limestone, or dirt) or impervious (like concrete or asphalt). While any style of base will have pros and cons, adding rubber mats atop a well leveled and compacted base can help amend some of these inherent issues. For example, a horse will typically become sore when housed on a concrete floor, adding mats along with adequate bedding can help minimize these issues.

Mats can help protect a limestone base from becoming uneven by reducing the impact of horses pawing and moving around the stall in habitual ways.  Porous flooring does have the benefit of allowing some drainage that impervious flooring will not (unless drainage was built into the flooring). 

Once you have your base established, you can select the mats that are best for you. We will look at three options that would be considered ‘good, better, and best’:

GOOD – Like most horse people, you might be on a budget and are looking to get some of the benefits of adding rubber mats without breaking the bank.  In this case, start with first quality straight edge mats.  Straight edge mats are simply laid down next to each other in such a way to cover the stall.  For a 12’ x 12’ stall, you will typically need six mats and for a 10’ x 12’ stall, you will need five mats if you are getting the standard size mats that come in 4’ x 6’ x ¾”. 

These mats are substantial in weight at about 100lbs each.  While you might be tempted to go with a ½” mat to save a few dollars, they are typically not thick enough for horses when going on very hard surfaces. Because they are lighter than the ¾” mats, they can be more easily moved around by horses, which can mean more maintenance.  However, if you want to add mats to your aisleway at a lower cost, ½” mats can be a great option. 

If you are really looking to stretch your budget, consider looking for second quality mats. Seconds are still new, but have some imperfections, typically on the edges. While not perfect like first quality mats, they can save you quite a bit in overall costs and still provide the support and traction your horse needs. 

BETTER – If you are looking to upgrade from standard straight edge mats, the next best choice would be a one-piece mat to prevent horses from moving individual mats.  One-piece mats are going to be significantly more expensive, and they will also weigh around 600lbs each.  This means that they will most likely require professional installation because they can be very difficult to move around, which will only add to the cost. 

Fortunately, interlocking mats can come together to make the mats as close to one piece as possible. They cost a little more than straight edge mats, but they are WAY more cost effective than the one-piece option.  At only about 100lbs each, they are much easier to manage and can be an easy DIY install.  They often come in kits to fit stalls from 10’ x 10’ to 12’ x 12’. 

Custom styles and aisleways can be done with interlocking mats as well, but make sure that you check your measurements (especially if you are doing long aisles) to account for the difference in size when the pieces are interlocked.  It can also be helpful to draw out a visual plan, so you know what pieces go where for ease of installation.  When investing in this style of mats, it becomes more important that they are placed on a level surface.  If the ground isn’t even, it can make it difficult to get the interlocking pieces to work together correctly and can eventually cause issues.

BEST – For the best option, re-focusing back on the base is going to be the optimal way to invest in stall flooring.  As mentioned before, the options are often between super hard concrete that can cause issues for your horses and increase odors with limited drainage or dirt or limestone which can shift and move under hoof overtime and be a pain for you to maintain and clean.   

Fortunately, there are innovative products that can be used to create a base that offers structure and drainage.  Investing in a product that can stabilize a base like limestone while offering the opportunity of drainage is the best of both worlds. 

Products like Paddock Slabs, made from recycled plastic material can be used for this purpose.  The interlocking grids create a stable base that won’t move, once backfilled with an appropriate substrate, they provide needed drainage.  The stabilized base is strong enough for heavy equipment, but ‘soft’ and supportive enough that once covered with interlocking mats your horse will have a comfortable place to rest and refresh for your next adventure together.   

There are a lot of options available when it comes to choosing mats for your barn from budget friendly to state-of-the-art set-ups. The most important thing is making sure that whatever you decide on, it is with your horse’s health and comfort in mind, and they will surely thank you for it. 

If you’d like to find the best horse stall flooring options, shop our mats and mud solutions today for the best deals. If you have any questions, call us at (740) 363-6073 and our highly experienced staff will be able to address any questions you have.