Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Concrete.
Concrete makes a permanent, low-maintenance floor that is fairly easy to san-
itize. However, it requires very deep bedding (more than 12 inches) because it is hard, cold,
and abrasive. Concrete floors must be designed with proper slope for drainage and should
be finished rough or scored to ensure good traction.
Asphalt.
Asphalt has the same drawbacks as concrete and is not as durable.
Wood.
Wood, an old-time favorite for tie stalls, is not appropriate for box stalls. Al-
though it is warmer than concrete and fairly durable if appropriate wood is used, it can be
slippery, is difficult to sanitize and deodorize, and can be noisy under a nervous horse. Be-
cause of its hard surface, it requires deep bedding to provide comfort and prevent sores.
Rubber stall mats.
Rubber stall mats can be thought of as part flooring, part bedding.
The mats are usually ⅝ to ¾ inch thick and 4 by 6 feet or 5 by 7 feet and made of a com-
bination of rubber, clay, nylon, and rayon. Some mats are made of recycled rubber tires. If
the rubber particles are revulcanized, it means the material has been remolded with heat.
Stall mats act as an intermediary between the soil and the bedding. In this way they pre-
vent horses from ingesting dirt or sand with feed they eat off the stall floor. Mats have su-
perior cushioning for comfort, can be easily sanitized, make stall cleaning easy, decrease
dust so horses stay healthier and cleaner, and decrease the amount of bedding required by
up to half. They also prevent a pawing horse from digging holes in the stall. Mats with
textured top sides provide added traction. The seams between mats can become a source
of trouble if feed, bedding, or manure works between and under edges and results in bul-
ging and curling. To prevent this, cut and fit mats tightly and/or use interlocking mats with
puzzle-piece edges, which allow you to fasten the mats together, making one solid floor.
Flooring layouts
