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By Martha Vasquez
Rubber mats for horses, or floor coverings, are used to help keep a horse comfortable and also for their ease of surface cleaning. The covering provides cushion, which lessens stress on joints and do not cause sore spots like hard surfaces such as concrete. They also help insulate against cold and dampness.
Some of these coverings are manufactured with ribbing on one side and a smooth surface on the other. If the grooved side is placed up it provides good traction and drainage, however, it can slip on the flooring and get displaced. If the mat is placed so the smooth side is up, it provides little traction for the horse.
The benefits of using this type of product are many. They are cleaner than alternative bedding, such as straw or wood shavings, and save money on bedding since a good quality mat rarely needs replaced. Some, among many, of their uses include horse stalls, trailers, and wash areas.
These floor coverings do require a periodic thorough cleaning and must be removed from the stall or other area to clean underneath them. The underside and the floor it lays on must be washed with water and detergent and must be disinfected to remove urine and other contaminants. Both the covering and the floor underneath should be allowed to dry before replacing the mats.
The majority of this type of product available are made of rubber, however, there are a few manufacturers who make the floor coverings out of different types of materials. Some manufacturers use recycled truck tires to make them. A benefit of this practice is that it assists in keeping old tires from being stored in piles and becoming breeding grounds for mosquitoes and rodents or from ending up in landfills.
Flooring of this kind can be purchased in many different sizes and styles depending on what they will be used for. Most can also be cut to size, if desired, but the specifications of the manufacturer should be checked before doing so to ensure that the guarantee on the product will not be voided. Some are made with protrusions that interlock with other pieces of the flooring and, therefore, can be sized to fit with only the very edges needing to be trimmed.
Thickness varies from three quarter inch up to one half inch. The thinner ones tend to curl at the corners and are more likely to absorb urine odors, which makes them unusable over time. The thicker the mat, the better its quality tends to be. The thicker coverings, however, are more difficult to move around due to their weight. As an alternative, smaller sections of a heavier mat can be placed together to cover a desired area making them easier to clean or to relocate as the need arises.
Rubber mats for horses are very beneficial when used as the manufacturer intend. Horses will be much more comfortable and their stall or other areas they occupy much cleaner. As with any product, the benefits of using the product must be weighted against the disadvantages. In the case of rubber floor coverings, there are many options available to suit individual needs. It must be kept in mind, however, that mats are not always an ideal alternative to conventional horse bedding.
About the Author: Looking for a cost-effective stall flooring for your horses? These environmentally-friendly rubber mats may be just what you need. These horse stall mats provide comfortable support for your horses, and help to relieve join pressure and can absorb shocks.
Source: isnare.com
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