Rachael's Corner: The Pros and Cons of Rubber Stable Matting

In the Tictac Equestrian office today, we have been chatting about rubber stable mats and how they can dramatically reduce the cost of keeping your horse, both in the winter and also over the summer months.  Saving a little bit of money each week adds up over the space of the year! Most stable mat retailers estimate that it will take just under a year to pay for them in the money you will save in bedding. A cost effective investment! J

Personally, I would highly recommend stable matting.  I have used it with all of my horses. It is particularly cost effective if your horse is very wet or dirty in the stable as it allows you to use a small amount of bedding and you don’t have to worry about your horse hurting themselves if they lie down on the rubber instead of a concrete floor.  It does help if you use shavings or another absorbent bedding though, if you use straw it can get a bit smelly underneath the mats. It also helps towards keeping your horse nice and warm in the winter months!

In the winter, I still give Honey a nice deep littered bed on top of the mats. It still means that at the front of her stable where there is no bedding, there is less of a chance of her slipping on the concrete when she comes in all wet and soggy from the field on a miserable day. They are equally as beneficial in the warm summer months when you can throw your bed up and let your horse stand on the mats instead of a cold, slippery or uneven concrete floor.

Lauren doesn’t like them though and likes giving all five of her horses a nice deep littered bed all year round, because it is a very smelly and unpleasant job lifting and cleaning the mats come spring time. Yuck!

Do you use rubber matting in your stable? If you do, would you recommend our customers and the rest of the Tictac team to use them? We would love to hear your opinion.

How to combat Winter Stable Vices

Stable Vices can occur during long winter periods

As cosy as it can be, it is known fact that a stable is an unnatural environment for a horse. As a result, it is common for some horses develop abnormal behaviours, also known as stable vices. So, to help you prepare for the next few months, at Tic Tac Equestrian we've rounded up a few ideas and helpful info to make sure you and your horses enjoy peace of mind and have a lovely winter!

At this time of the year, many horses spend longer periods stabled, so some stereotypic behaviours such as weaving - caused when a horse leans its head over the top of a stable stall and grazes from side to side - and crib biting - where a horse periodically chews on wood inside the stable - become more common. 

It is thought that some traditional deterrents such as anti-weave grilles - stainless steel grills mounted on stall doors - and cribbing collars can cause more harm than the vices themselves so many owners look for alternatives. 

First of all, it is recommended that you turn your horses out as much as possible to avoid long, lonely periods in the same space, and it is also thought that larger paddocks may also help prevent boredom or feelings of stress within the confines of a stable.

Increased exercise and social activities are widely considered to be the best first line of defence against stress/boredom-related Stable Vices and sometimes, even putting up large pictures of other horses within the stable has been known to keep some horses calm and more comfortable by themselves.

There is some mystery surrounding the exact causes of as crib biting, however, there may be a link to acids in the stomach, and antacid supplements are now available. Whereas, Weavers and box walkers  - horses that constantly walk back and forth within their stalls, sometimes out of anxiety or stress - can put strain on their limbs so in can help to make an opening at the back of the stable in order to give the horse a wider view and if possible, you can use rubber matting to alleviate any strain. 

Rubber matting on the floor and coconut matting on the door are also useful tips to prevent horses from pawing the ground and banging doors. Horses tend to avoid these activities if they stop making a noticeable sound. Although many of these tips are universally effective, there is plenty of leeway for gentle experimentation on your own. There are a number of other simple, and perhaps more unorthodox ways of curbing Stable Vices by attacking the root causes such as boredom and stress. For example, stable owners have been known to let chickens into the yard, which gives a visual stimulus and can occupy horses who are left in their own space for long periods of time.

Above all else, if you are particularly worried about your horses behaviour, be sure to contact your local vet for advice. In the meantime, over the next few days we will be looking into some of the ways you can prevent boredom and unwanted physical effects brought on by Stable Vices in more detail, so be sure to check back for more info.

Rubber Matting

Rubber stable matting for horses

In a previous post, we talked about different types of bedding for horses during the winter season. 

One particularly popular type of material being used in stables worldwide is Rubber Matting.

In terms of conventional types of horse bedding, Rubber matting is a fairly new development providing a warmer, softer and more comfortable stable floor for your horse than concrete, brick, dirt, or wood flooring. 

Rubber matting also greatly reduces the amount of bedding required. A downside is horses don't like to lie down on the bare mats. They prefer the comfort of a bedded area. So even though mats cut down on the amount of bedding needed, be kind to your horse and provide him with enough soft bedding to make him feel comfortable enough to lie down!

For more information on equestrian supplies and bedding, please visit us at Tic Tac Equestrian

Winter Bedding for your Horse

Over the Christmas period, and Winter in general, is a prime time to think about the comfort and warmth of your horses as they spend longer hours in the stable and are generally more vulnerable to the effects of the seasonal weather.

Horse Bedding is a great place to start and high quality bedding for horses is, you'll be glad to hear, not too hard to come by.

High-absorption bedding will, as you might guess, absorb water waste much better and will also help reduce the level of ammonia odour that can build up in your horse or pony's stall. Also, the more absorbent the bedding, the less of it you will need, which means you won't have to dispose of quite as much, saving you time and effort in the long run.

Your horse's health comes first. Wet or even damp bedding can soften your horse's hooves, leaving them susceptible to a range of nasty bacterial infections so make sure you do your best to keep your bedding warm and toasty! 

All bedding should also be low in dust as this can cause respiratory problems in horses. On the other hand, if you use bedding that doesn't absorb quite well enough, this can lead to the release of excess ammonia, which can also irritate your horse's respiratory system as well as your own. However, practising good mucking methods will help combat the build-up of waste so that you can get the most out of your bedding materials, and your horse! 

What are Some of the Horse Bedding Choices?

Straw - Perhaps the most common choice for horse bedding over the years, although many horse owners today favour processed wood shavings instead. Straw is often relatively inexpensive although it might not as absorbent as other available types of bedding, but it does provide a soft, comfy bed for your horse.

Sawdust and Wood Shavings - Sawdust is high-absorbing, but best to avoid if your horse is prone to respiratory problems. Processed wood shavings, however, are generally much cleaner, not to mention low in dust and free of other harmful materials.

Rubber Matting - Many advantages such as being completely dust free, drains well and is warm. The initial cost to put in rubber matting can be high, but the recurring costs to maintain bedding can be very low. It is very safe for your horse. Many horse owners add a little bedding, such as straw, to make a bed comfortable enough for you horse to lie in or if the drainage under the matting is not adequate.

Shredded Paper and Cardboard - Inexpensive, absorbent and comfortable. It does, however, require a large amount in order to create a decent-sized bed. But paper and cardboard bedding keeps your horse cleaner than other bedding products and does provide warmth.

For more information on horse supplies and accessories, contact us at Tic Tac Equestrian.com