These Tips Can Help Create Flat Floors That Are Easy to Clean

Your Horse Stalls see a lot of wear and tear, and over time, their floors can become rutted and uneven. Uneven stall floors aren’t just difficult to clean, but can potentially strain your horse’s legs or even lead to slips and accidents. Whether you’ve just bought a barn or your existing stalls have been worn until they’re uneven, these tips can help you fix rutted, uneven stall floors.

Remove the Existing Horse Stall Base

If your horse stall floors are damaged, you’ll need to start by removing the existing base. Certain types of base materials are more prone to developing ruts and holes than others. For example, horses can easily dig down into sand, and the material is so loose that it can even shift under mats because of the horse’s weight. Though dirt, clay, and stone dust floors are more likely to compact, horses can still dig down through them, and pooling urine can also cause low spots to develop.

To begin, you’ll need to remove this base. You may be able to accomplish this by shoveling it into wheelbarrows, but depending on how compacted it is, you may need a metal rake, sledgehammer, pickaxe, or even a jackhammer to break up the existing base.

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Determine a Suitable Replacement Stall Floor Base

Determine the type of base material that’s suitable for your horse stalls. Materials like stone dust are popular because, as long as they’ve been covered with stall mats, they compact firmly and require relatively little maintenance. Sand and dirt are more challenging to maintain, and they’ll need regular upkeep.

Asphalt and concrete are some of the most durable base options, but they’re slick when wet, tend to be cold, and are so hard that they can take a toll on horses’ joints and overall comfort.

As you evaluate the base material options, you’ll also want to consider the availability of the material locally and its cost.

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Install Your New Horse Stall Base

Once you’ve determined an appropriate base material, start building your new stall base. Start with thin layers of the material and, ideally, use a plate compactor to compact each layer. Gradually build up the base until it’s almost level with your barn aisle floor. If you have drainage issues around your barn, a low-lying base could allow water to flow into your stalls.

As you compact the top layers of the base, consider creating a slight slope. The slope will help liquids flow toward a drainage area. Work to develop a slope of about 2%, which will direct liquids without feeling steep or straining your horse.

Remember to firmly compact the base once it’s complete. You can likely rent a plate compactor, which will give you the best, firmest results. If you don’t have access to a compactor, you can use a handheld tamper.

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Choose Appropriate Horse Stall Mats

Stall mats are essential to preventing horses from digging down into your stall base. They help establish and maintain a flat surface, and they also make stall cleaning easier.

Straight-edge Stall Mats are designed so that they butt up against each other, but the mats can easily shift, and bedding can work its way under them. You’ll need to reposition the mats frequently, and even with plenty of maintenance, it can be challenging to keep the mats flat.

Interlocking Horse Stall Mats tend to stay in place better. The mats fit together tightly, creating a cohesive surface that bedding can’t work its way beneath. These mats are highly durable and heavy, which also helps keep them from shifting. They’re available in various sizes and thicknesses, so you can choose the options that work best for your stall size. You can also cut the mats to fit if needed.

Consider a Stall Mattress System

The StableComfort Horse Stall Mattress system is another excellent choice for your stall floors. This system is an ergonomic solution to maximize your horse’s comfort. It features a multi-celled mattress that’s filled with rubber crumbs, maximizing shock absorption. That mattress is topped with a rubber-coated waterproof cover.

Since the top cover is made of a single piece, it makes cleaning stalls easy while helping prevent any of the shifting issues you could experience with regular rubber stall mats. The cover is also non-slip, enhancing your horse’s safety. Plus, since the system is equivalent to using four to six inches of bedding, you can use less bedding and save on costs.

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Maintain Your Horse Stall Flooring

Regularly maintaining your horse stall flooring and your base can help prevent the need for significant repairs or a future base replacement. You may need to periodically remove your mats and add more of your base material, especially as a new base settles and further compacts with wear. Ensuring your Stall Mats stay in place and fully cover the base will also help prevent wear and tear.

Contact American Stalls for Your Barn Supply Needs

At American Stalls, we’re proud to offer top-quality stable and barn components, including the supplies you need for your horse stall flooring. Whether you’re looking for horse stall mats or a StableComfort Horse Stall Mattress, we can help. We can also custom-design and craft barn components, like Sliding Stall Fronts. Contact us today at (855) 957-8255 or email us at sales@americanstalls.com to schedule a sales and design consultation or with any questions.