What Kind of Stall Flooring Do You Prefer?

I should probably have a whole category called, "Things I Wish I'd Done Differently." One is the "flooring" in our stalls. We have no floors. We have dirt. I initially used straw for bedding on top of the dirt floor until Lucy got into the feed storage (another topic for my category of "Things I Wish I'd Done Differently) and had to be kept in the stall with butterfly pads in her hooves and all kinds of anti-founder precautions. Thank the Lord and our good vet, she didn't founder. (And I moved where I stored the feed.)

But I had to take the straw bedding out of the stall so she couldn't eat it and replace it with peat moss/gold.  It did make nice manure. Now I use pine shavings.

Incidentally, the horses are not kept in the stall (unless they've done something stupid and need stall rest) but have 24/7 access to their stalls. That means they can go in there any time they need to go to the bathroom. They take full advantage of this.

Now, what's good about a dirt floor is that it's easy on horses' feet and joints. What's bad about dirt is that every time I strip the stalls I strip a layer of dirt. (And then work lime in, etc. before adding the shavings.) If you saw Lucy in her stall, you'd think she was a pony. She's standing in a hole. Buddy's stall has only been in use for two years (didn't keep the pony before him in a stall) so his dirt floor (under the shavings) is fine. For now. It would also help if Lucy didn't go into the stall to pee every single time.

If I were to do it over, and I'm going to have to at some point before Lucy disappears from view, here are the choices:

1. Concrete, asphalt or other permanent surface. Good part: permanent. Bad part: Everything else.
2. Gravel. Good part: semi-stable surface that lets liquids flow through. Bad part: I don't like adding rocks to my nice soft sandy land, and it doesn't sound comfortable. Plus, the horses would figure a way to churn it into their bedding and I'd end up with heavy, rocky manure and my problem not solved.
3. Stall mats. Good part: made for the job and should be a comfortable surface under the bedding. Bad part: bazillion dollars and would be a hassle to install. Plus I'm not convinced that it could hold up to all that pee.
4. Tamped clay. Good part: Nice, natural surface that is semi-solid and permeable. If I'm smart, we'll slope it so that the liquids run out instead of forming a basin. Bad part: I'm sure I'll be digging up layers eventually, and also imagine that with Lucy's habit of peeing in the stall and ONLY in the stall that even it will become saturated, slope or no slope. Still, it could be redone yearly. I think that's what is suggested.

I think I've read of other options but these seemed like the basics. Before I make my next move, which will not be soon, what flooring do you have? What do you think is ideal and/or most practical? What would you do over?

Comments

[BarnGoddess]

I have dirt floors too. It is the best thing for my old guy BUT I also have mats I occasionally lay down depending on several things.

My friend has concrete and is planning on taking it out this summer. She is going to dirt.

[Kathy C]

Over at the barn where we are currently boarding they used crushed limestone and then mats on top.

Here at home we have used gravel, but like you said it ends up coming up with the bedding and getting spread in our fields. Not a good option.

This spring I am planning on hauling in regular old clean dirt and then putting crushed limestone on top of that. All the stalls need to be sloped and landscaped around as we get run off INTO the stalls (fun fun).

We also got mats cheaply from a dairy farmer that was going out of business, but I'm not convinced I should put them down. Yet. Because we have run in stalls, the weather runs in sometimes too! I think that would cause a lot of slipping.

Sorry I wrote a book, but I have been thinking about what to do in this situation also!

[risingrainbow]

I have most of mine on mats. Some I have on old conveyor belt that I got for much cheaper than mats. It (conveyor belts) was not my preference with horses who are kept in but it might be good for your who have the option of in or out. I love the mats and then bed with shavings on top.

Some of my matted stall have concrete underneath. I can't even stand the concrete there. It is hard on the horse's legs.

[Nuzzling Muzzles]

I've got dirt with pine shavings like you. Once every couple of years I order several truck loads of decomposed granite and shovel some of it into the stalls. That keeps the ground level with the foundation and the D.G. soaks up the urine well. The downside is that it gets dusty in the summer and I have to hose it down. The horses like to pace at the front of the stalls, which pushes the dirt back, so there is always a slope. When I flatten it out, they just rearrange the dirt the way they like it in a slope.

[Jackie]

At the barn where I grew up (play on words intended), there were about 35 stalls all on dirt; some had mats and some didn't. We had the same problem with the ones without mats as far as ending up with big holes and uneven surfaces.

On the other hands, the mats over dirt made great flooring. They were still relatively soft and comfortable, but also made cleaning stalls 100 percent easier. The horses I ride now are also in mat stalls and are only in them for a few hours a day. They have light shavings and the mats have stood up just fine to the pee. They have mats on dirt in the stalls at Pegasus too and they are also in very good condition. I guess that's 3 for 3 on the mats! The mats are pretty tough and hold up really well. I'd definitely say they are worth the extra cost.

Let us know what you decide.

[Anne]

Thanks for your helpful comments. I haven't heard about decomposed granite and will look into that. I may also see if I can find a less expensive source for stall mats, since Jackie's had such a good experience with them. I like the idea of the horses not being able to pick up sand when they pick up spilled grain (even with a thick layer of shavings on top).

My father, who is still a sharp engineer at age 95, told me to get sand-clay and tamp it with a 4 X 4 held vertically (his hand tampers are all busted). That would certainly be good exercise!

What I do will probably depend on cost, which might mean I do nothing until the economy feels more stable or I can't see Lucy's head above her stall door....

Thanks again!

[Grey Horse Matters]

We have dirt with mats over it, it is much easier to clean and is better for the horses legs.