Essential Summer Horse Care Tips

Rubber stable matting is one of the most useful purchases you can make to enhance your horses’ living environment, improving their health and comfort and providing a cost-effective alternative to traditional bedding such as straw. Adding insulation to the concrete stable floor, it has an easy-to-clean, cushioned surface.

A major advantage is the fact you’ll need only around 20% of your normal bedding on top, so the matting can pay for itself in a relatively short time. Once you’ve made the investment, maintaining your flooring to ensure its longevity and efficiency is crucial. With proper care, it can last for years, as rubber is known for its durability.

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Using rubber mats in summer

Extreme weather, hot and cold, can affect rubber stable mats in different ways: excessive heat can cause the rubber to soften and become prone to deformation, while extreme cold can make it brittle and more likely to crack. Although rubber has a higher resistance to heat than many other materials, on hot summer days, it can still be impacted. For example, prolonged exposure to direct sunlight may cause mats to degrade over time, making them more susceptible to warping.

Improving stable ventilation can help protect the matting from high temperatures and moisture damage caused by condensation, reducing the risks of wear and tear. By using fans and keeping windows open when possible, this will ensure proper airflow can help extend the life of stable mats for horse owners.

Good stable ventilation isn’t just to benefit the flooring, of course! Hot and humid weather can make your horse lethargic or cause dehydration, heat exhaustion and even heat stroke. Every responsible horse owner will appreciate there are steps you must take to make sure your animals are kept comfortable and healthy during the summer months.

Increase water availability

The average horse drinks three to four buckets of water per day, and usually more in hot weather. Always make sure plenty of clean, fresh water is available, as it can reduce the risk of dehydration. Ensure your horse has between 50 and 100 litres of water daily, equating to four to seven buckets full. When exercising your horse in hot weather, this will further increase the amount of water they need. It goes without saying that the water must be changed regularly – ideally more than once a day in warm weather, when it can become stagnant more quickly, or attract flies.

Provide shelter

When outdoors, shelter or shade is important in hot weather, providing protection from the sun for your horses. Remember, sun cream isn’t just for people, as horses with grey or white hair and pink skin are more susceptible to burning. Apply sun protection, especially on pink noses and ears.

While trees and hedges can offer shade, when the position of the sun moves at different times of day, your horse may spend periods with no shade. This is why many owners choose a simple shelter instead, as it has the added advantage of protecting your horse from flies. It’s sensible to stable horses during the hottest part of the day in a cool and well-ventilated building. Always look out for signs of heat-related illnesses, such as dehydration and exhaustion, which can occur in summer even with the best of care. If in any doubt, contact your vet.

Summer grazing

Hot summer weather can impact grazing, as the grass can dry out quickly as the sun blazes down, effectively removing moisture and turning it into hay. Although it can still provide sufficient calories for your horse, the nutritional value may reduce. Give your horse a low calorie vitamin and mineral supplement to complement grass feed. As long as your horse isn’t obviously losing weight, grazing on sun-dried grass won’t necessarily be a problem, although working horses may need additional calorie intake.

If the paddock is bare, beware of your horse inadvertently consuming more soil, as this can cause colic. Introduce extra forage if this is the case over a period of around two weeks. Consider the amount of work your horse does before adding forage, as you shouldn’t increase it to such a degree that they gain weight. Letting your horse become overweight has its own problems, such as Cushing’s Disease or Equine Metabolic Syndrome.

In summer, if heavy rain is forecast after a long, dry spell, the grass in the paddock will return almost instantly, so extra forage may be unnecessary.

How to clean rubber mats

Keeping your horses in a suitable environment is crucial all year round, of course, but in summer in particular, heavy foot traffic, moisture accumulation and constant pressure from the horses will mean your stable mats require occasional maintenance. By rotating them regularly and applying protective coatings, you can expect more even wear, and continued comfort for your horses. A protective spray can be applied quickly for enhanced hygiene: the mats will be ready to use again in a matter of hours.

Maintaining stable mats in a barn environment means cleaning them regularly with warm water and a mild detergent, ensuring proper drying to avoid mould growth. Never use harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaning tools, as this can cause damage that may reduce their lifespan. Strong, undiluted disinfectants can also cause respiratory problems and skin irritation for your horses.

Sweep or vacuum the mats regularly to remove dirt and straw, which can cause a build-up of bacteria. Then, hose them down outdoors to remove debris, followed by thorough cleaning with a non-biological detergent. After cleaning, rinse the mats thoroughly to remove all residue.

Periodically turn the mats over to clean the undersides too, as they can harbour bacteria if not cleaned properly. Check the drainage of your stable mats to ensure no sediment is clogging up the channels – this can be washed away easily by lifting a corner of the mat and directing water onto it until any blockage has cleared.

Drying them thoroughly is also important, because moisture and humidity can cause rubber stable matting to degrade quicker, develop mould, or become slippery, which can be hazardous for horses and humans.

Clean your stable as often as possible to avoid a build-up of dirty bedding. Sweeping it every other day is advisable to eliminate excess hay. Always make sure the floor is completely dry and free from debris before putting the mats down again.

What are the signs of damaged rubber mats?

Rubber is an ideal material for stable mats and can remain in good condition for many years, but nothing lasts forever. As a horse owner, you should continually look out for warning signs that they need replacing. The tell-tale signs can include cracks, softening, warping, tears, or a noticeable reduction in cushioning. Mats that no longer provide a solid, non-slip surface may need replacing.

Looking after your rubber stable mats carefully will not only ensure better health and wellbeing for your horses, but will also save you money in the longer term.