Some types of flooring need to stand up to large amounts of weight. Others need to survive heavy foot traffic. And then there’s horse stall mats, which need to do both at an especially high level. Supporting the weight of a horse requires top-notch materials and an excellent design quality.

Even though the majority of these mats consist of black rubber and have a similar look, there are significant differences in the individual mat designs. Each style will provide a particular benefit for the barn floor, creating just the right type of flooring for maximum durability and safety.

Interlocking vs. straight edge. Interlocking edge horse stall mats are a popular choice. They’re easy to install with no tools required.

The interlock puzzle edges are designed to stay tightly connected, even as the horse walks or stands on them. The edges are cut using water jet technology, which allows for impressive precision to guarantee a tight fit.

If you prefer a straight edge on one side of the interlocking puzzle mat, you can cut the puzzle edge flat. Or for a simpler choice, purchase a mat that’s created with straight edges at the manufacturing plant.

You can use one mat in a small stable stall, or you can line up multiple straight edge mats side by side for a larger coverage space. These mats have a high build quality, which gives them a perfectly straight edge, meaning they will slide tightly together, even without a puzzle edge to connect them.

Mat thickness and size. One of the biggest differences among horse stall mats is in the thickness and size of the material. A common mat coverage size is 4 by 6 feet, although smaller and larger options are available. Some of these mats are sold as a kit, meaning you’ll have all of the pieces you need to create a specific coverage area, such as 10 by 10 feet or 12 by 12 feet.

A common thickness for a horse mat is 3/4 inch, but you can find these mats in thicknesses of 1/2 inches, 5/8 inches, or 1 inch too. Thicker horse stall mats can be difficult to cut to fit in a wall to wall installation, but Greatmats offers tips here to simplify that process. Rubber mats can be repeatedly scored with a sharp carpet knife or utility to cut them apart with ease.

Foaling mats. Specific types of horse stall mats can deliver the features you need for certain tasks and jobs. One of the most important styles to have on hand is a foaling stall mat.

The foaling mat will have a waffle bottom pattern, which creates a bit of give in the rubber surface that’s easy on the joints of the foal. But it’s also tough enough to support the weight of the mare.

Wash bay mats. When using these mats in a wash bay used to clean and bathe the horse, you’ll need a style that has a textured surface to allow both the horse and handler to maintain a steady footing, even when the surface is wet.

Another option in a wash bay is a ring mat. This type of rubber mat has perforations that extend throughout the thickness of the mat, allowing water to drain through the holes, rather than pooling on the top. Even with holes in it, the mat can support the weight of a horse.

Portable mats. Rubber mats can be extremely heavy, making them difficult to move around. So if you want to carry rubber horse stall mats with you in a trailer to a horse show, you can select a portable option.

The portable design will use a smaller size than the traditional 4x6 rectangular mat. A typical portable mat will measure about 2x2 feet, meaning one person can carry the individual mats with ease. Some are even made of lighter weight material.

Rubber roll. Another option for use in a horse barn is a roll of rubber. If you have a large area to cover, such as an aisle, and you want to save some money, rolls are the answer.

Rolls don’t work for everyone, though, as each roll is extremely heavy and may require special equipment to move. The roll of rubber material also will be thinner than a common 4x6 horse mat, so it may not last as long as the thick mat when large horses are standing on it regularly.

Horse stall mats buying guide. Beyond using this type of flooring in a horse stable, it has some other installation use case options. One of the most popular is in a gym setting at home or in a commercial building. Rubber withstands the weight of exercise machines and free weights, all while protecting the sub-floor.

Understand that rubber flooring occasionally will have a bit of an odor to it. Some people describe this as a new car smell. Over time, this odor will dissipate with adequate air flow in the area.

Click on the links in this best horse stall mats buying guide to learn more about your options for these products. We have collected multiple testimonials, videos, and blogs to spark your imagination and ideas for using them.