Whenever a person builds a horse stall, they need to think about what they are going to use for stall flooring. There are a number of options to consider when making such a decision. This is an important decision since the horse will live within those precincts. This means that the material used for the floor should be comfortable, for the horse to comfortably live in.
In addition, the floor should have traction that supports the horse whenever it wants to lie down or get up. The material should also be hygienic. This means that it should have the capacity to drain any biological wastes that the horse excretes.
The floor is usually made of three layers. The layers includes the beddings, another layer at the middle and the base is at the bottom. The layer that is usually found at the very bottom is the base. It is important for the base to have a combination of porous and non porous components.
The non-porous area will make it possible for the floor to retain certain substances while the porous section will cater to the drainage of unwanted substances. A well drained stall is free of any odours and it also ensures that the horse stays dry and in good health.
Once the base has been determined, then the next decision to be made is what type of intermediate layer to use. This layer is mostly placed in between the bedding and the base section of the precincts. This layer is mostly made from shock absorbers like flexible plastic polymers. Sometimes, horse owners find it easier to use plastic for the same purpose.
The horse finds it easier to move about in a place which has a middle layer. It also offers comfort for the horse when it is forced to stand for long durations. The intermediary layer is also used to protect the base from the effects of time. The base is also able to maintain a stable surface despite the use of the porous material.
Horses prefer to sleep lying down. This means that the bedding used should be hygienic and comfortable for the animal. If the wrong bedding is used, a horse can develop painful sores. The bedding used should have the right amount of traction for the horse. It should also offer them cushioning as well as getting rid of any moisture produced.
Stall flooring can include a number of beddings for the horse. The most widely used materials are sawdust, shavings and straw. Each of these materials has its own pros and cons that need to be taken into consideration when making a decision. As much as straw is cheap to acquire, it does not offer any traction once it's wet. When it is dry, straw is also very flammable. Shavings are very good for the beddings but they are not easy to dispose since they are known to be very bulky. Make sure that the material used can soak up excess moisture. It should also be easy to dispose but most importantly it should not trigger any allergic reactions for the horse. Of course, the pricing of the bedding should be within a person's budget since the beddings are replaced often.
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