Horse Stable Flooring Materials and Drainage

Horse behavior results in uneven wetting and use of the flooring. A wet, porous material, such as soil or clay, is less capable of bearing weight. Wet material will work its way into adjacent areas through hoof action, creating holes and high spots. In addition, horses often paw near the stall door or feed bucket from impatience, boredom, or out of habit. This creates low spots. Most horses are good housekeepers, if given enough space. Often, a mare will urinate and defecate in one spot in her stall, away from the resting and feeding areas. Geldings are more limited in how they use their stalls but typically defecate in one area and urinate in the center.

Topsoil

At first this seems the most natural as it resembles pasture footing. Drainage and durability proper- ties depend on the type of soil. Some soil types can resist drainage and result in mud or puddles while others may become dry and dusty. Sandy topsoil is often damp in cold climates and will shift from use, creating uneven footing. A concrete or asphalt apron can be used at the stall door to discourage "digging."
Advantages

• Highly absorbent
   
• Nonslip
   
• Easy on legs
   
• Inexpensive
   
• Drainage varies

Disadvantages

• Porosity can retain dampness and odor
   
• Needs to be leveled and replaced often
   
• Can be difficult to muck out
   
• May freeze hard
   
• Difficult to disinfect

Clay

This is traditionally the horse owner's favorite flooring. The types of clay locally available will vary. Pure clay tends to pack too tightly and become impervious to drainage. Purepacked clay is slick when wet. It is recommended to mix clay with other soils. A mix of 1⁄3 fine stone dust and 2⁄3 clay is common over a sub-layer of gravel to aid drainage. Areas of frequent urination are most likely to develop dips and holes. The urine softens the clay and reduces compaction. As the horse steps in these areas, the clay is pushed toward the drier area, creating a pit or hole. Promote drainage by sloping the floor (1 inch per 5 feet) toward an alley channel, although maintaining an even slope is difficult. If pawing at the stall door is a problem, a concrete or asphalt apron can be a deterrent.

Advantages

• Closest to a natural tread
   
• Easy on legs
   
• Noiseless
   
• No dust
   
• Keeps hooves moist
   
• Highly absorbent
   
• Relatively warm
   
• Resists wear when dry and compacted
   
• Affords a firm footing unless wet
   
• Inexpensive

Disadvantages

• Needs to be leveled and repacked each year
   
• Needs to be replaced every few years due to holes and pockets from constant pawing
   
• Remains damp longer than desirable
   
• May retain odors