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Dirt floors are better in terms of support - they are cushy enough they usually won't hurt the horse's legs like standing on cement. The negative to them is that they get wet from urine and traveling and eventually have to be dug out and shored up with gravel and sand.
The best thing I've ever seen are rubber mats on top of dirt floors. A level, solid dirt floor with those mats that lock together with puzzle edges are really great. The mats disallow the horses from digging up the dirt, it also keeps them off a wet floor while allowing the urine to pass through and somewhat dissipate. Adding sawdust or shaving bedding on top of them soaks up any urine or wet before it gets a chance to soak into the dirt - and the addition of mats requires less bedding than bedding on top of dirt floor. My mother has this arrangement and it's worked very, very well. When she has to bed the stalls, it takes 1/4 the shaving or sawdust without the mats. The stalls are quicker and easier to clean due to the rubber floor. the horses stay cleaner, their stalls are always level. She did not use the interlocking mats though as they're more expensive than the regular ones. After a time, the dirt does move around or the edges flip up and wear out. She did take a strip of rubber belting, screwed two mates together with carriage bolts and simply scooped the dirt out under where the belting attached the two mats (because that seam was thicker and the little 'trench' kinda made them lay flatter). It was kind ofa pain in the rear to do though.
The only negative I've had with rubber mats is that when they get wet, they are slipperly. I have an old QH gelding who's suffered EPM. His nervous system is nearly shot - when he gets excited and he can't control his hind legs properly, if he's on those wet mats, he'll slip easily and fall.
I personally have a barn with cement floors and mats on top. The horses wouldn't be on cement without mats. They can't get enough cushion on that hard floor from bedding alone unless it's about a foot thick - which is hard to keep clean and costly. I don't have the mats that interlock either, and I wish I did. The stalls are a bit odd shaped, so it's not possible to cover the entire floor with them without cutting little bits and pieces in - which would just bounce around and do no good. The corners of some of the mats have become worn right in the center of the stall. When they wear, the tend to pop up, then the horse steps back, bends them over and eventually they crack and break so you no longer have a 90 degree corner, you have a corner that doesn't butt up to another mat - the problem grows from there. My mats are about 6 or 7 years old now and the problem has only begun about a year ago, so they did last a while. I did purchase some different brand of mats called "Tenderfoot" which are heavier than the standard ones sold at TSC. These have lasted longer and for a long time didn't move with the horses movement in the stalls. Now they're getting a little broken down and move some - they get 'bubbles' under them from the horses driving manure and bedding under the edges, which only serves to add danger of stumbling, primarily for me not the horses. My horses also are allowed to run in and out of their stalls which does affect the performance of the floor and mats. With my filly who runs in and out of a dirt floor, she'll slide in and stick her feet right down thru all the bedding and tear up the floor. About once a year, no matter the horse in that stall/turnout, I have to dig and re-level the floor. Last year I dug it down and put gravel in it then sand. It's helped but it won't last forever. The other horses run in and out of a cement floor with mats area. there are 4 horses with 4 stalls they can get into and out of. Their charging into the stalls plays heck on the mats driving the dirt under the edges which lift, then I have to roll the heavy buggers back to scrape out the crap under the edges.
All in all though, I think the mats a good investment no matter what kind of floor is used, even for the headaches keeping them cleaned under and in good shape. If I had my druthers, I'd chose the interlocking ones.
Dirt floors are better in terms of support - they are cushy enough they usually won't hurt the horse's legs like standing on cement. The negative to them is that they get wet from urine and traveling and eventually have to be dug out and shored up with gravel and sand.The best thing I've ever seen are rubber mats on top of dirt floors. A level, solid dirt floor with those mats that lock together with puzzle edges are really great. The mats disallow the horses from digging up the dirt, it also keeps them off a wet floor while allowing the urine to pass through and somewhat dissipate. Adding sawdust or shaving bedding on top of them soaks up any urine or wet before it gets a chance to soak into the dirt - and the addition of mats requires less bedding than bedding on top of dirt floor. My mother has this arrangement and it's worked very, very well. When she has to bed the stalls, it takes 1/4 the shaving or sawdust without the mats. The stalls are quicker and easier to clean due to the rubber floor. the horses stay cleaner, their stalls are always level. She did not use the interlocking mats though as they're more expensive than the regular ones. After a time, the dirt does move around or the edges flip up and wear out. She did take a strip of rubber belting, screwed two mates together with carriage bolts and simply scooped the dirt out under where the belting attached the two mats (because that seam was thicker and the little 'trench' kinda made them lay flatter). It was kind ofa pain in the rear to do though.The only negative I've had with rubber mats is that when they get wet, they are slipperly. I have an old QH gelding who's suffered EPM. His nervous system is nearly shot - when he gets excited and he can't control his hind legs properly, if he's on those wet mats, he'll slip easily and fall.I personally have a barn with cement floors and mats on top. The horses wouldn't be on cement without mats. They can't get enough cushion on that hard floor from bedding alone unless it's about a foot thick - which is hard to keep clean and costly. I don't have the mats that interlock either, and I wish I did. The stalls are a bit odd shaped, so it's not possible to cover the entire floor with them without cutting little bits and pieces in - which would just bounce around and do no good. The corners of some of the mats have become worn right in the center of the stall. When they wear, the tend to pop up, then the horse steps back, bends them over and eventually they crack and break so you no longer have a 90 degree corner, you have a corner that doesn't butt up to another mat - the problem grows from there. My mats are about 6 or 7 years old now and the problem has only begun about a year ago, so they did last a while. I did purchase some different brand of mats called "Tenderfoot" which are heavier than the standard ones sold at TSC. These have lasted longer and for a long time didn't move with the horses movement in the stalls. Now they're getting a little broken down and move some - they get 'bubbles' under them from the horses driving manure and bedding under the edges, which only serves to add danger of stumbling, primarily for me not the horses. My horses also are allowed to run in and out of their stalls which does affect the performance of the floor and mats. With my filly who runs in and out of a dirt floor, she'll slide in and stick her feet right down thru all the bedding and tear up the floor. About once a year, no matter the horse in that stall/turnout, I have to dig and re-level the floor. Last year I dug it down and put gravel in it then sand. It's helped but it won't last forever. The other horses run in and out of a cement floor with mats area. there are 4 horses with 4 stalls they can get into and out of. Their charging into the stalls plays heck on the mats driving the dirt under the edges which lift, then I have to roll the heavy buggers back to scrape out the crap under the edges.All in all though, I think the mats a good investment no matter what kind of floor is used, even for the headaches keeping them cleaned under and in good shape. If I had my druthers, I'd chose the interlocking ones.
When it comes to designing a high-performance horse arena, selecting the proper footing product is just one step in the process. For a truly top-notch arena, selecting a horse arena base product is another important part of the equation. The right arena base enhances your riding surface by providing water drainage and creating a consistent, solid foundation. Consider the International Arena at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), for example: When Premier Equestrian helped upgrade the riding surface for the International Arena located at Wellington International (formerly PBIEC), we not only supplied our Premier ProTex Footing Product, but also our exclusive OTTO Sport Base Mats, the best horse arena base product on the market.
Lucky for you, OTTO Sport Base Mats aren't just reserved for competition arenas or the world's top equestrians'they're available to equestrians of all levels and all disciplines, from showjumpers to casual dressage riders. Read more about why we love OTTO Sport Base Mats, their key features and benefits, and how you can use OTTO Sport Base Mats to create a world-class arena in your own backyard.
WHY WE LOVE OTTO SPORT BASE MATS
OTTO Sport Base Mats have been installed in thousands of equestrian facilities throughout the world. The mats are made from high-quality, recycled synthetic material that is specially designed for equestrian sports. These resilient, all-weather base mats are used in horse arenas, as well as paddocks. The mats are placed underneath the layer of footing to provide maximum drainage, water conservation, concussion mitigation, and stability for horse and rider.
OTTO Sport Base Mats create a proper and durable separation between the horse arena footing and the substructure. This ultimately increases the lifespan of your arena'stones will not migrate up from the drainage layer into the footing, and sand will not migrate down into the drainage later. All OTTO Sport Base Mats come with a 20-year warranty (when installed according to specifications), so you can ride on them confidently for years to come.
KEY FEATURES & BENEFITS OF OTTO SPORT BASE MATS RELIABLE & QUICK DRAINAGE
1. RELIABLE & QUICK DRAINAGE
Got puddles? Get OTTO Sport. When combined with a suitable sub-base and water-permeable footing, OTTO Sport Base Mats drain excess water quickly, so you can say sayonara to soggy patches and muddy puddles in your arena. (Your horse will thank you!) Traditional arena bases are designed for water to flow over them, which can slow down the drainage of your arena base. But OTTO Sport Base Mats are designed to allow water to flow through them: Each mat features 252 holes that provide fast drainage, even after a heavy storm'a lifesaver in wet, rainy climates.
2. WATER STORAGE
Not only do OTTO Sport Base Mats get rid of water in your arena when you don't want it, they also help you retain water in your arena when you do'which is especially helpful in dry, dusty locations. OTTO Sport Base Mats keep your footing dust-free thanks to a unique system of water cups on the top side of the mats. These cups store enough water to consistently supply the footing with moisture for an extended period of time. Each mat holds up to one gallon of water'that equals 1,200 gallons of water for a standard 20 x 60 dressage court, which means less money spent on water and more money in your pocket.
3. SHOCK ABSORPTION
One of the most important benefits of OTTO Sport Base Mats is that they enhance safety, health, and performance for both horse and rider. Horses apply a considerable amount of force to the surface, especially in showjumping. When you consider a horse's average weight is approximately 1,300 pounds, that means up to five tons of force may be applied on the surface when a horse and rider land after a jump. OTTO Sport Base Mats help absorb a large part of this force to prevent short-term and long-term injuries of your horse.
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According to a scientific study by the German Association for Technical Inspection (TÜV), OTTO Sport Base Mats absorb more than 40 percent of the force applied on the surface. In other words, a large part of the force is absorbed by the surface instead of traveling back into the horses' legs and causing considerable strain on joints, tendons, and ligaments.
4. REBOUND
In addition to shock absorption, an ideal riding surface also needs to be able to return a part of the applied force. In doing so, the surface provides the horse with increased stability and enhanced performance. OTTO Sport Base Mats are specifically engineered for this purpose. Thanks to the ideal density of the recycled PVC material used to produce OTTO Sport Base Mats, the mats not only absorb a large part of the force applied on it, but also provide the horses' legs with the optimal amount of rebound. Your horse will be ready for takeoff every time!
5. TRACTION & SKID RESISTANCE
Horses accelerating and making sharp turns need especially good grip to avoid slipping. OTTO Sport Base Mats are designed to prevent horses from slipping and sustaining serious injuries. The upper side of the mats feature a system of traction-knobs in varying heights, which guarantees a secure surface that offers high stability.
6. TEMPERATURE RESISTANT
OTTO Sport Base Mats are suitable for all climates, from the Sahara to Siberia. Most any material tends to expand when warming and contract when cooling. For large areas like an equestrian arena or paddocks, even a slight expansion has a great impact on the surface. With that in mind, OTTO Sport Base Mats are installed with an expansion gap of approximately 1.5 inches between each mat. During strong temperature changes, the mats can expand and shrink without any trouble. Along with the locking rings and weight holding them in place, sand cannot get under the rubber horse mats, eliminating bulging and shifting of the surface.
Alternatively, less superior base mat systems that interlock or install edge-to-edge will bulge when warming. This can lead to sand trickling down into emerging cavities, forcing the mats up and dislodging them from their initial position.
HOW TO GET OTTO SPORT BASE MATS FOR YOUR ARENA
OTTO Sport Base Mats provide a durable, trusted solution for your riding arena that will keep you and your horse happy and healthy for years to come. With OTTO Sport Base Mats, you can maintain a lasting all-weather horse arena that's worthy of any equestrian discipline. Even if the footing layer in your arena must be replaced down the road, the entire base including the OTTO Sport Base Mats can be left untouched. After just replacing the top layer, your arena will look and ride as great as it did on day one!
OTTO Sport Base Mats are relatively simple to install, whether you choose a DIY or turnkey option. We're happy to provide a detailed installation manual when you purchase OTTO Sport Base Mats, or we can connect you with one of our Premier Preferred Builders to help you with installation.
To learn more or order OTTO Sport Base Mats for your arena, call us at 800-611- or shop online.
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