Horse Stall Mats are commonly used in horse stables to prevent the animals’ hooves from slipping or being damaged on the hard floor and also to reduce the amount of straw required. Here are a few reasons why it’s important to cut horse stall mats correctly.
– Cutting horse stall mats to the correct size ensures a precise fit within the stall or stable area. A properly sized mat covers the entire floor space without leaving gaps or overlapping edges, providing maximum coverage and protection for the underlying surface.
– Correctly cut mats lay flat and level on the floor, reducing the risk of tripping hazards for both horses and handlers. Mats that are unevenly cut or poorly fitted may buckle, curl, or shift underfoot, posing a safety hazard to horses and humans alike.
– Properly cut mats facilitate easier cleaning and maintenance of the stall or stable area. Mats that fit snugly against each other and the walls prevent debris, dirt, and moisture from accumulating in gaps or crevices, making it simpler to sweep, muck out, and sanitize the space.
– Cutting mats correctly extends their lifespan and durability. Mats that are trimmed to the appropriate size experience less wear and tear along the edges, reducing the likelihood of fraying, tearing, or damage over time. This ensures that the mats remain effective in providing cushioning and protection for the flooring beneath.
– Properly cut mats are easier to lift, move, and reposition as needed. Whether for routine cleaning, maintenance, or rearranging the stall layout, mats that are cut to fit precisely can be lifted without difficulty, minimizing strain and effort for handlers.
This article explains how to cut horse stall mats without breaking or damaging the material, so if you’ve recently bought a new mat and need to cut it, keep reading.
The type of mat you choose will depend on your space, materials, and budget. Most Horse Mats come in a standard size of 6ft by 4ft (1.83m x 1.22m). This is helpful because it allows you to plan how many mats you will need for your stable.
Mats come in a variety of thicknesses according to the job they need to do. For ponies and smaller horses, mats should be between 22mm and 26mm thick. For larger horses (up to 16.2hh) mats should be between 34mm and 36mm thick and for anything else between 38 and 44mm will be sufficient.
Of course the thicker the mat the more it will cost. You can buy a 6ft x 4ft by 22mm thick Bubble top Rubber Stable Floor Matting for around £45.00 or 2 6ft x 4ft x 12mm ArkMat Wall stable Mats for around the same price. 44mm thick mats cost around £100.
For a standard size stable of 12ft by 14ft, you will need 7 mats and have to cut one of them into three 4ft x 2ft pieces, hence the reason for this article, “How to cut horse stall mats”.
There are various techniques used to cut horse mats. How you cut your mat will depend on several factors. The thickness of the mat and the type of material the mat is made from. There are many different types of horse mats, some are designed specifically for the floor and others for the walls protecting the horse’s legs and hooves if they kick out.Â
The different densities and thicknesses will dictate how you go about cutting your mat. Here are four methods of cutting rubber stable floor mats.
If you’re cutting a thin plastic mat, you can use scissors, but make sure they are heavy-duty and sharp, otherwise, you may struggle to cut through and or may end up damaging the plastic. For thinner fabric mats, fabric scissors will make a better cut as they have been designed specifically for this job.
For thicker rubber floor and wall matting up to 30mm, you should be able to cut through your mat with a retractable utility knife, or box cutter (also known as a Stanley knife). It is recommended that you fit a brand new utility blade, to ensure you have the best cut possible.
Measure the stables and work out how many full mats can fit in without the need for cutting. (It is recommended that you leave a 10 – 15mm gap around the stable edge because rubber expands in the heat and may cause the mats to lift up).
Mark the mat you need to cut with a clear line using a piece of chalk or a marker pen and proceed to make a first shallow score along the line. It is easier to keep your knife going in a straight line if you use a straight edge on the line as a guide. You should concentrate on the first cut being straight rather than too deep.
Once you have completed the first cut, come back to the beginning and start again with the knife. Don’t press too hard, otherwise, you are likely to break the blade and leave part of it in the rubber mat. It doesn’t matter how many times you need to repeat the process, it is more important that the cut is straight. Lighter steady cut strokes are the order of the day! When you feel like you are almost through, it is sensible to place a piece of board underneath the mat to protect the floor or make sure that you are on an ideal surface.
When you have finished cutting the mat check the measurement again. It is recommended to place any cut mats at the back of the stable.
For thicker mats, it may be easier to use a hand saw as opposed to a utility knife. It is more difficult to get a straight line with a hand saw, so it is advisable to make the first cut with a knife so that the saw has a guide.
Place the mat on a bench and ask someone else to hold the mat whilst you cut. You will need a very fine blade as rubber is a dense material. Rubber can create a lot of friction and heat will make the rubber sticky, so you may need to cool the blade down or even replace it before you have finished the cut.Â
If you don’t have the strength or tenacity to cut through the rubber horse stall mat with a hand saw you can use a powered saw. There are three types of power saws that can be used to cut horse matting. They are a jigsaw, a reciprocating saw, or a circular saw.
A jigsaw has a thin jigsaw blade that rapidly moves up and down and is useful for angled and curved cuts. The blades are very thin and it can be difficult to cut a continuously accurate straight line. Once again you can make the first cut with a sharp utility knife to help.
A Reciprocating saw is a machine-powered saw where the cutting action is achieved through a push-and-pull (“reciprocating”) motion of the blade.
This should make light work of cutting through rubber stall mats, but the only downside is the accuracy of the cut. The push and pull of the blade will also create heat and may make the rubber sticky, so you will need to stop periodically or cool the blade down with water or cold saw lubricant, even WD40 may help.
Finally, the circular saw has a circular blade that rotates at a high speed cutting through the material as you push. The circular saw will cut through rubber horse mats with ease, and you can put the edge of the saw up against a straight edge wooden ruler to ensure a straight cut. A word of warning though. It is important to make sure the cutting setup is secure and that you are wearing the recommended protective equipment because circular saws can be extremely dangerous if it gets caught and kicks out.
There are many solutions to cutting horse mats. Our advice is to ensure you have the correct tool for the thickness of the mat you are trying to cut. Measure carefully (measure twice and cut once!) and take your time with the cutting so that you don’t end up wasting the mat or resulting in a crooked edge.
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