SoftStall

SoftStall^TM is a revolutionary stall flooring system that provides therapeutic benefits to your horse while greatly reducing barn maintenance costs. As we know, horses’ legs take a lot of abuse. Standing, running, jumping and often on hard and uneven ground. This takes a toll on your horse’s soundness. When your horse is in its stall this should be the time to relax and rejuvenate its legs. Legs that you often count on to be in top condition. As all horse owners know, the condition of your horse can be the difference between making and costing you money. When your horse has been injured the longer it is out of commission the more it costs you in both loss of use and veterinary bills. Owning and managing an equestrian business can be costly. The question becomes, how do you reduce your cost without jeopardizing the quality of your horse’s care. You and your horse can expect to get years of satisfaction. You can’t afford not to take a closer look. SoftStall^TM is for the horse owner who takes pride in knowing their horse is well cared for…even long after the barn lights are out.

Overview:

Comfort - Cushioned insulated non-permeable wall-to-wall stall surface immediately begins to relieve the stress on horses’ legs when entering their stall. Horses will be encouraged to lie down to rest more often, and for longer periods of time.

Healthy - Reduces stress on horses joints and tendons, resulting in a significant improvement in horses flexibility and movement. Proven to speed up recovery time especially when horses are confined to stall rest. Significant reduction of shavings or straw in stalls, the microscopic air particles is lessened substantially. Resulting in a dramatic decline of respiratory problems and increasing oxygen capacity for horses’ lungs.

Durable – Top cover will not tear or stretch under normal activity that a horse displays in its stall even with road studs on its shoes.

Clean - Enables horse stalls to be completely clean from broken pieces of manure mixed in with the bedding. The non-permeable surface does not allow urine to leak through .

Low Maintenance - Need only to apply 30% of the bedding you use now, which will cut your labour time in half. With a 70% reduction in bedding, you will be amazed how much slower the manure pile will grow. Will never have to level your stalls again.

100% Recycled - Made from 100% recycled rubber tires. These tires are ground to produce a cost effective rubber crumb that benefits the environment as much as your horse.

Warranty – The mattress come with a 5-year limited warranty against defects in material or manufacturing and 3 years limited to failure of the top cover under the normal behavior a horse displays in its stall.

Made from recycled tires

The SoftStall System

What makes this product so unique is it’s two layers. The first or bottom layer of the SoftStall^TM system is the soft yet firm mattress. The outer shell of the mattress is a geo-textile fabric, which is sewn into a multitude of cells then filled with recycled rubber crumb. The mattress comes in one size, 4’ x 6’. The height of the mattress is approximately 2.5”. The second layer of the SoftStall^TM system is the top cover. This top cover is a special rubberized surface reinforced with a geo-textile material woven into the rubber on the underside. The top cover is approximately 1/4” in thickness and provides a seamless, durable, non-slip non–permeable seal, wall to wall in your horse’s stall. This top cover is secured to the walls of your stall and will not shift once in place.

SoftStall^TM can be laid on any type of existing flooring. The installation of it is quite simple.

(i) The Stall Floor Must Be Leveled - It does not matter what the existing flooring in your stall is. SoftStall^TM will work on anything as long as it is firm and level. Whether it is concrete, asphalt, wood, A-gravel, screening, clay, or dirt, the stall floor must be level. If your existing stall floor base is A-gravel, screenings, clay, or dirt, the optimum situation is to level your stall floor 1 1/2” below the barn isle way. This will enable the SoftStall^TM flooring system to be level with your barn isle way. In instances where there is a fixed base stall floor that is level with the barn isle way, a 2” step up will be created at the stall entrance. This is of no consequence to the SoftStall^TM flooring system or the horse.

(ii) The Stall Walls Must Be Able To Accept Screws That Fasten The Top Cover - Some stalls have old stone/cement walls that are not even. The solution to this is to secure a wooden strapping to this type of wall, (preferably a 2” x 6”, starting at 2” above the existing floor of the stall). This will allow the screws to secure the top cover firmly to the walls. Most stalls have wood walls, this is ideal but make sure any rotten or broken wood is replaced before the installation.

Stall Entrance

The SoftStall^TM top cover must be secured to the stall entrance as well. Most stalls have a 4’ entrance and stall doors either swing or slide open. What is required here is that a 2” x 2” piece of wood be secured at the opening of the stall entrance. This will allow the top cover to be secured to it. The ideal situation is to have the 2” x 2” piece of wood positioned so the top of it is 1 1/2” below the barn isle way. This will ensure that the SoftStall^TM flooring system will be level with your barn isle way. In cases where concrete or asphalt are the stall base and are level with the barn isle way the 2” x 2” piece of wood will have to be fastened on top of the existing base. This will create a 2” step up into the stall, which is of no consequence to the SoftStall^TM system or the horse.

Note: Where concrete is involved you may need to fasten the 2” x 2” piece of wood with Topcon concrete screws. Where possible you can fasten the 2” x 2” to the posts of the stall if they are wood using either wood screws “toe-nailed” or an angle bracket.

Placing The SoftStall^TM Mattresses

The SoftStall^TM mattresses come in a 4’ x 6’ size. The wall-to-wall dimensions of your stall will determine how many mattresses you will require and what size they will be.

For instance, a 12’ x 12’ stall will use 6 (4’ x 6’) mattresses; a 10’ x 12’ stall will use 5 (4’ x 6’) mattresses, as will a 10’ x 10’ stall. Some individuals may prefer the mattresses to be tightly compressed to offer even more cushioning. This is an option and the customer will be required to purchase extra mattresses to do so.

It does not matter which way the mattresses are laid out, as long as they are flat and touch all four sides of the stall. In many instances a mattress or mattresses may need to be trimmed to fit your stall configuration. This also is a simple process. The SoftStall^TM mattresses are sewn together in cells. To adjust the size of the mattresses all you need to do is cut the cell along the middle, (not along the stitching). Once you have cut along the length of the cell, open it and place the rubber pieces into a bucket. Next cut the loose material on the opposite end and discard.

The loose rubber pieces you have collected can be spread over any area you feel may be lower or apply them at the stall entrance for added support.

Securing The SoftStall^TM Top Cover

In most instances the seamless top cover will have been pre-cut for you. If this is not the case you can easily cut it yourself. Be sure of your wall-to-wall stall measurements. The SoftStall^TM top cover comes in 13’ 3” width roll yet any length is possible. You should allow for a minimum 6” overlap on all sides of the stall wall. Even though the top cover attaches only 1 1/2’ up the stall wall. The excess will allow you for greater ease in fastening the seamless top cover to the stall walls.

Enter your stall with the top cover rolled up. Unroll the top cover once in the stall and square it up by pulling or kicking it into position. Once squared up and in position walk around the perimeter of the stall stamping the top cover down with your foot to the edges of the stall.

Now you are ready to fasten the top cover to the wall of your stall and the floor of the stall entrance. This will be done with the plastic strips and screws. You will need a drill with either a Robertson or Phillips bit or a sharp cutting blade.

Starting in one corner of the stall, position the plastic strip against the top cover, on a slight angle where the top cover meets the wall. Drill a screw through the plastic strip until firmly secured to the stall wall. Moving in the same direction repeat the above, placing a screw approximately every 4 - 6 inches. The plastic strips are 8 feet in length. When you need a piece that is shorter, measure your distance and score the plastic strip 2 to 3 times with the cutting blade at the distance desired, next bend the plastic strip and it will snap where you scored it.

Continue drilling the screws into the plastic strip moving in the same direction. When you come to a corner, push in the top cover and fold over, apply plastic strip in the usual fashion and drill in another screw.

Leave the stall entrance for last. Continue with all walled sides of the stall, you will notice that the top cover will begin to tighten on its own as you continue securing the plastic strips to the wall. Once the walls are done, the only area left is the stall entrance.

The top cover will be turned up against the stall entrance posts. Take your sharp cutting blade and using the stall entrance post as your guide, cut the top cover until you reach the 2” x 2” strap that you secured at the stall entrance. Repeat on the other side now once again secure the top cover by placing the plastic strip on top and drill in screws to the wooden strap.

Note: Not all inside walls are perfectly smooth or square, if a post or water pipe juts out from the wall treat the top cover at this point in the same manner, as you would treat the top cover at the stall entrance. Cut the top cover on either side of the obstruction and secure with the plastic strips. (This process will avoid wrinkling or twisting of the top cover and make for a nicer finish).

All you have left to do is trim the excess top cover. Once again you need a very sharp cutting blade. Apply pressure and cut along the top of the plastic strip all the way around the stall.

Note: Whenever you use a sharp cutting blade, use extreme caution to avoid personal injury. Do not leave cutting blade open and unattended at any time. This could result in personal injury or damage to the top cover.

Cost / Benefit Analysis

Following based on the cost per day of a 12’ x 12’ stall

SoftStep

Are the floors in your barn asphalt or concrete? If they are, your horse will slip, it’s inevitable. If your horse falls the consequences could be disastrous. Secure your horse’s environment with SoftStep^TM rubber pavers and tiles. The tiles cover a greater surface area than an individual brick. This allows for fewer seams. The product has been manufactured, tried and tested for over 19 years. Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Alberta have had SoftStep^TM in place for over 9 years. They have the product in both outdoor and indoor applications. They have not had to replace or repair the product. As one of the top international equestrian facilities in the world they have heavy equine, public and equipment traffic on the product constantly. The horses usually wear grass corks coming from the competition ring and walk on SoftStep^TM constantly. Aside from all the functionality, this product installed, compliments any facility, whether equestrian, commercial, public or residential. SoftStep^TM has been applied worldwide and in many different applications while adding its attractiveness combined with all its benefits for years to come.

Overview:

Durable – Withstands the elements longer than concrete, lasting at least 20+ years without replacement. As for the water elements, this rubber product can handle all extreme climatic conditions, from the high temperatures of the UAE near Saudi Arabia to the below zero, snow and ice of the northern climates. Will not shift, curl or wear. Large equipment, tractors, truck, trailers, skid-steers, all can maneuver on the tiles without damage to the product.

Safe – Superior shock absorption characteristics. Non-slip surface allows excellent traction in all conditions for horses to walk on with one of the highest safety rating of any ground covering available.

Easy To Clean – SoftStep^TM product has the large surface tiles with low profile brick patterns and low profile grooves with fewer seams to allow for easier cleaning. With quality brooms and industrial type sweepers available today the maintenance of the SoftStep^TM large surface tiles is not an issue.

Attractive – Most tiles and pavers come in six different colours and up to three surface treatments.

Fade Resistant – The tiles are manufactured using UV stable ingredients; therefore minimal fading will occur over extended periods of time.

Versatile – Ideal for use in isle ways, entrances, wash stalls and walk ways.

100% Recycled - Made from 100% recycled rubber tires. These tires are ground to produce a cost effective rubber crumb that benefits the environment as much as your horse.

Warranty – SoftStep^TM comes with a 10-year manufacturer warranty on colourfast.

  Made from recycled tires