I'm looking into buying my first horse trailer. What types of floors are there? I've heard of wood floors, aluminum floors, and rumber floors. Are there any others? And what are the pros and cons of these floors. Which one would you choose?
We have just a plain metal floor and our horses have never had problems with it. I think I have read somewhere that it's easier for them to slip on and it doesn't absorb shock very well. Rubber mats are the best, they absorb shock and give good no-slip grip. You can put rubber mats on almost anything I think... I'm positive they can go on metal and I don't see any reason they couldn't go on wood.
rubber mats can go over either wood, aluminium or steel floors. i reccomend aluminium because its much light than steel and lower maintence than wood. wood floors will need to be replaced eery 5-10 years where aluminium will not. make sure to clean under your mats, though once or twice a year. i also advise that you put down shavings over your rubber mats to soak up horses urine and prevent it from going under the mats (the amonia in urine eats away at any kind of flooring) and also to protect your mats- if you have a pawing horse they could rip a hole in the mats.
The rubber mats are good for their feet, along with some bedding and barn lyme is really the best there is. The others could cause some problems. That way, you could buy any kind of trailer and fit the mat.
Aluminum flooring doesn't rust, is pretty low maintenance and easy to care for but is more expensive. It is usually covered with rubber. Treated wood plank flooring offers good drainage if properly installed with small gaps and also lasts a long time. Tongue and groove wood flooring traps urine and moisture and will rot the fastest. All types of flooring should be inspected upon purchasing the trailer and periodically throughout the year afterwards. With wood flooring the metal supports underneath should also be inspected and should they ever need to be replaced you will need a welder to do so. I prefer the wood plank flooring, I use pressure treated 2x12 boards. When the supports underneath need replaced I have the old ones cut out and angle iron welded in. No matter what type of flooring the trailer has, rubber trailer mats should be placed over it. They cushion the horse's legs, protect the floor and help keep it clean. If the mats are over wood flooring they should be pulled out when the trailer is not in use to prevent moisture from getting trapped under them and prolong the life of the floor.
