How to Create the Healthiest, Cleanest Horse Stables in Australia

Overview: 

• What health risks exist in traditional stables? - Ammonia levels reaching high levels, dangerous dust concentrations, and bacterial contamination affecting both horses and handlers

• How does poor flooring create unhealthy stable conditions? - Concrete allows toxic gas buildup, traditional mats trap waste in gaps, creating persistent contamination sources

• Why are respiratory diseases so common in horses? - Research confirms respiratory conditions rank as the second most common performance-limiting disorder in horses

• How does REGUPOL create cleaner, healthier environments than competitors? - Impermeable surfaces prevent waste absorption, eliminate bacterial breeding grounds, and reduce ammonia by preventing urine penetration

• What makes REGUPOL healthier than traditional vulcanised mats? - No metal fixings to trap waste, REGUPOL systems eliminate contamination points, easy-clean surfaces allow complete disinfection

• How much cleaner are REGUPOL stables? - Up to 75% less bedding required means dramatically less organic matter generating dust, bacteria, and odours

• Which REGUPOL system creates the cleanest environment? Bonded systems provide maximum hygiene integration; loose-lay offers flexible cleaning access without contamination points

The Hidden Health Issue: Why Traditional Stables Are Making Horses Sick

Every breath your horse takes matters. Scientific research reveals a shocking truth: traditional horse stables are creating serious health hazards that threaten both equine and human well-being.

University studies have measured ammonia concentrations exceeding 200 parts per million in poorly managed stalls. Levels that cause immediate respiratory distress and long-term organ damage. But ammonia is just one piece of the contamination puzzle threatening your horse's health.

The Science Behind Unhealthy Stables

Research published in Occupational Medicine identified the specific contaminants lurking in everyday stables:

Toxic Ammonia Gas: Concentrations of 20-27 ppm are routinely measured in traditional stables, double the 10 ppm maximum recommended for horse health.

Dangerous Dust Particles: Microscopic particles (0.27-0.88 mg/m³) that penetrate deep into lungs, causing inflammation and permanent scarring.

Bacterial and Fungal Contamination: Measurable increases in pathogenic microorganisms, especially during the winter months when ventilation decreases.

Organic Decomposition: 60-70% of airborne particles come from decomposing bedding and waste materials trapped in flooring systems.

The Health Crisis Statistics

For Horses, Respiratory diseases are the second most common performance-limiting disorder, affecting up to 40% of all recorded equine internal diseases worldwide.

For Handlers, Up to 25% of stable workers develop work-related respiratory symptoms, with increased risks of bronchial inflammation and allergic reactions.

How Traditional Flooring Systems Can Create Unhealthy Environments

Concrete - The Contamination Amplifier

Concrete floors seem practical, but actually may amplify health hazards:

Zero Contamination Control: University of Kentucky research measured ammonia concentrations in concrete-floored stalls that exceeded 200 ppm after just seven days, creating toxic environments.

Dust Generation Factory: Every pressure wash creates microscopic concrete particles that remain airborne for hours in your horse's breathing zone.

Moisture Trap: Cold concrete encourages condensation and bacterial growth while providing zero antimicrobial protection.

Chemical Off-Gassing: Concrete surfaces allow waste decomposition to occur directly on the floor, maximising toxic gas production.

Budget Vulcanised Mats - The Hidden Contamination Issue

Traditional vulcanised rubber mats can create hygiene problems that many horse owners only discover after installation:

Metal Fixing Contamination

Metal bolts, washers, and mending plates create raised areas where manure, urine, and debris collect permanently. These contamination pockets become difficult to clean thoroughly.

Urine seepage under metal fixed mats gets deposited in gaps and fixing areas where it decomposes, creating persistent ammonia hotspots that surface cleaning cannot eliminate.

Traditional fixing systems require removing fixings and hundreds of kilograms of rubber to access contaminated areas underneath, a task most owners never complete.

Chemical Contamination from Vulcanisation

Some manufacturers' vulcanisation process creates chemical smells that never quite dissipate, triggering respiratory sensitivities in both horses and handlers.

Vulcanised mats can reach Shore A hardness levels of 70+, causing horses to have shorter lying times due to discomfort, reducing essential rest periods.

Laboratory testing proves traditional vulcanised rubber loses traction dramatically when wet, creating dangerous conditions during movement, washing and cleaning.

How REGUPOL Helps Create Australia's Healthiest, Cleanest Stables

REGUPOL's 40+ years of Australian equine and 65+ years of manufacturing experience have produced flooring systems specifically engineered to help eliminate the contamination sources that make traditional stables unhealthy:

Contamination Prevention

REGUPOL's rubber/polyurethane (PUR) binder construction creates smooth surfaces that drastically limit urine absorption, reducing the primary source of ammonia generation at floor level.

Unlike metal fixing systems, REGUPOL's installation with adhesive or over-compacted systems helps to eliminate gaps, fixings, and raised areas to prevent waste from accumulating and decomposing.

REGUPOL systems create wall-to-wall environments that can be disinfected to hospital standards.

Air Quality Benefits

Dramatic Ammonia Reduction: By ensuring surfaces are easy to clean or part of a compacted base drainage system, REGUPOL rubber flooring helps ensure urine absorption is limited, eliminating the anaerobic decomposition that creates toxic ammonia gases in traditional stable environments.

REGUPOL's smooth surfaces eliminate the need for aggressive scrubbing that creates airborne particles. Up to 75% less bedding required means dramatically less organic matter to generate dust.

Bonded Installation

REGUPOL bonded surfaces create the ideal healthy, stable environment:

Complete Surface Sealing: Bonded to concrete using REGUPOL specialised adhesives, creating a virtually impermeable surface that prevents all waste penetration.

Zero Bacterial Breeding Grounds: Proper installation eliminates gaps, openings, and contamination points where bacteria can colonise and multiply.

Hospital-Grade Cleanability: Fully bonded REGUPOL surfaces allow complete disinfection using approved agents, achieving cleanliness levels not possible with traditional systems.

Loose-Lay Installation

REGUPOL equiline multi, stable, multi XL and walkway tiles provide exceptional hygiene benefits over compacted surfaces without permanent installation.

No fixings: Heavy tiles (up to 54kg for XL format) stay in place through weight and borders alone – no metal bolts or washers to trap waste.

Easy Deep Cleaning: Unlike fixed systems, REGUPOL tiles can be lifted for complete underneath cleaning when required. Proper compacted-based systems allow drainage and will require no removal of REGUPOL mats for cleaning underneath.

Proven Results at Australia's Premier Facilities

Magic Millions Gold Coast selected REGUPOL for their world-class facility because cleanliness and horse health are paramount in their operations.

Belmont Park Racecourse installed 1,194 square meters of REGUPOL flooring across 120 day stalls and 8 wash bays, choosing REGUPOL's hygiene advantages over all competitors.

Willinga Park installed over 7000sqm of REGUPOL equine flooring in all areas of their facility, including throughout the vet hospital, due to the advantages and benefits of using REGUPOL's system

REGUPOL is also installed at key veterinary hospitals including, Scone Equine Vet, Randwick Vet Clinic, Horsley Park Vet Clinic, Gatton UQ Vet Training Hospital and more.

These professional facilities required measurable improvements in stable cleanliness, safety and comfort, and REGUPOL delivers results that traditional systems simply cannot match.

Measurable Health Improvements

REGUPOL installations allow up to 75% less bedding while maintaining superior comfort. This dramatic reduction means:

• • • Up to 75% less organic matter decomposes in stalls

    • Dramatically reduced dust generation from bedding disturbance

    • Fewer bacterial sources in the stable environment

    • Easier waste management with less material to handle

    • Sound Absorption for Calmer Horses: REGUPOL's noise-dampening properties create peaceful environments that reduce stress

    • Temperature Stability: Unlike concrete, which creates cold, damp conditions, REGUPOL provides thermal insulation that discourages condensation and bacterial growth.query session 

The Health Investment That Pays

Health Benefits:

• • • Cleaner air quality after installation

    • Reduced contamination sources throughout the stable

    • Easier maintenance protocols that actually get completed

Long-term Health Returns:

• • • Reduced respiratory health issues in both horses and handlers

    • Lower veterinary costs from improved stable environments

    • Extended horse performance through better health maintenance

The Clean, Healthy Future Starts Now

When Magic Millions, Belmont Racecourse, Willinga Park, Randwick Racecourse, and many other premier Australian facilities choose REGUPOL over all other options, the message is clear: there’s no compromise when it comes to horse health and stable cleanliness.

REGUPOL doesn’t just cover your stable floor, it transforms your entire stable environment into the clean, healthy space your horses deserve.

Ready to create Australia's cleanest, healthiest horse stables? Discover how REGUPOL's hygiene technology outperforms alternatives and gives your horses the healthy environment they need to thrive.