A rubber mat tends to lie flat and won't move, although a softer mat could wear out faster. A primary controversy is how to control urine in the stall. You want a clean stall that's dry and odor-free. On a surface like a mat, urine either pools on the rubber or soaks into shavings. You must remove the residue regularly.
Some owners contend that urine confined on a mat can increase the ammonia smell in the barn.
With the plastic grid's more open design, urine flows through to be absorbed into the ground through natural drainage, away from the horse. Set on a subfloor of crushed rock, the urine should be wicked away from the horse's feet. The plastic's textured surface does not become slippery. The crushed rock subfloor can neutralize the urine's smell, but you also might decide to use a disinfectant to control odors. For example, Groundmaster suggests the Tek-Trol disinfectant.