ThuroBed Mattress System - The Bed that's Just Right for Your Deserving Horse
“You can’t put a price on a good night’s sleep.” That’s a quote that has stayed with me for years and years, but it wasn’t coined by a famous philosopher, a poet, or even a Hollywood movie star. Instead, that quote comes from my mom. She was helping me shop for a new mattress. My old one was full of lumps and loose springs---leaving me tired and cranky even after a full night in bed. I tried out a dozen or so mattresses and finally found one that was ‘just right’---but, even so, I stalled, balking over the price tag. But, mom was a firm believer in the benefits of a good night’s sleep. She’d said it before and she said it again---“you can’t put a price on a good night’s sleep.” I realized she was right and I bought the mattress.Moms aren’t the only ones who believe in a good night’s sleep; scientists have proven that sleep plays a critical role in immune function, metabolism, joint health, stress reduction, and even our ability to learn new tasks. In fact, sleep is important for all mammals, including---you guessed it--- our horses. Even though your horse’s sleep pattern looks different than your own, there are some common denominators. You both move through various stages of sleep throughout a 24-hour period, from drowsiness to what scientists call slow wave sleep (SWS) and the more familiar rapid eye movement or REM sleep. All stages are important to good health.
You’ve probably noticed your horse sometimes stands with a leg cocked and his eyes half closed, especially if it’s a nice warm, sunny day. He requires about two hours of this drowsy snoozing per day, in addition to three hours of slow wave sleep (usually completely prone), and about an hour or so of resting on the ground with his head and forelegs tucked to one side. If he’s deprived of any one of these stages of sleep, he’s at risk for some health issues.
Stall mattresses can change all that- studies show that horses stalled on mattresses lie down for longer periods and stay down for longer durations. Of course, we here at RAMM have done our own research---field-testing our new Thurobed™ Mattress System in our barns. We’re happy to say that even our Draft horse is happily snoozing for hours at a time on his new mattress. We did the research and we’re thrilled to report we’ve found a product that is not only comfortable, but super durable (even for the largest of drafts), environmentally sound, easy to install, and best of all---will save you money in the long run on bedding and waste removal.
Our ThuroBed™ Mattress System is, hands down, the best stall mattress on the market. That’s a tall statement, but it’s one we feel comfortable making; our mattresses are easy to install, durable, and virtually maintenance free, but, the benefits don’t end there. Our ThuroBed™ Mattress System provides:
• Comfort—joint health—mimics the surface of a quality pasture environment
• Better air quality- minimizes dust and ammonia. Urine does not soak through into flooring.
• Less shavings, less organic waste, smaller manure pile
• Cost savings –fewer shavings needed, but many customers see a reduction in acupuncture and chiropractic visits needed.
• No holes or craters in stalls where horses tend to stand
• Horses are more relaxed-less stress and tension
• Safe- non- slip surface
• Easy maintenance –clean with a 15% bleach solution
Mattresses versus Stall MatsIf you’ve ever struggled to install mats you already know they’re heavy and awkward. Stall mats are an economical option, of course, and they do offer your horse a more comfortable place to lie down than concrete or dirt, but they have some drawbacks. No matter how tight a fit, inevitably bits of shavings or dirt work themselves into the seams. We know that dirt and shavings absorb urine and that can make for an unhealthy air quality in the barn and at the stall floor, not to mention how all that captured dirt tends to shift the stall mats. Lumpy or uneven mats can catch a hoof or leg, creating an unsafe (and definitely uncomfortable!) surface for your horse. Fixing the problem is labor intensive---you’ll need to remove the mats, re-tamp the floor, thoroughly clean, and re-install.
The ThuroBed™ Mattress System, on the other hand, can be installed with just one or two people and once it’s installed it won’t shift---providing it was installed properly. Don’t worry about the installation---easy to follow instructions accompany each purchase. Cleaning is a breeze; simply remove all the bedding and wash the mattress in place with a solution of 5% bleach and water. Our mattress cover fastens to all four walls, leaving no seams for dirt and shavings to slip into. Plus, there are no edges or corners for your horse to catch a leg or hoof on.
• 12-cells on each mattress, filled with rubber crumb---there is no foam to break down and no compaction
• Rubber crumb fill for each rib
• ¼” thick rubber-impregnated and water-proof top cover fastens all the way around the wall with heavy-duty plastic strips
• So comfortable that you’ll use just enough bedding to absorb urine
• Minimizes dust and ammonia
• Less bedding=smaller manure pile
• No urine seepage
• No wrinkles
• Easy installation
• Can be custom-fit to any size or configuration of stall
• Wood, concrete, and even metal barns are no problem
• Field-tested in all conditions, including all ages, breeds, sizes, temperaments, as well as under various shoeing options
• 3-Year warranty
Customers tell us their horses sleep longer and are more relaxed throughout their entire bodies with our ThuroBed™ System. Many customers report that pawing, pacing, and other stall vices decrease or disappear altogether. The soft, comfortable surface helps to support good hoof growth and even helps those horses who experience ‘stocking up’ or swelling in the lower legs. The ThuroBed™ Stall System has been field-tested in private barns, professional barns, universities, veterinary facilities, breeding barns, and even large show and training facilities.
Debbie Disbrow and freelance writer Karen Baril (www.karenbaril.com) have teamed up to write this article. If you have any comments, questions or ideas, we welcome them. Email us debbie@rammfence.com.