Another stable mat question- new?

[BallyEquestrian]

Sorry to add another stable mat post.

17hh mare on full livery where she will be in at night over winter, out 24/7 in summer- bedding included which is shavings on concrete (no option to change, it’s just what the yard use). We can use own mats if we like. Last year she was on straw so this is the first winter on shavings, she’s started grazing her hocks even though she has sufficient shavings so I am keen to sort mats out.

Wow they are expensive! Stable is 11.5 x 15.5 so have got quite an area to fill. No matter what mats I get she will continue to have the same amount of shavings on top.

Eva or rubber? Have seen Ark, Easimat etc people seem to love or hate them. Equimat/mayo mats unfortunately way out of price range as I would need 8. Sealed rubber not an option as I am on livery. Love the idea of her being comfy as she is an older horse, but due to her being heavy (620kg) looks like I would need Eva 34mm or bigger, and they will likely still warp? She also has a couple of road nails which it does say not suitable for Eva.

Have also seen these bigdug interlocking fully rubber stable mats which look like they will be easy to sweep and fit, nice and sprung (unlikely to move, unlikely to have urine seep through as similar to what is used in gyms and garages etc) - any thoughts? Have ordered a sample but no reviews as stable mats as they are a new product https://www.bigdug.co.uk/workshop-f...id-top-rubber-interlocking-stable-mats-p25946

Nothing around at the min second hand near me. I do like the look of a nice clean bed and stable is smart looking, so would prefer something to fit edge to edge without costing me £1000 - advice please welcome!

 

[meleeka]

I have Arkmats and I love them. They did warp in the summer, but I just cut a bit off and relayed them. They are very soft and easy to lift if needed. I won’t ever use rubber mats again just because of the weight of them.

 

[BallyEquestrian]

I have Arkmats and I love them. They did warp in the summer, but I just cut a bit off and relayed them. They are very soft and easy to lift if needed. I won’t ever use rubber mats again just because of the weight of them.

Thanks for replying! Do you have interlocking or normal? And what depth for a large horse do you think?

 

[Identityincrisis]

I have Equimats which are 20+ years old so they have served me well but if i had a choice on non-locking I’d take those in a heartbeat. My mats have warped (but they have been in several stables) which would be ok but now the ‘locks’ don’t align so I have to chop bits of, bits stick up, joins don’t align…… but they have been great

 

[meleeka]

Thanks for replying! Do you have interlocking or normal? And what depth for a large horse do you think?

I have the interlocking ones. I have the thinnest ones as only have ponies, but I’d go for thickest you can for a big horse. None of mine have damage, but none are shod. One lot wore out a bit by the door but I just moved it to the back and they are still going strong. They are so much softer than rubber mats too.

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

I would avoid interlocking as said above the softer style mats flatten and stretch and then bulge upwards and they become very difficult to interlock. I have some (I can’t remember which brand) and if I were to choose again I wouldn’t have interlocking.

 

[MuddyMonster]

I've had rubber and EVA matting.

I absolutely don't regret choosing to upgrade to EVA years ago.

 

[TheChestnutThing]

I had the normal big heavy ones. They suck. You have to make sure they line up exactly, they are a pain in the bum to clean out and they do have urine that gets underneath them.

I’m about to get more for my field shelter and will go with the Eva ones so that it’s easy for me to move them.

 

[HufflyPuffly]

I have Easimats and Ark mats and will never go back to the heavy old rubber mats!

I love my interlocking mats when they were freshly laid the first stable I had, however, as stated above they do warp so when it came to moving stables they had to be laid in the same orientation or they wouldn't sit right. I do think the interlocking ones give a neater, tighter finish but if you think you might have to move stables I would go for the straight edged ones.

 

[Birker2020]

I love my stable mats, had them since around 2005 and lifting them after 10 years with Bailey there was minimal smell and discharge underneath. That was on a shavings bed.
When Lari left to go to retirement I lifted them again and they had very minimal smell or discharge, in fact nothing of any significance. THat was with wood pellets and a shavings bed on top.

They are good quality mats, my Dad bought them for me at the time, there were about 10 of us that took advantage of the offer on from the company that supplied and fitted them. Our stables are large 12ft x 14 ft and I've only ever encounted one that won't 'sit' well, the others six have been great. They've never been sealed. I have the same mats in my horse trailer too and never had issues with them. They are the bubble top type.

 

[Surbie]

I have both interlocking Arkmats and interlocking rubber mats. My Arkmats have been in my garage for the last 3 years. They bulged and were just a pain. The interlocking rubber ones are fab, though they are heavy.