Are concrete slabs suitable as stable flooring?

[sandi_84]

As above really, my sister is building a stable on her field and she cannot put down a poured concrete floor because it is classed as a permenant fixture and she would need planning permission.
So as an alternative she was thinking of laying down slabs and putting rubber matting on top.
She is wondering if, with a suitable sand base under the slabs would this be ok?

 

[s4sugar]

Road planings under rubber mats will be better.

 

[sandi_84]

What are road planings and why are they better?

 

[Perissa]

They do work well but you need to bed them in on level sand first otherwise they end up uneven once they settle. Even on a bed of sand you may need to top up some sand if the horse likes to stand in one particular place.

But on the whole yes they work really well.

 

[BackRidingAgain]

If she uses concrete slabs I would certainly add the rubber mats (which we have found excellent). I have used concrete slabs in the past for goats and have experienced real problems with the goats feet splitting at their 'white lineld'. I know that horses have a different hoof structure, but the damage done to the goats feet would make me wary about housing horses on concrete slabs without some form of 'topping'.

 

[Miss L Toe]

If you can get a vibratory roller this might level off the sub floor.
I would not use slabs, they are prone to cracking and are unlevel, not cheap

 

[sandi_84]

Thanks everyone I'll let her read this when she's next round

 

[FfionWinnie]

You can often get slabs free to uplift

I have a massive pile I got free two years ago and still not got round to using them all

 

[The Xmas Furry]

My 2 oldest boxes are on slabs round the edge as I moved them to be used as a field shelter in the paddock right next to the yard.
I moved them from the main yard when updating it in 1996 & I put a line of heavy duty council slabs well bedded on builders sand round the whole perimeter & also down the dividing wall in the middle.
Then moved the 2 old boxes from main yard & rebuilt them on top. The base otherwise is earth with a deep shavings/comfy bed mix & this has served well since & has been hard used each winter as well as for summer occasional use.
Am amazed as old stables still going strong - these were originally put up in 1979, only had to replace 2 roof lengths due to cracking when we took them down to move it

 

[touchstone]

I have used a stable with slabs laid down, they were super thick ones free from a road contractor. I wouldn't use thin ones.
Laid really well we had no issues over 12 years. The one warning I would make is that they can become extremely slippery for shod horses, but if you're using matting on top they should be fine.

 

[Yertis]

3 of our stables have concrete block (as in for building walls) which are (I think) 18" x 9" x 4" thick, laid into a sand and gravel mix with 1/2" inch gaps between and rubber mats on top. They have been down for 11 years now without a problem, spring and autumn we lift the mats and pour strong solution of disinfectant into all the gaps to make sure no bugs lurking.