Best rubber mat and bedding

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_Libby_

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Due to the severe lack of shavings available in Scotland I've been doing a bit of research on other types of bedding.

I want to buy mats and have been recommended "mayo mats" does anyone have any experience of these or recommend any other good mats which wont break the bank?

Also suggestions for bedding please? What do you use and how do you find it cost/ time wise?

Straw definitely seems the cheaper alternative however I dont think straw works well with mats, thinking of cardboard, hemp or anything really?!
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Ive tried every type of bed on my mats.... from ecobed squares to cardboard shreds, to shavings, to easibed, hemp, rape straw and recently a mix of shredded straw and shavings...and to be honest... Ive just gone back to straw.

Works brilliants with the mats and is so much quicker and cheaper.

Im a bit sad when it comes to keeping clean so I skip out daily and add an extra slice every day or so. I take the wet out at weekends and put another half bale in.

I was taking out more in wet than that, daily, on the other bedding types and forking out 5 times more in cost.
 
I have stablelite mats - quite expensive but I believe worth it. They are very thick, soft and very heavy and let wet soak through.

My original set is now over 15 years old and in a field shelter and the current set is 8 years old and going strong - and they have had a clydesdale on them.

I have used them with just a pee spot for my box walking TB and with the clydie I have no drainage so use either dixons chopped straw mixed with shavings on a 3" bed over half the stable. Farra the new mare is filthy so is now on megazorb - she has half the stable covered with 4" deep bed and is clean and dry on this.

I take the mats up once a year - big heavy job, pressure wash them and the stable whilst the horses are living out. As I use some bedding, it is not too horrible under them.
 
Any rubber mat as long as its at least 17/18mm thick.

I use Aubiose even tho I could get straw free. If your horse is as dirty as my two you would never look back! Both 16x12 box and 12x12 box are 1/2 bedded with mats on whole floor.
 
We use a small amount of shavings on top of rubber matting, and then put a full straw bed on top of that. The shavings catch the wee and we do full muck outs each day.
 
I'm just about to switch to Fennington Fibres Miscanthus bedding, which is £2 a bag cheaper than the shavings.

http://www.fennington-fibres.co.uk/

I've not had a total bed down yet,so not sure how it deals with the wet, but its worth a try.

Also know someone who uses and swears by Woodypet, again much cheaper than shavings. Its between £5.10 and £5.85 per page, depending on who you buy it from. I personally couldn't get on with it as my horse seems to pee for England!

http://woodypet.com/index.html
 
We have a full sealed rubber flooring. Its underlaid with soft matresses, so they are really soft and cosy. Horses love lying on them once they get used to them. You only need enough shavings or paper to soak up the wet and encourage them to pee.

Its called stable comfort I think. Really find it great. They're expensive to put in but saves so much time on mucking out and need hardly any bedding.

Also since the wet cannot get through the flooring you never need to clean under it. Just sweep or hose out the stables each day. Stables are much cleaner and more hygenic than they used to be!
 
Ihave fieldguard rubber mats and they have been down for about 8 years. I know they were not the cheapest when we got them but they show now signs of wear and tear. I use shredded paper bedding on them but only have to bed up lightly as the mats are very cushioned. Lift and wash underneath once a year or so. Friends bought cheaper ones but have had problems and seem to bed up just the same as on solid floor. I think its worth investing in the best you can afford.
 
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