EVA stable mat reviews (esp Abacus ones)

Kallibear

Kallibear

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Hi.

I've only used heavy rubber mats before but about to buy a new set for going on livery. I like the idea of EVA mats as I will be using minimal bedding but not has much experience of them.

I've found cheap 34mm interlocking ones on ebay, sold by Abacus, a rubber specialist in the midlands. Are they any good or should I spend a bit (lot!) more and go for a well know brand like Ark mats or similar?

Any experiences please? (I've tried to search 'EVA' but the word is too short!)
 
I've got 34mm ark mats in one stable and 44mm mayo mats in the other. Both are superb and I'd never go back to heavy rubber. Not used Abacus ones I'm afraid but be wary if they are really cheap, some mats sold as stable mats at really low prices are worse than useless.
Fwiw mine aren't interlocking but I cut them to fit my stable and they never move. They are on top of uneven flagstones.
 
I've got 25mm Eva cow mats and they've been brilliant, had them for nearly 10 years and still going strong. I haven't heard of the ones you're considering, but 34mm is a very good depth, have no idea how you'd assess quality though.

Just had a look on eBay, they look good to me and price is good, I'd go for them if I was looking.
 
I have inter-locking EVA mats in my stable and would never go back to rubber, love them.

Be wary of cheap ones though, a friend had a nightmare with some cheap ones that in the end she had to scrap and replace all together.
 
I'm midlands based and collected enough for a 14 x 14 stable from the Abacus factory so they were as cheap as chips. Certainly not inferior quality although mine aren't the interlocking ones. They're lovely mats and really nice folk to deal with.
 
joelb said:
I'm midlands based and collected enough for a 14 x 14 stable from the Abacus factory so they were as cheap as chips. Certainly not inferior quality although mine aren't the interlocking ones. They're lovely mats and really nice folk to deal with.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Do they a decent thick top coating so they won't rip/cut with metal shoes? That's probably the biggest consideration.

They're far cheaper than most brands but still fairly expensive at £30 a mat. A lot of money to waste if they're rubbish.
 
I've got the 25mm Diamond ones with the rubber coating and they are excellent. http://www.horsematsplus.co.uk/shop...25mm-diamond-mat-6-mat-special-free-shipping/ Word of warning though - you need good drainage otherwise all the wee just pools underneath them, we had to drill holes in my concrete floors. Look for decent thickness mats. My horse was shod when I bought them and the rubber withstood it well, I like the fact that they are light and fairly rigid so easy to handle to remove and clean under
 
I have had some of mine about 10'years and some about one year. Some interlock, some don't.
They are mostly fantastic, because they are so light.
However, I have had issues with them expanding so that,Megan the interlocking ones, don't fit over time and I have had to hack them about o get them to lie flat.
The newest mats I brought I'm not as happy with as the grip on top has already started to Wear off and then they are becoming slippery.
 
I bought 12 interlocking 34mm Eva mats from Abacus 18months ago for 2 stables. Not overly impressed there are lots of shoe shape indentations I've had to trim them 4 times as they flatten and spread. Can't imagine I'll get more than a couple more winters use from them. In another stable I have 2nd hand green equimats paid £50 for all six mats think they'll last forever!!!
 
I have Equimats in my horsebox that were previously in my stables and in someone else's stables for years before that. they are ace
 
i have equimats the thicker ones, some for ten years and they are still ok, they are so easy to lift compared to the rubber ones, i bought them new.
 
Some of our mayo mats are in use 14 years now and still in good condition. I think they all spread a little. Ours are fitted with small wedges of cut down mat round the edges so v easy to flick these out and adjust thickness..

Fiona
 
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