EVA Stable Mats - which thickness to choose?

[Bumblepony]

I decided to sell my rubber stable mats recently after a yard move, they had served me well but I couldn't face the idea of moving them again as they were so heavy. I thought I'd see how I did without mats but have decided that I would like to mat my stable again but this time would like to buy EVA so that they are easier to lift and clean when needed.

I've been looking mainly at ARK mats and had wondered about buying the interconnecting ones, but read that with those if you ever need to disconnect them it's difficult to get them to go back together again, so I thought I'd go for the straight edged ones. I emailed them and they said 24mm would be fine but to stretch to 34mm if I could. My horse is small but chunky and I think weighs about 400kg, but I don't want something too squishy, so I am wondering if I should go for 24mm just to give him something slightly more cushioned than concrete - he would still have a big bed but I tend to leave space in front of the bed where he stands eating, so the mats would be extra cushon under the bed, and for him to stand on when eating. Just thought I'd post on here to see if anyone had any thoughts or experience please, of ARK mats and/ or re which thickness to potentially go for - the 34mm ones would cost me about £70 more than the 24mm. Stable floor is very level concrete. Thank you in advance!

 

[JenJ]

I have Easimat rather than ARK, but I love mine!

The first lot were carted around 4 different yards, and am on my second lot now. Definitely don't get interconnecting, they're useless as soon as you take them apart to clean (or just don't ever take them apart). They're not cheap, so you may as well spend the extra £70 for the 34mm. I've only ever had the 34mm.

 

[Bumblepony]

Thank you Jen that's really helpful!

(From a person who shares all of the acronyms you have in your signature! )

 

[JenJ]

Thank you Jen that's really helpful!

(From a person who shares all of the acronyms you have in your signature! )

You DEFINITELY don't want interconnecting then!

 

[Exasperated]

We first bought stable mats in 1993, Equimat interlocking EVA, 24mm, and had them fitted like carpet, flush up to walls. The jigsaw edges are in the centre, no problems, but you can buy them all plain sided.
These SAME mats are STILL going strong, in what are now my friend’s stables.
I used to take them out for jet washing a couple of times per year, she does the same. They do expand and ‘balloon’ a bit in hot weather, but easy enough to trim back if needed. Horses happily lie on them bare, particularly in warm weather, although I like to use bedding.
Meanwhile, we’ve had several different EV brands in my stables at home (including mats marketed for dairy cows) and also heavy rubber mats in the field shelter.
None of the other EVA brands have lasted anything like as well as those Equimats, bought from Davies of Kettering, guaranteed 15 years if I remember!
If you can afford it, Mayo luxury- depth stable mats would probably out-perform them, but given how our various brand X EVA mats haven’t lasted, for an extra £70 the thicker ones sound your better bet.

 

[HopOnTrot]

I have 24mm Ark interlocking EVA mats (in pink as it was about £20 cheaper ) installed in spring 2021 and they still look great. I have a 1/3 of normal mat near the door and the rest is 4x EVA. I use a fairly limited amount of shavings as one has asthma and they both happily roll:lie down.

 

[Surbie]

I have a set of ArkMats in my garage...

I got 24mm interlocking and, while I've never had an issue separating and putting them back down again to clean or to move stables, I should have got the thicker ones. My horse is twice as heavy as yours (nearly!) and they did balloon slightly.

Diamond Mats are better imo, slightly heavier with the rubber topping but the thick ones don't seem to balloon at all. I've installed those for friends in 4 stables now for horses/ponies of varying heights and weights.

 

[Bumblepony]

Thank you so much for your help all much appreciated!

We first bought stable mats in 1993, Equimat interlocking EVA, 24mm, and had them fitted like carpet, flush up to walls. The jigsaw edges are in the centre, no problems, but you can buy them all plain sided.
These SAME mats are STILL going strong, in what are now my friend’s stables.
I used to take them out for jet washing a couple of times per year, she does the same. They do expand and ‘balloon’ a bit in hot weather, but easy enough to trim back if needed. Horses happily lie on them bare, particularly in warm weather, although I like to use bedding.
Meanwhile, we’ve had several different EV brands in my stables at home (including mats marketed for dairy cows) and also heavy rubber mats in the field shelter.
None of the other EVA brands have lasted anything like as well as those Equimats, bought from Davies of Kettering, guaranteed 15 years if I remember!
If you can afford it, Mayo luxury- depth stable mats would probably out-perform them, but given how our various brand X EVA mats haven’t lasted, for an extra £70 the thicker ones sound your better bet.

I have looked into Equimats but they don't have a website up at the moment and they don't seem to be responding to phone or email unfortunately

I have 24mm Ark interlocking EVA mats (in pink as it was about £20 cheaper ) installed in spring 2021 and they still look great. I have a 1/3 of normal mat near the door and the rest is 4x EVA. I use a fairly limited amount of shavings as one has asthma and they both happily roll:lie down.

Haha that's interesting pink ones were cheaper

I have a set of ArkMats in my garage...

I got 24mm interlocking and, while I've never had an issue separating and putting them back down again to clean or to move stables, I should have got the thicker ones. My horse is twice as heavy as yours (nearly!) and they did balloon slightly.

Diamond Mats are better imo, slightly heavier with the rubber topping but the thick ones don't seem to balloon at all. I've installed those for friends in 4 stables now for horses/ponies of varying heights and weights.

That's handy thank you, he is small but chunky so may go for 34mm.

I wonder if there is anyone here with 34mm mats who could comment on how 'squishy' they are - I guess that depends on horse weight too though!

 

[Bumblepony]

You DEFINITELY don't want interconnecting then!

I love this response

 

[Char.barker]

I decided to sell my rubber stable mats recently after a yard move, they had served me well but I couldn't face the idea of moving them again as they were so heavy. I thought I'd see how I did without mats but have decided that I would like to mat my stable again but this time would like to buy EVA so that they are easier to lift and clean when needed.

I've been looking mainly at ARK mats and had wondered about buying the interconnecting ones, but read that with those if you ever need to disconnect them it's difficult to get them to go back together again, so I thought I'd go for the straight edged ones. I emailed them and they said 24mm would be fine but to stretch to 34mm if I could. My horse is small but chunky and I think weighs about 400kg, but I don't want something too squishy, so I am wondering if I should go for 24mm just to give him something slightly more cushioned than concrete - he would still have a big bed but I tend to leave space in front of the bed where he stands eating, so the mats would be extra cushon under the bed, and for him to stand on when eating. Just thought I'd post on here to see if anyone had any thoughts or experience please, of ARK mats and/ or re which thickness to potentially go for - the 34mm ones would cost me about £70 more than the 24mm. Stable floor is very level concrete. Thank you in advance!

I had the jigsaw/interconecting ones and hated them as my stable isn’t 100% square. So upgraded to the straight edge 34mm last winter. I wouldn’t recommend the 24mm for a shod horse. They state 600kgs but mine is a little over 500kgs and had worn the door mat quite thin and as they where the jigsaw ones I couldn’t swap them around. I cannot fault the mats or service I received at all from ark mats, they are good quality and wash really well even with a very hot pressure washer. I just picked the wrong thickness and type for my horse and stable.

 

[Bumblepony]

I had the jigsaw/interconecting ones and hated them as my stable isn’t 100% square. So upgraded to the straight edge 34mm last winter. I wouldn’t recommend the 24mm for a shod horse. They state 600kgs but mine is a little over 500kgs and had worn the door mat quite thin and as they where the jigsaw ones I couldn’t swap them around. I cannot fault the mats or service I received at all from ark mats, they are good quality and wash really well even with a very hot pressure washer. I just picked the wrong thickness and type for my horse and stable.

Thank you that's really helpful, he's not shod so I could probably get away with it but sounds like it will be worth going for 34mm

 

[Surbie]

I wonder if there is anyone here with 34mm mats who could comment on how 'squishy' they are - I guess that depends on horse weight too though!

3 of the stables I fitted were with the 34mm rubber topped Diamond Mats, straightsided ones. They aren't bouncy, but the horses seemed to love lying in their stables. That was 2 16.3hh warmbloods and one overweight 16.2hh Andalusian. 4 years on and 2 yard moves later the mats are still doing well.

 

[paddy555]

Thank you that's really helpful, he's not shod so I could probably get away with it but sounds like it will be worth going for 34mm

I would go for the 34m. I have several different stable mats. The mayo comfort mattress being one along with field guard mats and they are both cushioning.

I needed a couple of mats to fill a gap and a couple of days ago bought the ark 24mm. They are OK and in a stable with the door open so horse uses it as a shelter rather than being permanently shut into it as a stable.
I found they were flat, no cushioning and a bit "dead" . I wouldn't however have wanted to put a whole stable down in 24mm for a stabled horse. If one was keeping a thick bed down all. the time on top of them then OK but if you were sweeping the bed back daily to let it air but still leaving the horse in then I think 34mm would be better. Personally I would go for 34mm as I can't see a reason other than cost not to.

 

[Bumblepony]

Thank you, I've just ordered some from Arkmat, found they had a set of six of the 34mm ones on Ebay for less than £300 so went for it