field shelters

[clover1234]

Hi, I have had my first mare for a couple of months but now we are going into the autumn and the field is getting muddy at the entrance of the field shelter I am wondering what do people recommend putting down? There are so many different types of matting I am totally confused! Aaaaaargh!!

 

[flashmans]

We're going to put down some bark at the entrance of our field shelter.

 

[clover1234]

Thanks never though of that! - Will that work if the field is already muddy we have had really heavy rain today - and do you use normal garden bark??

 

[flashmans]

Not sure if it could go down on very muddy fields - we haven't had rain for ages! Maybe someone else could suggest if they would?
But yes, just garden bark, we got ours from Countrywide.

Also, these are quite good, but again don't know how well they would work on already muddy fields?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Heavy-Duty-Rubber-Mat-Matting-Grass-Horse-Stable-/130570421543?pt=UK_SportingGoods_StableAccessories_SM&hash=item1e669a8527
(there are probably cheaper ones if you shop around!)

 

[juliette]

We put down a membrane with hardwood wood chippings on top last year in an extremely muddy gateway and it really helped. We sourced them from a local tree surgeon who was pleased to "dump a load" directly where we needed them at no charge!

 

[bumblelion]

Those mats with the link above are really good but they need laying in the spring ideally so they can bed in and the grass grows through them. My gateways are really poached already too with all this rain we've had! It's a nightmare!!

 

[clover1234]

mine are! I admit I never even give it a thought that there would be a mud problem outside the shelter!

 

[scarymare]

Depends where you are but I really would advise against rubber matting. When it gets wet/frozen it is ABSOLUTELY lethal as you can imagine with the only positive being that at least you can drag it out from under them if (or when) they slip.

 

[teresagarsden]

hello there, I have a layer or harcore with field mats on top, these are used inside the shelter, at the entrance and also in front of the field water trough that collects the roof rain water.
I was lucky as i got a job lot of mats 3 yrs ago and so got 4' x 3' mats for £8 each.
The mats work so well and we cable tie them together.

We had previously tried woodchip / bark but this also get so muddy and took ages in summer to then dry out!

Hope this helps.

 

[teresagarsden]

ooops forgot to say ours did get a bit slipply when frozen but we then gritted it and was fine, the grit did not damage the mats or affect the use. :O)