HELP! Flooring advice please

[mini_me]

Hi,

I have just (after many months of looking) found a stable block (4 stable) for my frined and i to rent. The yard is perfect, the fields are perfect and the yard owner is very helpful, friendly, helpfull and felxible.
The only problem we have is the stable {was previously 2 big stables, now been made into 4 (11 foot by 15 foot)} The problem is that the flooring is chalk.

When we went to see the yard the first time it was dark and although we walked into the stables we didnt pay much attention to the flloring. However when we went the second time there had been a burst pipe (all now resolved) However it had made the floor very damp and chalk was getting stuck on our shoes?! Is this a common problem?

We were intending to use rubber matting, but i have heard this isnt practical with chalk as its not very level?

Aslo my friend is also concerned that her mare with COPD (agrivated by dust) will not cope well on chalk and she nearly lost her last year due to very bad lungs.
She is currently managed on concrete, rubber matting, and wood chips and hasn't even coughed this year!!!


Just a few questions for thoses with chalk:

1)Is it damp?
2)Is it dusty?
3)Would you recommend it?
4)Does it drain well?
5)Can you put rubber mats down?
6)Is it safe to feedhay off the floor with the dust from chalk?

Anything else we should note?

Thanks in advance

Sorry for the essay

 

[tristar]

i tried keeping horses on hard beaten earth floors, but found it usatisfactory, it's ok sort of temporary wise but as a proper stable it was too damp for my tastes, and it became dusty as the horse feet moved on the drier areas, give me concrete and mats or lots of straw anyday