Matting/bedding in field shelter?

[Sol]

I moved my two small ponies to a field last Sunday, and they are now very chilled. The field has a shelter, which so far seems quite dry. It appears to be quite sandy soil, I've taken the worst of the plant life out (it hadn't been used in a while!) and just skip it out daily at the sec.
I'm wondering then whether I need to worry about bedding it down? I was planning to put grass mats down, to help the drainage, and then put a bed of straw down, but didn't quite expect it to be so dry! I'm used to wonderful clay in Cheshire The older pony does like to lie down, and the youngster obviously will do quite a bit, but they seem to have managed fine so far despite it being an awfully wet week!
I am still a bit unsure though, as I'm sure we haven't seen the worst of the weather & I don't think there's much point putting mats down once the place is churned up if it does get that way.

Other option is to buy some grass mats anyway, put them elsewhere, and have the option of moving them if it looks like other areas are getting wet, depending on where ponies opt to spend most time?

I am sort of hoping I wont have to worry too much though as it will certainly save some pennies!

 

[Clippy]

My field shelter floor is looking awful I'll be interested in what others suggest.

I've put some heavy mats on one side and i'm going to add more as I manage to scrape the churned up stuff off and get it level. I'm using straw at the moment but think I might be better with shavings. You'd do well to act now before they mess it up.

 

[HardySoul1]

My shelter has some stable mats in. Came from previous yard and are only an approximate fit but do fine. We have a couple outside entrance too as this area seems to get muddiest. I do put straw down in coldest part of winter (not yet) but the mare uses it as toilet, particularly if bedding in there so I avoid it if possible.

 

[debsflo]

last year i had staw on the earth floor and it stayed dry. This year i have put stable mats down with shavings on top. mine use it a lot in the bad weather..

 

[Goldenstar]

I started mine off with compost from the local recycling place it was coarse wood barky looking and I went and looked at the different grades ( every time they put it through the composter it gets finer ) I picked one not too coarse and not too powdery they charged me the carriage only and brought it a tipping trailer which they tipped in front of the door and we shovelled it and raked it flat I also used it in the fenced area around the shelter.
It did have a funny smell at first and was dusky when the weather was very dry but over a little time it developed into a very good self draining surface ( shelter has no flooring at all) over the years it has " disappeared "partly from skipping out and partly it's gone into the soil naturally so now when it's in use I use shavings.
I keep it level and skip out daily when it's in heavy use and as guide thats one bail of shavings a week when fatty is on his strip and he loves to use it .
Its twenty by ten I think.
I did think of mats ans decided against them as I thought they would be slippy when wet and the mud would ooze up through them.
This system has worked well for us and give a bed which all the horses we have used it for have used for lieing on .
However it not used between Nov and March as the paddock round it gets too damaged and I save it the rest of the year.