Matting for Gateway Protection

[Horsemad12]

I was not sure where to post this, but thought I would get the best answers in here,

After last winter I am thinking of getting some "matting" for the gateway of the field to try and keep mud fever away. My field is close to the stables and my mare often stands at the gate when other horses are brought in and out.

Has anyone found some good and hopefully reasonably priced matting that can be used to stop the gateway getting poached?

 

[Baggybreeches]

Nothing works if it gets desperately wet, I have road planings around my gateways and along the areas they hover to be brought in.

 

[TTK]

Eco Grid, I moved onto clay land 2 years ago and the first thing I did was put 2 pallets loads of Eco Grid in the gateways and where I turn the lorry. Worth every penny and you can lift & move it if you are determined / strong. http://www.ecogrid.co.uk/

 

[bounce]

I put hardcore/chippings down on top of a membrane in a square area in front of my stables about 10 years ago. It took a days work of digging an area out and putting the membrane and stone down but it has lasted through the years and I have only topped up the stone once. It wasn't expensive either.

 

[FairyLights]

I bought some rubber5 matting for my gatewa\ys. TBH its a waste of money. the horses spend time pulling it around! it also gives a lot when its very wet and I'vwe heard of horses putting a leg through and it causing awful injuries. Hardcore.scalpings is a much better option.

 

[Annie B.]

Hi Horsemad, had to reply I absolutely beg you not to use the grid type field mats. I was bought six for a gate way four years ago from a large horse superstore group and in the first week my youngster had gone through the mats and panicked resulting in the mats turning tighter and tighter and pulling flesh from his foot and legs leaving him permanently scarred. All this resulted in court case which we eventually settled out of court fifteen months later, but during this time it came to light that the mats that were sold as English and they had been imported from India. Hope this makes sense, I get that angry that these things are still available.