Mobile shelter floor

[Thundering]

Just coming out of first winter using a mobile shelter. In general its been good. I choose not to put any flooring down but have found its got pretty wet in there. would normal stable mats work just straight down on the ground? Once it is dry obs? Any other ideas? As its mobile cant really have anything permanent down. Just any ideas for keeping it dry inside please.

 

[meleeka]

I have Type 1 aggregate under my rubber mats, but I would think mats on their own would be fine if you laid them in summer when the ground was hard.

 

[Fransurrey]

I used to use old bedding, followed by grass mats, then rubber mats on top. That worked really well in a shelter at the base of a hill. Currently I use nothing, partly because the cob uses it as a toilet and the mats would stink if I put them back down!

 

[sassandbells]

We put a layer of wood chip down, about 4” thick, and then the rubber stable mats and it’s been brill. All around the shelter is deep mud but inside is dry and solid we did do it all when the ground was dry though.

 

[Palindrome]

The company that makes mud control mats also makes shelter mats that go directly onto the soil. I have those, there is a bit of wet coming through in the wettest weather (I am on clay) but overall they work well, they are more rigid than rubber mats.

 

[Esmae]

Stable mats would be fine I think just laid on the ground. We laid them in the field a couple of winters back when we had one living out. We laid them by a hay station so she didn't stand in the mud. They never moved or sank so can't think they would in a shelter.

 

[fidleyspromise]

I am on sand soil.
Stable mats down but I've found the sand is causing dips in shelter and mats have moved.
I put a tonne of sand in by hand and levelled it before putting mats in 2 years ago.

 

[EventingMum]

I have mud control mats with rubber mats on top which works really well, the mud control mats are extended out in front of the shelter so the entrance isn't churned up.

 

[Nudibranch]

I have harcore under the shelter with (dry) dirt on top then half is rubber matted wall to wall. The entrance half has mats but not adjoining as I found they didn't drain. So there are 1ft gaps around and between them. I do have 4 goats using the shelter though as well as 2 horses so I do a daily sweep as goats do not care where they drop their pellets! In one corner I put down a layer of chopped rape for the goats' bed, and I'd probably use that as a full bed if I needed to. Less messy than shavings and easier to muck out than straw.

At some point I might try sassandbells' idea and put down a layer of woodchip under the mats as it needs levelling again really. But I can't be bothered to take up all the mats again - they are sooo heavy.

Do you know where the wet is coming from op? Does the drainage outside need sorting or are they walking it in? If it's the latter I'd try mud mats or similar in front. I have a hard standing area outside mine and it's made a massive difference as before they were just walking mud and wet in all the time.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Our shelter is permanent but we have mud control mats over hardcore. Mud control mats are individually not as heavy as stablemats and are not a permanent structure so are good for a mobile shelter.

 

[Thundering]

Thanks. I think the drainage is not helping but as its rented land I can not do much about that. I am going to improve the guttering over the summer. I am hoping to get some mud control mats if finances allow. Im thinking of doing a area in front of shelter with them but maybe normal stable mats inside.