Mud mats, cheaper versions?

[ginatina]

I'm planning for a small turnout area for winter. We're on *horrendous* clay and can't currently turn out *at all* during the worst of the winter.

I want to make a small area for daily turnout - small enough that they can't really run about, so probably 10 x 10metres or thereabouts. Just enough for them to get some fresh air and a change of scene. It will be at the top of the hill, so naturally draining.

I see that Mud Control mats are the gold standard product https://www.mudcontrol.co.uk/

But there are cheaper versions that look ok, especially as i'm going to plan ahead, use loads of sharp sand, grass seed etc ahead of time.

E.g https://grassmats.co.uk/product/gateway-mats/
https://www.horsematsplus.co.uk/gateway-grass-field-mats/22mm-grass-mat-individual-mat.html

Has anyone else used cheaper versions, or have advice on the topic generally? Much appreciated if you do

 

[Nicnac]

Mudcontrol all the way. If you follow their FB page there are almost daily second hand ones available at £7 sq/m.

I am also on heavy clay and Mudcontrol mats are fantastic as they don't require any maintenance and last whereas previously having gateways sorted with hardcore, even done professionally, need weeding and topping up/maintenance.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Grass mats are great on solid surfaces but on mud with horses on them will just sink, been there and done that. They also break up quite quickly. Mud mats will last forever and make a permanent surface that can however be taken up if you need to move. 4 mud mats is a square meter. Grass mats are 1.5m x 1m. The cost difference is more for mud mats but they do not rot, you can drive heavy vehicles over them and they maintain their value. The only thing I have found grass mats really useful for is to cover half my lawn with them to stop the dogs churning it up. A couple of years ago 12 mats cost me £300. For what you want them for mud control mats all the way, don't waste your money on grass mats.

 

[ginatina]

Thank you Errin and nicnac, that was super super helpful

 

[Nudibranch]

It depends whether you want to/can do any work first. You can buy stuff like Ecodeck which is pretty robust, will take a tractor etc, but you do need to dig out about 3-4 inches of ground to lay them, and then fill with sand or gravel. You also need to "frame" them with wood or concrete so they don't chip at the edges where the hooves strike them. I have them outside my field shelter and yard entrance and they work well but they were properly laid. I think anyone trying any grass mat type stuff without ground work isn't going to get a good result.

If you want to just lay mats then Mud Control or Jelka work better. It all depends whether you want to prep the ground or not.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

Mud mats are the best but have a look at the Jelka mats. They are actually better on hilly ground and might be more suitable.

 

[Sanversera]

Hardcore

 

[w1bbler]

Grass mats are useless for muddy fields, sink & break. Mud control mats are amazing, but can be slippy, supplier recommends a layer of sand or similar over them. I have found barefoot horses cope quite well with no topping, but shod horses can struggle

 

[Sprogladite01]

My horses found mudcontrol mats quite slippy, even with sand on top (one is barefoot and the other is shod). I've now additionally put rubber grass mats on top but I wasn't very pleased about having to shell out the extra as the mats weren't cheap to begin with. That being said, the mats themselves are very, very good and absolutely stable - so much so, I have another batch being delivered on the 15th to go in front of the field shelter which is always a bog in winter. This time, planning to use easibed as the topping so will be interesting to see the difference.

 

[ElleSkywalker]

Mudcontrol all the way, I too am on very very heavy clay and have a winter turn out/lami pen out of them, I also tried the other mats before and they are useless. I let grass grow through mine which helps with slippage but even my shod ones have been ok on them so far (had for about 4 years)

 

[twofatladies88]

I don’t know how much sand you folks are using - we used a lot more than recommended but it has been a game changer - think I am getting my money’s worth. I’ll try to attach a picture of my turnout/loafing pen. Used mud control mats and really pleased with the results.

 

[brighteyes]

Another vote for Mudcontrol. I like that they are as temporary or permanent as you like and do a plethora of jobs. I agree they're slippery for shod horses but left in situ, grass grows through them and creates a buffer. And they are very hard!

 

[BBP]

I definitely haven’t put enough sand over my mud control mats. All 4 of my horses have slipped and fallen when having a bounce or a spin on them. All 4 are barefoot.