Mudcontrol slabs - a question

[Surbie]

I put down 40 slabs in my field gateway 3 years ago because the mud was welly-suckingly awful. The gateway is in a corner of the field, against the fence to the next field, and is a small platform that 3 horses can stand on. It's not a place that lends itself to running over if they are playing. My horse left the field some months ago and I left them there to be pulled up in spring. Grass is growing thorugh half of them.

One of the shod horses in that field is losing shoes at an incredible rate and it's been suggested by the farrier that the mats are to blame.

I'm happy to move them, but a bit nonplussed at the suggestion. I've had them in fields of varying levels of winter slop for 5 years without losing shoes. The herd that was in there before (8 shod horses and ponies including mine) didn't have any issue, and I think it's the mud not the mats that are the problem.

Has anyone come across this? Specifically shoe loss?

 

[Flowerofthefen]

The mats can be slippery, that's why it's advised to put sharp sand on them but never heard of them contributing to loosing shoes!! J had some and they were fantastic. I would say your farrier is making excuses!

 

[ElleSkywalker]

I had loads of them at last house, and don't see how they could contribute to loosing a shoe. Think the farrier is reaching TBH

 

[Pearlsasinger]

We've only had them with u shod horses but I can't see how thematic would make them like shoes. I might be concerned about shod horses slipping on the mats.

 

[Gamebird]

My horses lose fewer shoes because they spend more time standing on the matted areas, and less in the knee deep mud they used to have no choice about, which sucked shoes off pretty regularly.

 

[HollyWoozle]

I can’t possibly see how the mats would be to blame to be honest! We have them in a gateway too and no issues.

 

[Traks]

I think it’s your farrier to be honest!! One farrier that did a few of the horses on our yard was forever replacing the shoes…we then moved yards (4 liveries moved en mass to a new place) and a different farrier and no lost shoes!

Could also be because it’s been so wet?

 

[SEL]

Never had a problem with them! Itching on gates and playing with the hooligan tend to pull the hinds off one of mine.

 

[Surbie]

Thanks for the confirmation lovely people! I can only think he possibly hasn't come across the mats before and is equating them with flimsier grass mats. Or that, to be frank, as ESW says, he is reaching.

I just wanted to check I hadn't missed something.

@Bobthecob15 not my farrier, the other livery's. Personally I think it's the mud (it's a wetter field than the one that particular horse used to be in), but it's not a problem for me to move the mats.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Wonder what excuse he will come up with once the mats are moved and the horse is still losing shoes.