My FINAL stable matting question.....

[FestiveSpirit]

OK I have selected the supplier, I have measured my stable, I have worked out how many mats I need....

What happens with delivery? Website says it is free, but I am assuming someone needs to be there to tell them where to put it

I'll ring them on Monday to arrange the order but just wondered in the meantime

 

[MrsMozart]

Lol, you will also need:

two strong men wearing gloves;
a couple of strong bladed knives (please observe all safety precautions

);
a large pot of strong tea - you'll need it!

Enjoy

 

[FestiveSpirit]

But....but.....dont I just lay it in the stable and that is it

Well apart from the bit at the front which is a stupid size of course

Dont know any strong men either.... oh dear....

 

[MrsMozart]

They'll deliver it, but to an easy access point - unless yours are very nice people who have included laying it in the stable in the price

It's a pig to handle - rolled up and tied with binder twine is fairly effective (need two people). When ours was new it was slippery with some sort of coating - I had shavings down to a good few inches for the first few days.

'Tis well worth it though

 

[joeanne]

[ QUOTE ]

a large pot of strong tea - you'll need it!

Enjoy

[/ QUOTE ]

You might want to exchange that for something stronger once you have finished however!

 

[FestiveSpirit]

I am very lucky that my stable overlooks the car park area where they can deliver it, so fingers desperately crossed that they can dump it just next to the stable door

I'm going to order EVA matting which is apparently lighter to handle than 'standard' rubber

Hmmm, might have to persuade the YO's OH to help me, he loves playing the macho lad role

so might be willing to help

Thanks a lot for the advice MrsM, ironically Boblet is living out 24/7 at the moment so I am hoping I can empty the stable, lay the matting and put bedding back down in a relatively calm and measured manner

Somehow I think that is a folorn hope

 

[FestiveSpirit]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

a large pot of strong tea - you'll need it!

Enjoy

[/ QUOTE ]

You might want to exchange that for something stronger once you have finished however!

[/ QUOTE ]

You are not all inspiring me with joy here

Why is it so awful? Just because the matting is so heavy and awkward to handle?

I am starting to panic even before my order has been placed now

 

[MrsMozart]

Lol, calm m'dear, 'tis worth it in the end

It's heavy and wibbly-wobbly (therefore easier if rolled and tied) and hard to actually get a good grip on (hence the gloves!). The EVA may well be easier to handle

 

[canteron]

I'm with Mrs Mozart and I'd start being really charming to the OH right now, you will need a patient good humoured (strong) friend with a stanley knife, measuring tape and something so you can have a straight cutting edge if all is to go smoothly!

 

[FestiveSpirit]

Hmmmm - will buy a stanley knife this weekend I think, I wonder whether B&Q do helpful friends for sale as well?

Straight edge...hmmmm.....

I wonder if I can change my order to someone who will install it for me too?

 

[shiresrus123]

who have u gone with, im still at the mind numbing decision stage myself lol

 

[FestiveSpirit]

Well the feedback from on here seemed to say that EVA matting was lighter/easier to manage (and just as effective or more) than rubber matting

So I am going to order from these people, the 24mm Mayo mats...

http://www.agrirev.co.uk/cow-comfort-livestock-equipment/cow-mats

My stable is 12 ft x 14ft and a bit, so I am getting 7 mats and will have a little gap in the corner

 

[Horseyscot]

Have you bought mats , or have you bought size in one piece? I may be wrong but think MrsM is referring to mat coming in one large roll, rather than individual mats. I've got individual mats and they are easy to work with.

Obviously you may still need to do some cutting to get exact size, but they are easy enough to work with

 

[FestiveSpirit]

***** despite being reserved and non demonstrative normally, Splotchy throws her arms around HorseyScot and hugs her ****

Well I think I am buying 6' x 4' mats - but I need to check with the nice people when I ring them on Monday

That is my only concern about the matting I have identified, the website doesnt say for the cow mats what sizes it comes in

 

[shiresrus123]

what made u go for eva over rubber?

 

[FestiveSpirit]

It was cheaper and easier to handle, plus feedback from here suggested it was more comfortable for the horse?

TBH I was probably a bit random, some people whose opinions I rate highly said it was good so I thought "well OK, if they say it is good that is fine with me"

 

[shiresrus123]

lol good a reason as any, what size horses r u having on it, im wondering if eva is ok for heavies see

 

[FestiveSpirit]

I've only got an ickle 15.2 TB (about 450kg) but HorseyScot said she had a heavier one on the 24mm matting and it was fine

I'm buying the cow matting because it is much cheaper than the horse matting BTW

 

[MrsMozart]

[ QUOTE ]
Have you bought mats , or have you bought size in one piece? I may be wrong but think MrsM is referring to mat coming in one large roll, rather than individual mats. I've got individual mats and they are easy to work with.

Obviously you may still need to do some cutting to get exact size, but they are easy enough to work with

[/ QUOTE ]

Nope

The standard sized mats (6'x4' and 40-ish kg each). I have eight of the bleeders and have, in our time and on each move, helped move sixteen of 'em

. I would willing pay someone to move them next time! Hubby says there won't be a 'next time' - he'd rather leave them

 

[Horseyscot]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Have you bought mats , or have you bought size in one piece? I may be wrong but think MrsM is referring to mat coming in one large roll, rather than individual mats. I've got individual mats and they are easy to work with.

Obviously you may still need to do some cutting to get exact size, but they are easy enough to work with

[/ QUOTE ]

Nope

The standard sized mats (6'x4' and 40-ish kg each). I have eight of the bleeders and have, in our time and on each move, helped move sixteen of 'em

. I would willing pay someone to move them next time! Hubby says there won't be a 'next time' - he'd rather leave them

[/ QUOTE ]

Obviously us Scottish lassies are made of stronger stuff

I have no problem moving my mats about by myself

Not sure what weight mine are though

 

[MrsMozart]

HS, it's all that porridge and fresh air

I am indeed a wimp (ask ISHY, she'll tell you

).

 

[Horseyscot]

[ QUOTE ]
HS, it's all that porridge and fresh air

I am indeed a wimp (ask ISHY, she'll tell you

).

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh, and don't forget the Haggis

 

[FestiveSpirit]

Sigh..... and here was me thinking there might be some useful information posted about matting in stables

Actually after tonight I am now convinced that the cheaper cow stuff will come in a roll, so I will end up paying more for stable mats in proper sizes

Oh well

 

[MrsMozart]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
HS, it's all that porridge and fresh air

I am indeed a wimp (ask ISHY, she'll tell you

).

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh, and don't forget the Haggis

[/ QUOTE ]

Ah, of coures, sorry, completely forgetting the haggis

. That would account for it

 

[MrsMozart]

[ QUOTE ]
Sigh..... and here was me thinking there might be some useful information posted about matting in stables

Actually after tonight I am now convinced that the cheaper cow stuff will come in a roll, so I will end up paying more for stable mats in proper sizes

Oh well

[/ QUOTE ]

Nah, why would you expect that?

We did have horses on the thinner rolled stuff for a while and they seemed perfectly happy on it

. The YO had stuck them to the stable floor so there was no movement. Was cheaper than the mats we have.

 

[jumptoit]

I have those exact mats and they are fantastic! We must have a fair few of them though probably bigger than you're getting - I have 5 stables and the lorry with them in and don't remember them being a pain to move ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... although perhaps that may be because I have 3 men to lift them and/or the arena surface shifting and laying I have had to assist in was even more of a pain in the rear!

 

[FestiveSpirit]

So they are definitely mats then JumptoIt? That is a huge relief (except to my credit card

) - I shall order them on Monday

I DO hope that Boblet appreciates all this time and effort I am putting in on his behalf

 

[amc]

EVA mats are brilliant ! I got son & pal to fit and they did them in about an hour, you have to let them settle or bed in but I'm very, very pleased with them, good luck X

 

[Ebenezer_Scrooge]

Splotchy EVA mats are so lightweight to move, and easy to cut. Don't panic you'll be fine x

 

[shiresrus123]

with eva, do they bend out of shape though?