Rubber Mats, Equimat vs Royal Mat? Any advice

ElleSkywalker

ElleSkywalker

As excited as Kitty about to be a bridesmaid
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Morning,

Considering rubber mats in at least one (very mucky horse) if not all stables to save a bit of time this winter. Am currently looking at 'Royal' mats and Equimat (the 20mm ones)

So does anyone have either? I like the lightweight-ness of the equimat and the interlocking-ness but it's almost double the price per stable as the Royal mat which is also pretty thick!

One horse has road nails in her shoes which I'm concerned could damage the mats, anyone else havea horse with raid nails on rubber mats?

Or are rubber mats just not really worth the money?

All opinions welcome

Custard creams for all :biggrin3:

Elle
 
I bought some Equimats second hand and absolutely love them, they are fab, scrub up well, the stable seems drier and warmer too. I am not sure about the road nails but the mats aren't as easily damaged as standard EVA ones if that helps, mine must be a good few years old now and the surface is discoloured but undamaged

I took them out of the stable to floor my new horsebox and pony was very unhappy about the fact they were missing from his stable! he is the sort that will not lie down if he isn't comfortable with doing so. I put the excess mats back in his stable and he is much sweeter for getting proper rest

Cannot comment on the Royal Mats but IMHO I would certainly buy Equimats over any other - the change in my pony is remarkable

My other pony has bog standard black ones but I am not nearly as taken with those
 
Hi – I have the 28mm Equimats for both of mine and honestly don’t know what Id ever do without them – luckily I bought mine off a lady who was selling them 2nd hand on Preloved as she was giving up horses so got them a lot cheaper! So quick especially in the mornings in winter – quick sweep and they’re done … I don’t tend to put huge beds down on top -to be honest the hay shavings that fall from their nets from the night before, I just sprinkle that over and it does them fine! x
 
*hands out biccies*

Welsh D do you have the 20mm or 28mm ones?

Do either of you find they come up at all or does the interlocking-ness stop that? I ask as I have a couple of grumpy paw-ers and worried they might dig them up!
 
I have equimats - they don't move/shift (provided your stable base is level) and IMO the best mats on the market.

Bear in mind with Eva mats you do need to allow for expansion when new. When I bought mine I measured my stables and equimat supplied already cut to the exact dimension needed
 
Never even given them a second thought to be honest - I put them in a few years ago and never had one tiny issue with them - interlocking has never come apart (its quite tough) and mine fit quite snugly. One horse has shoes and the other doesn't. x
 
ElleSkywalker said:
Morning,

Considering rubber mats in at least one (very mucky horse) if not all stables to save a bit of time this winter. Am currently looking at 'Royal' mats and Equimat (the 20mm ones)

So does anyone have either? I like the lightweight-ness of the equimat and the interlocking-ness but it's almost double the price per stable as the Royal mat which is also pretty thick!

One horse has road nails in her shoes which I'm concerned could damage the mats, anyone else havea horse with raid nails on rubber mats?

Or are rubber mats just not really worth the money?

All opinions welcome

Custard creams for all :biggrin3:

Elle
Click to expand...

I own a livery yard and all my stables have equimats and i am well happy so recommends them
 
I have just put Equifloor down which I am really pleased with. Came to about £226 and they arrived in 3 days. I have EVA mats in my other box with are about 30 years old now and have always had shod horses on them. They are fine and not worn out. I would not be without mats for mine. I bought the equifloor to replace some really heavy rubber mats which I did not like at all.
 
ElleSkywalker said:
*hands out biccies*

Welsh D do you have the 20mm or 28mm ones?

Do either of you find they come up at all or does the interlocking-ness stop that? I ask as I have a couple of grumpy paw-ers and worried they might dig them up!
Click to expand...

I first bought the thick ones from new & did a 2nd stable with some second hand ones at 20mm to be honest the thinner ones are fine and they are easier to flick up than the thicker ones - Can't really tel the difference in cushion effect when they are down. I just have a thin sprinkle of shavings to catch the wee and muck and take this out every day works really well for me.
 
We have 20mm thick bubbletop ones, been down 16yrs, never been lifted, don't smell, cut by me with a stanley knife to fit within the brick perimeter course and have never moved. Interestingly Ive just looked at the price and it seems to be about the same as I paid, 16yrs ago, though i had the delivery included.
The sooner you buy them the sooner you can start saving money on bedding and saving effort.

PS i'll have the kidney. Tis steak and kidney pie for dinner at Digger Towers tonite! :)
 
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