Rubber mats - straight edge or interlinking ones?

D

DuckToller

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 December 2007
Messages
3,012
Location
Home Counties
Visit site
My current mats are around 15 years old and are starting to curl at the edges and wear a bit thin in the middle.

Can't decide what to get to replace them - same again or the ones that interlink. I imagine the smaller locking ones would be easier to lift and fit, but someone said they don't allow any water to soak through so it will all pool in the middle. I do use bedding, a few shovels of wood chips and several sections of straw but quite a bit of urine tends to soak underneath the mats and I lift them and rinse out every month or so.

So any help appreciated in making the decision.
 
I am saving up to buy the interlocking ones... Mine have been down in the stable for over 10 yrs and they too are curling up, and I nearly killed myself in a head first flight into the back wall last sat when I tripped over the curled up on!!! I believe they are easy to move and fit and don't move...
 
Having got straight edge. Next time I would go for interlocking. I had mine sealed to stop urine going through. Although didn't work and unless I keep a deep bed both horses have lifted one if them many times. So annoying and so much work :(
 
I have the interlocking ones, they have been down for at least 10 years, expensive to start but have more than paid their way. They still look as good as new :) would recommend !
 
DuckToller said:
My current mats are around 15 years old and are starting to curl at the edges and wear a bit thin in the middle.

Can't decide what to get to replace them - same again or the ones that interlink. I imagine the smaller locking ones would be easier to lift and fit, but someone said they don't allow any water to soak through so it will all pool in the middle. I do use bedding, a few shovels of wood chips and several sections of straw but quite a bit of urine tends to soak underneath the mats and I lift them and rinse out every month or so.

So any help appreciated in making the decision.
Click to expand...

We have interlocking ones, you need to make sure they are 1 1/2 inches small than you need as they do expand over time, Equimats will explain that to you.
 
I'm having this dilemma at the moment. My mats have been flown about 7 years and are starting to curl. I got a bonus from work this week and so might get some. Any recommendations on the brand?
 
Have the straight edged ones, mine are super heavy and as am in the middle of moving the horses am in the process of absolutely hating them for their weight! They do get a bit wet underneath but find does depend on the mat - some of mine are grooved and some have raised dots instead of grooves. Been in current stable about three years. The grooves when lined up well and placed well seems to allow more of a flow underneath. However I find this side easier to sweep down so tend to have this side facing up.

I have spent a fortune over the years on mats, and just inherited a load when buying new home which has six stables worth of mats of varying quality. Would prefer interlocking but replacing them all is not a cost I can justify so perhaps after a lottery win??
 
At my old place we had small interlocking ones - about 9-12 per stable - and I hated them! Honestly we did not have the exact right size for the stable - leaving a small gap or climbing up the wall slightly - so that might have been why.

They must have been about 10 years old, but the 'interlocking bits' always broke off, bend or get shavings stuck underneath! Its so annoying because its an easy tripping hazard and as soon as shavings gets under one small bit, it won't be long before the whole thing gets moved due to all the shavings filling the tiny cracks and getting underneath.

They were also pour drainers - wet just piled through the interlocking cracks and gathered, whilst shavings made their way down there too!

True they were old and not overly expensive ones, but I'll definitely be thinking twice if ever using them again - for me the straight edged ones work so much better!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top