Rubber matting (or cow mats!)

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bexandspooky

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I'm thinking of getting rubber matting for my mares stables - she is a dirty bint in the stable and so I'm thinking of trying matting combined with either woodpellets or straw to make a less horrendous mucking out task over winter.

I just wondered how other people get on with rubber matting, if they use cow mats instead of normal stable mats and what bedding types and amounts of bedding get used.

Any thoughts gratefully received :)
 
Whatever bedding you decided to use use plenty off it.
Ive seen lots of horses that just have a sprinkling of bedding, she are scared to have a pee as it splashes them, it doesnt soak up the pee and often runs out of the stables.
They also have to lay in it!

I use equimats and a decent amount of bedding.
I dont use as much bedding as i normally would but a good amount with banks.

I like to think my horses have a nice soft floor, so when they dig up the bed or lay off the bed its still soft, and nice to have a roll around!
 
my pony is a messy one too! i have 3/4 stable in cheap rubber matting from countrywide and use bedmax shavings and i find mucking out quite easy now :)
 
I hate cow mats .... if they are the smooth ones that can become slippy, I think they are dangerous. I have seen horses slip over on them and I have slipped over when trying to get out the way of a spooked horse.

Horse mats are great though, they make life easier and keep the horse sounder. My mare if messy and I use a mixture of various things - with a bit of megazorb in it if I can find it.

Also, the mats have to be heavy/thick enough for your horse. If you horse is quite big lightweight mats are a false economy.
 
We've got the EVA click together mats and they're great, much easier to handle than the heavy rubber mats but don't move around stand up well to my 16.3 ISH. They're over 4 years old now and have a lot of life left in them. I'd agree with above about still using a decent amount of bedding.
 
I have horse mats also....and I use easibed - I have found this much easier to muck out than shavings and it is less dusty (my horse has a dust irritation). After putting down a decent thickness when i moved yards I only use 1 a week as I remove the wet weekly but I also agree about not having a really thin layer of bedding.

They are a bid harder to get hold of and may be slightly more expensive than shavings but the benefit of an easier muck out is worth it as my boy can be mucky and other times clean....depends on his mood!!! I am sure he has parties in there with the other horses at night by the state of his bed :D
 
I use Equimats which I think are absolutely brilliant - they are thick, hard-wearing and a million times easier to lift than the traditional heavy ones (I can lift a section on my own). Make the stable warmer in winter and you don't have to worry if your bed goes through a thin stage. I use them with straw which I was initially worried about doing as I thought the wee might not get absorbed as quickly as with shavings and might therefore run under the mats but so far it hasn't at all. If the yard you're on allows straw I think it's fantastic - cheap, easy to muck out and lovely for the horses - our beds still look clean and dry in the mornings whereas with wood pellets the stables were frankly disgusting as all the muck stayed on the top and they absolutely stank of urine most of the time.
 
The better quality your matting and the better your stable drainage, the less bedding you are likely to need (which is good if you have a messy horse). I use Fieldguard M2 mats which have little rubber legs underneath, which makes the mats very springy and comfy, and also allows urine to drain away underneath as stable floors are sloped slightly to a drainage gully. I use a small amount of Megazorb on the mats to absorb any leftover urine. My horses get a lot of turnout though so floor doesn't get very wet - if your horse is in for long periods of time they will probably need more bedding.
 
hey :D same situation as you !

i have really looked into rubber, eva and rubber and eva mixes !
i was leaning towards eva as i am soft on my horse and want him to be comfortable but after lots of research and phone calls i have found the mats i think i want (and there cheap to!)
http://www.horsematshop.co.uk/stable-matting/15-croctop-stable-mats.html

i spoke to the guy today and he quoted me £181-ish for mats for 10x12 stable inc delivery and VAT.

he also quoted me £350 for there eva ones, but he told me there not worth it and quality is not great. and he must have been truthful as he was encouraging me to spend less money ! Which companies dont often do :rolleyes:

i think overall eva the only real benefit is that there light, but to me weight is not an issue as i only plan to take them up twice a year (are floors are good and flat) and i was also advised that a too soft floor is not good for a horses feet. so really i will not buy eva and i wouldnt recommend it.

i think the cow mats are eva so i would steer clear and i have also heard they can be slippy which is completely dangerous!

i think the main benefit for the croctop mat (other than the price :p) is that they are slightly lighter than normal black mats and have a good draining system, also they have a slightly softer feel than the hard rubber as they are air cushioned. if you give them a call they are very helpful and can send you a free sample.

for the bedding i plan to use a half bed of straw with a thin layer of shavings or pellets in the patch he wees. i will be getting the sample tomorrow hopefully. PM me if you need to no anymore.

and sorry for the long answer just have done a lot of research and thought it would be helpful to you. :D
 
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i've got the mayomat cowmats, never had 1 slip or slipped on them myself. they're warm, soft (but tough, not a mark on them after 3 1/2 years) and i really rate them. wouldn't have rubber mats again, prefer the EVA stuff.
i do a half-bed at the back with Ecobed cardboard, or a 1/4 bed in the corner with woodpellet bedding.
 
I had cow mats for years but sold them when i gave up horses! couldn't find any when i resumed!!

nevre had any problems with slipping, they had quite a good grip on the surface from what i remember and they are so light! now i have really heavy horse ones that need an army of assistants to do anything with
 
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