@ rubber matting questions for all who have big horses on them @

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shiresrus123

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would 18mm be strong enough for 18hh + heavy horses

is it best to with mats or interlocking, and do interlockings lose connection quicker?

and lastly, rubber or EVA
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Our big heavy boys are on 17 mm mats. They are not interlocking but we have cut them so they cover the entire stable floor. They certainly do not move! They are great. You should have no problem.
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oh good thank u, what make did you get/company? are they heavy rubber or lighter eva, and how heavy r ur boys? just want to get this right for mine lol
 
i won't have the interlocking ones any more, i found them rubbish.
i have EVA (mayomats) which are thicker than normal mats, more insulation from concrete floor. i prefer them to rubber mats, having had both. i have an 18h wb x tb on them and he's never made a mark on them, they've been down a few years and are as good as new.
i did't stick down, they are snug and don't move.
 
I've got playground matting down - personally not a big fan of thinner/harder mats - they're relatively pricey but they stay really dry, are easy to cut and shape. They're heavy, but come in 1m x 1m squares and are quite easy to work with - plus they stay really dry and are really non-slip. I also don't have any problems with them migrating - they're not interlocking but if you trim them leaving them a little bit bigger than the space and then jump on them it makes a good tight fit.

I have two thicknesses, I suspect for heavier horses the thinner ones (they'll be about 2") would wear better - but have only tested them with up to about 500kg horses.

Having slept on them at foaling time I can personally attest to their comfort and warmth!

Get along to one of the big agric shows and have a look at cow mats, there's usually a big selection on the ground for you to walk and jump on - the acid test IMHO is to fall onto your knees on them - you shouldn't wince! Heavy cow mats might be more hardwearing than the cheaper horse mats.
 
Would prefer thicker, think I replied before to you about Stablelite mats - if you can speak to them, they can give you all the info. They are very easy to lay - just like carpet tiles but you need an electric jigsaw as they are so thick.

Other good thing is that they let pee through - something to consider if yours like mine do the best bit of a gallon at a time. My stablelites have so signs of wear and tear after 8 years of clydesdales on them - hence I will be getting more for my little cob this year.

Bedding - megazorb is great for these mats when you have massive filthy horses.
 
Just to add to the list I use cow parlour mats, light weight so you can lift them to wash out the stables, thick enough for our big 17hh CBX, they dont move and half the price of horse mats,
 
We got our mats from a local rubber company. They are really heavy duty and were cheap as chips compared to anything which has the word equestrian anywhere near it. I believe that they are gym matting. Might be worth a look in yellow pages? They are completely non slip I did two stables for approx £240!
 
I also use cow mats in our stables and lorry, they are the same as horse versions only thicker and without the jigsaw part on them.
 
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thanks all, isnt there a risk of capped hocks on non equine tho?

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A good rubber mat is a good mat regardless of whether it's got a pic of a cow or a horse on the label. I've seen some appalling hard 'horse' mats that are just a recipe for capped hocks!
 
I have Stable Comfort - two part system - big rubber mattress with rubber top sheet on top.

Had them down 6 years - not got a bad word to say about them.

I also use them with just a sprinkling of bedding.
 
thanku , this is starting to do my head in, i darent mention rubber matting without the hubby aiming a missile at me with more than a little crazy in the face!

so im thinking 18/20mm 6ftx4ft mats would be best, anyone tried equifloor? or black mat? theres so many selling the same thing
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I have Fieldguard mats which have been down for very nearly twenty years, not cheap to buy but I'd say I've really had my moneys' worth out of them.
 
I'm another one who uses cow mats, they are called Quattro I think and they are fantastic, light enough to lift up and clean under but tough enough to withstand a rather large 16.2 Danish WB and a 16.1 German WB who has a nasty habit of pawing constantly, plus he has road nails in his front shoes and so far they haven't made a dent in the mats.

Here's their website http://www.quattro.org.uk/agricultural/
 
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