Rubber matting questions

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Annagain

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I am replacing my old rubber matting. I got it for nothing about 10 years ago as it was old playground matting that had been taken up from a local community centre. While it did the job, it is very heavy and because it's porous takes a lot of cleaning every year. After trying to clean it this year it's falling apart so I've decided to go for proper matting but there seems to be so much choice out there I can't decide what to get, so I've got a few questions.

1. Rubber or EVA? Rubber is much cheaper but EVA seems softer and a bit nicer? I think I'm almost certainly going for EVA unless someone can come up with a brilliant cheap rubber product or a reason not to go for EVA.
2. If I go for EVA, my boy is a 16.3 IDx and weighs about 640kg. Equimat say I'll need the thicker stuff but can I get away with thinner if I buy Equimat (or something of similar width)?
3. Has anyone had any experience of Robinsons own brand? It's cheaper and thicker that Equimat, but is it as good?
4. Mayomat also seems a good option. The cow matting they make is cheaper than the horse matting, is it the same stuff? If not, does it matter?
5. So far I've use a thin layer of shavings mixed with shredded paper from work as it's absorbant and cheap, will that still work with these mats?
6. Any other advice?
 
I have bought the EVA 22mm mats from Easimat, they had a 10% discount on ebay recently and although they don't have it anymore I phoned them and they sold me 6 mats to fit a 12x12 stable for £234. They deliver quickly and the mats are easy to fit - you can cut them with a stanley knife. One of our horses weighs 630kg and have had no problems with the mats, they do stretch a bit and we have had to cut them a few times, especially when were at a yard with an uneven floor. But I am very pleased with them.
 
I have bought mats from that seller. They are fine, as long as you have perfectly even floors, a deep bed and make sure she gives you the black ones rather than the grey ones.

They are very light (literally pick them up with two fingers) and do not stand up to a horse that box walks etc as they just come up all the time. I have had to cut mine about 20 times as they do squish down a lot and then pop up at the sides. However, mine have now been down for a year, and work brilliantly under bedding - they come up bigger than she states, and you only need 5 to do a 12x12 stable. Just make sure she doesn't give you the grey ones as they are useless - I had two in my batch, and tey ripped, bent, and bowed with little wear, the black ones have been great.

At the end of the day you get what you pay for - either you buy those, which take a bit more bedding and cutting etc, or you go for a premium mat, which costs more but are less hassle to fit. I am torn between ordering another batch (for a different stable) or just spending the extra and going for easimat. If the stables were my own, I would definately just go for easimat.
 
I bought Equimat, the thicker one as had heavyweight cob, but I did buy their seconds (cut wrong etc:-) and I'm very happy with them and over the year they haven't stretched that much and easy to clean.
 
Bump!

I've been thinking about getting matting for ages but had all the same questions as yourself. I was told that pig matting was really good and alot cheaper but I can't find any.
 
I bought some off Ebay, but can't remember the name...

Very heavy (about 45kg), 6x3, cost about £23.00 each.

They have survived well :D. Tend not to move much and not at all if whole floor is done and cut and fitted to the stable :)

Get the one with the grid pattern rather than the bobbly ones. The grid one is so much easier to sweep!
 
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