Rubber matting recommendations please

B

beaconhorse

Well-Known Member
Joined
22 August 2004
Messages
576
Visit site
OK so looking into rubber matting as new neddie rolls for England and doesn't care if the bed is down or not ie the other day he rolled and his bum and hind were on the concrete !!

BUT there are so many different sorts not to mention different companies

the big heavy ones and the smaller EVA lightweight ones

Now while the smaller ones appeal to me as I would not be able to lift the others to clean or to move stables, are they really any good?

What are the pros and cons

someone I know is selling 2nd hand Fieldguard ones for £22 each which are normally £30 plus vat and del. not sure how old they are tho
 
i use the 6x4 heavy matts, very hard to move but easy if you get the nack! i used to half rol mine and drag them. i used them because when mine would roll he would move them. £35.95 a matt. need 6 for a 12x12 stable!
 
I would say shop around and haggle. I have the 6x4 heavy mats and while they are heavy to lift its not that bad if there are two of you and you only do it a couple of times a year. I got mine really cheap by going direct to a manufacturer and offering to go and pick them up from the factory.
 
We have equimat and would definately recommend it. It is more expensive unfortunately but it is excellent quality and in this case, definately worth the extra.
 
If you can stretch to Equimat, then definitely get them. They are slightly more expensive then other mats initially, but more than worth it.

I couldn't afford to kit out a big box with them, so went for www.horsemats.co.uk. Very good value for money and the delivery driver was v. helpful.

Both companies have 'wiggle room' in their prices.
 
[ QUOTE ]
someone I know is selling 2nd hand Fieldguard ones for £22 each which are normally £30 plus vat and del. not sure how old they are tho

[/ QUOTE ]

If these are the little ones with feet on then second hand they are like rocking horse pooh! A mate of mine had them, they last for donkeys years and probably still the best on the market IMO. You don't need to lift them, just stick the hosepipe underneath and all the wet gets flushed away leaving the top surface dry, they are very soft too.

EVA mats are ok but you have to cut them to fit and if you ever move stables you will have more cutting to do or buy more mats. Solid rubber mats however, can be bent up walls and moved as many times as you like.

I was converted to rubber years ago and have tried several sorts as well as made the odd mistake. Depending on your budget I'd say Carpetpac do the best value at the bottom end, Fieldguard are top of the range and Kraiburg, which I have, are somewhere in the middle.

Carpetpac can be found on ebay, their 6x4' mats are 18mm thick and about £25 each. I know several people who've had theirs and were very pleased.
 
Fieldguard for me, I have mats that are nearly 20 years old and are still very much in use and look as if they will last another 20.

The scary bit is buying them in the fist place, but they are like the duracell bunny .... they just keep going.
 
Hi I just posted this for some else.

NO TO MATS I agree they are quite disgusting but a BIG YES to a COMPLETE covering of rubber. I have had this in 3 of my stables and wouldn't be without it, it is pricey but well worth it if you can stretch to it. The last 2 I had done a year ago and cost £1450 + VAT for a 12'6" x 14' and a 13'4" x 14'. It is called Solofloor by Kraiburg and will last for years and years, it is sealed to the floor with an underlay and not one bit of mess or wee can get through, I can't recommend it highly enough, William Fox-Pitt has it you know!! This is there website www.kraiburg.co.uk if it helps.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top