Rubber matting

R

Rosiejazzandpia

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 December 2012
Messages
2,106
Visit site
Hi all,
I've got a concrete floor stable and had a nightmare last winter with using straw bedding.
This year I'm wanting to prepare ahead and get some matting to use with shavings/pellets to hopefully save a bit of money along with time.
Which rubber matting do people recommend. No horsey places local selling it so will have to order online I think, I've looked for second hand but there doesn't seem to be much local.
Thanks in advance :)
 
Look for a supplier whose delivery is built in - or remember to factor in the cost. The thicker the mat the longer it will last. Cutting and fitting heavy full size mats is very much a 2 person job. If you are alone consider the jigsaw ones that lock together - but they do settle and gaps will appear within a year or so which can be frustrating. They also don't cut to size too well if your stable is not perfectly square.

Oh - and pimples up, drainage groves down...
 
Shay said:
Look for a supplier whose delivery is built in - or remember to factor in the cost. The thicker the mat the longer it will last. Cutting and fitting heavy full size mats is very much a 2 person job. If you are alone consider the jigsaw ones that lock together - but they do settle and gaps will appear within a year or so which can be frustrating. They also don't cut to size too well if your stable is not perfectly square.

Oh - and pimples up, drainage groves down...
Click to expand...

Thank you! Stable is awkwardly shaped and is 13ft by 11ft so mats will be fitted by husband and my dad who likes these sort of projects. I've seen the jigsaw ones but don't really want to be dealing with gaps etc
 
If you've got suitable and skilled help (My OH did mine) then the best option is the thickest mats you can afford, individually laid. You'll probably be able to sell the offcuts. It really helps to re-lay your concrete floor first - ridges and gaps will eventually make the mats slip or crack. If you have a sloped floor make sure you fit the drainage groves going the correct way. If you don't then make a plan of which may goes where so you can lift every so often to clean beneath. And away you go. They are a brilliant investment!
 
I bought thick EVA cow mats (they are about 40mm thick I think), they are butted up together not the interlocking type. They were delivered to the yard and I fitted them myself with the help of my OH. It was a fairly easy task because they are so light, if I had opted for solid rubber ones I don't imagine it would have been so easy and probably would have found someone else to do it! I haven't lifted them to clean underneath yet, but I'm hoping it won't be too difficult. I chose the thick EVA ones because I was hoping to get away with using less bedding, I can in some stables but one of mine is so disgustingly wet he still needs a deep bed to keep him dry (so no saving there).
I was worried about the EVA ones being too soft and not durable enough, but I haven't been disappointed. They just soft enough and haven't got a mark on them yet, I think they have also helped my arthritic boy when he has to come in. Just make sure you leave some gaps around the edge for them to expand, we got lazy when fitting them and didn't bother in some stables, so I've had to go back and trim them.
 
I bought secondhand and got a good bargain so I would recommend doing that to be honest. Not to say it wasn't an absolute nightmare to lug them into the car then back out and into the stable the other side, then cut them and fit to size. Cutting and fitting probably is a two person job but I managed on my own with a stanley knife and elbow grease. I think I paid £50 for 5 or something ridiculous like that so it was worth it!
 
I have rubber in two stables and EVA in the other two, Eva is quite new, but wearing well. I found a company local to me that sells gaskets, but also Eva matting, good price and he delivered it for free the next day. Plus it has jigsaw lugs so fits together really well

Or ask on your local fb page, there is always someone selling rubber mats
 
tda said:
I have rubber in two stables and EVA in the other two, Eva is quite new, but wearing well. I found a company local to me that sells gaskets, but also Eva matting, good price and he delivered it for free the next day. Plus it has jigsaw lugs so fits together really well

Or ask on your local fb page, there is always someone selling rubber mats
Click to expand...

Same here, really like them also east to move to clean underneath.
 
I've only had the EVA ones for a month - I got the thinner Arkmat ones as a joblot on ebay, delivered the next day.

My stable should be 12x12 but tapers slightly. Trimming is fairly easy, though I didn't know about leaving a gap and will have to go re-trim since they expanded at the front.

But other than the slight waterbed look we have currently, I love them. They weigh 10kg each so are really easy to lift and clean under. And the interlocking thing just is very pleasing as it makes it easier to lay them in my eyes. I hope they last a decent amount of time.
 
Rosiejazzandpia said:
Hi all,
I've got a concrete floor stable and had a nightmare last winter with using straw bedding.
This year I'm wanting to prepare ahead and get some matting to use with shavings/pellets to hopefully save a bit of money along with time.
Which rubber matting do people recommend. No horsey places local selling it so will have to order online I think, I've looked for second hand but there doesn't seem to be much local.
Thanks in advance :)
Click to expand...

Personally, if your horses bed is thick enough, there is no need for rubber matting. In my experience many people use rubber matting and less bedding material to cut down on mucking out time. Urine will collect under rubber matting & it will stink. Trust me. Without regular lifting of the mats & hosing down, your stable will smell like a public pissoir.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top