Rubber matting

[Annalee]

Hi there,
I have questions about rubber matting and bedding.
I have the worst fitting rubber mats in my mares stable. The front half is fine. The back is a mix and match of cut offs which were in the stables when I moved there. At some point every summer I take them out to clean and dry. For some reason this year they just will not go back in!
I can’t afford to by new mats, I know this would be more cost effective in the long run but I don’t have the money upfront. She doesn’t have a huge bed, just a thick bed of shaving with small banks, I thought about using wood pellets as a deep litter base. The only problem is shes not messy at all but only pees in one spot, and the the stable is very small. If deep littering would her pee likely run under the other mats or would the pellets be absorbent enough to stop this. I’ve heard of many people using a pellet base. Are pellets worth the money and effort? Do they help keep a cleaner bed? Has anyone been in a similar situation? Thanks

 

[tiahatti]

I think pellets underneath are worth a try. I found them very absorbent. Love your horse.

 

[PapaverFollis]

I would take the mats at the back up completely and do a deep, semi-deeplittered bed on the concrete at the back with the decent mats at the front so she's not standing on concrete. I did it with Easibed and wood pellets just in the pee spot with my clean mare 2 years ago. She just had a small matted area at the front of the stable by the door so she wasn't stood on concrete at all. It worked really well. I'd be worried about those mats moving and becoming a trip hazard. Plus what pain in the bottom to clean! I'd rather be able to get to a smooth surface to scrape up wet bedding thoroughly. Rather than it all getting trapped in the gaps.

 

[Annalee]

I think I’m going to give pellets a go. Thank you! She’s little a diva! Only 13.3hh, trashed her paddock this morning because I was late with breakfast ?

 

[Annalee]

I think pellets underneath are worth a try. I found them very absorbent. Love your horse.

I think I’m going to give pellets a go. Thank you! She’s little a diva! Only 13.3hh, trashed her paddock this morning because I was late with breakfast ?

 

[Annalee]

I would take the mats at the back up completely and do a deep, semi-deeplittered bed on the concrete at the back with the decent mats at the front so she's not standing on concrete. I did it with Easibed and wood pellets just in the pee spot with my clean mare 2 years ago. She just had a small matted area at the front of the stable by the door so she wasn't stood on concrete at all. It worked really well. I'd be worried about those mats moving and becoming a trip hazard. Plus what pain in the bottom to clean! I'd rather be able to get to a smooth surface to scrape up wet bedding thoroughly. Rather than it all getting trapped in the gaps.

Thanks, I think I will try pellets. The mats don’t move much really, but I alway say she shuffles around in the stable. She doesn’t pick her feet up, just shuffles through the bed. The way they’re sitting now is just leaving huge holes for old shavings and pee to fall into. Going to be a nightmare to muck out!

 

[PapaverFollis]

The way they’re sitting now is just leaving huge holes for old shavings and pee to fall into. Going to be a nightmare to muck out!

Exactly! Take them out. If they are underneath a thick bed they are doing anything that's worth that level of faff. Plus they'll trap pee and ammonia and make the air in the stable worse than without. Rubber mats under the bed are great if they are well fitting but once they get gaps between them all are are curled up they are more of a hassle than a benefit!