Rubber matting

[Sprogladite01]

I'm thinking about replacing the rubber matting in one of my stables - the previous occupant was a floor scraper and he managed to break all the seals and the current mats now lift/curl up and are becoming a real hazard. Just googling and am a bit overwhelmed so thought I'd ask on here for any recommendations - who have you used, who would you avoid, did you install yourself or have someone come and do it (I am not particularly DIY blessed lol). Any and all thoughts on the matter appreciated

 

[doodle]

I got the equimats. I got the thickest ones as my horse is big 28mm I think. It’s the green interlocking ones. Expensive. Almost £900 Inc delivery for a 12x12 stable. As they are interlocking (and I fit the edges tightly) they don’t move at all. We have straw included in livery and I add a thin layer of shavings where he wees and this way very little goes through. My old ones were 20 years old so I was perfectly happy to shell out for the expensive ones as they do such a good job. I fitted them myself. I could have done with someone helping move them but it was doable. They are also very easy to cut to size.

 

[Sprogladite01]

Thank you, I think I'm veering towards interlocking mats unless anyone can offer a compelling reason not to! I do wood pellets topped with aubiose over the mats anyway so wouldn't expect much to get through (my place is like a magnet for natives with lami...deep beds everywhere lol).

 

[HufflyPuffly]

I have the interlocking Arkmats and straight edge Easimats both 38mm. I think straight edge is easier to adjust for any swelling or spreading you might get when temps hot up or if you have heavier horses squishing the mats more.

Easimats I've had for around 6/7 years and are still going strong (though my horses tend not to be shod) and I've just bought the Arkmats as seconds off ebay so a bit early to say how well they last but so far so good. Both were easy to install just needed a sharp Stanley knife to cut to size.

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

I have hard rubber mats in one stable been down a decade never been lifted fit perfectly no deterioration.

Second stable 6 interlocking Easimat thick £370 for 6 mats in April this year. I’d say it can be hard to get the interlocking just right. You need to have a nice flat surface to work properly. They flatten and stretch especially in the doorway and there is some damage from scraping. Although I left a gap around the edges as instructed I’ve still had to lift and trim to stop it bubbling up as it stretches. They are warmer and softer than the others though.

I previously used wood pellets until the price hike and now use chopped rape straw.

 

[Sprogladite01]

I have the interlocking Arkmats and straight edge Easimats both 38mm. I think straight edge is easier to adjust for any swelling or spreading you might get when temps hot up or if you have heavier horses squishing the mats more.

Easimats I've had for around 6/7 years and are still going strong (though my horses tend not to be shod) and I've just bought the Arkmats as seconds off ebay so a bit early to say how well they last but so far so good. Both were easy to install just needed a sharp Stanley knife to cut to size.

Hmm. I have an 11h welsh sec a who is barefoot, and a 13.3 Fjord on loan at the moment who is a chonk. But she will only be here until April-ish when I'll then be buying a new ridden horse. Lord knows what I'll end up buying though! Can't imagine too big as I'm only 5 ft lol...

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Hmm. I have an 11h welsh sec a who is barefoot, and a 13.3 Fjord on loan at the moment who is a chonk. But she will only be here until April-ish when I'll then be buying a new ridden horse. Lord knows what I'll end up buying though! Can't imagine too big as I'm only 5 ft lol...

Ah you'll be fine, mine have ranged from 14.3hh dainty PBA to a 15.3hh'ish middleweight, the Arkmats are for baby Beryl who despite being a PBA is definitely not dainty and looks to be bigger than my other two already! I think its more if you have big, shod horses then I guess they will wear them more and squish them more as they are softer than the traditional rubber matting.

 

[doodle]

Mine is a 16.2 wb and about 650kg so don’t worry about that! I think I hit it wrong tho and it is 38mm. They do say to get the thicker ones for horses over 600kg. The 20 yo mats hadn’t worn (mostly used with a 16hh by) but they had spread slightly in the middle which was why I replaced as stable flooded and so I had to lift them. Getting them down again was more tricky. We do have a perfectly level surface for them to go down on.

 

[Sprogladite01]

Mine is a 16.2 wb and about 650kg so don’t worry about that! I think I hit it wrong tho and it is 38mm. They do say to get the thicker ones for horses over 600kg. The 20 yo mats hadn’t worn (mostly used with a 16hh by) but they had spread slightly in the middle which was why I replaced as stable flooded and so I had to lift them. Getting them down again was more tricky. We do have a perfectly level surface for them to go down on.

Yes I seriously doubt I will get anything that large, I'm both short and very conscious of my own mortality these days so something smaller and hopefully politer than my last lovely boy would be ideal (still nursing a torn rotator cuff from him yanking my arm out despite a chifney!! He was lovely, I promise).

We do have a nice level surface so that's good to know. The Fjord we have is also barefoot at the moment so not worried about replacing while she's here.

I've seen for the sealed mats, some of them recommend waiting 12+ hours for the seals to set - can you chuck them straight on the interlocking ones?

 

[Abby-Lou]

I got the equimats. I got the thickest ones as my horse is big 28mm I think. It’s the green interlocking ones. Expensive. Almost £900 Inc delivery for a 12x12 stable. As they are interlocking (and I fit the edges tightly) they don’t move at all. We have straw included in livery and I add a thin layer of shavings where he wees and this way very little goes through. My old ones were 20 years old so I was perfectly happy to shell out for the expensive ones as they do such a good job. I fitted them myself. I could have done with someone helping move them but it was doable. They are also very easy to cut to size.

Totally 2nd this money well spent and they don't move and are very hard wearing would not consider any other brand

 

[doodle]

Yes you can put them straight on. I put mats down, admired for a bit and took a phone. Put bed down and horse came in!

 

[Sprogladite01]

Yes you can put them straight on. I put mats down, admired for a bit and took a phone. Put bed down and horse came in!

Thank you, looking more and more like that's the way to go then as I'd quite like to get it all sorted in a day or less! Especially as I'm likely to do it in the depths of winter knowing the rate I move at

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Well for a memorable "Big O" birthday I decided to make life a little easier for myself and took the plunge and bought the "Versa" interlocking mats. They're 1m square and easy to manage.

Did our two stables in a weekend; two of us (girls!) managed the job fine. We had to cut some as we have odd-shaped stables but had enough left over to do the wash-down area. The hardest part was having to cut the things.

All I do now is just chuck say a bucket-full of shavings down. That's it. Minimal is the word.

Best money I ever spent.

 

[Surbie]

Well for a memorable "Big O" birthday I decided to make life a little easier for myself and took the plunge and bought the "Versa" interlocking mats. They're 1m square and easy to manage.

Thanks so much for posting that - I have been wondering what my (third or fourthhand) mats are and I think these might be it - they weigh a lot, and there are 12 for a 12x12 stable, but they have been brilliant. So much better than my Arkmats.