Stable Mats - which type are best?

[PurBee]

Im about to plunge into the world of stable matting. Those with experiences good and bad about mats please share, before i enter the realm of ‘should’ve got...’ in a years time!

Looking around, there’s various types on offer:

17mm, 18mm, 20mm.
6 x 4 feet seems standard size.

Some are straight sided mats, others are interlocking. (Id get interlocking if horse while getting up is able to push mat edges up, or move the mats?)


Most are round dimples on top. Some have straight channels underneath some have a matrix pattern underneath to provide more cushioning while laying down.

I read from others their mats curl up at the edges...

I want comfortable mats that stay put even if horse gets up quick, rolls etc. Which thickness etc would be best?

coffee and cake all round! ??

 

[asmp]

Personally none! I removed my heavy mats as I believe the urine sitting under them affected my horse’s breathing. He now has just the one in front of the door and a thick bed otherwise. Sorry - not what you wanted to hear.

 

[Britestar]

I've used Mayo mats for more than 20 years. Not had any problems.

 

[Red-1]

I had soft interlocking mats for years. I preferred them, they were lightweight for moving, soft, dried quickly, easy to cut with a kitchen knife, very insulating (you could actually tell the temp difference). I even used to take them to events to use under the meger bedding, with a plastic sheet under. They don't last as long as the other though, I had them down for 10 years but the last 5 they didn't lay flat. Not an issue to sort it out though, once you moved the bedding. Mine were actually heavy duty second hand gym mats, but very similar to the green horse ones in consistency. I really liked them and would choose the green horse ones myself if money was no object. Work had the actual green horse ones, they lasted well in the clipping bay.

I now have the heavy dimple/ channels design. When new, the dimples make sweeping tricky, the tack shop man said that many people deliberately fit them upside down to sweeping was a breeze. They are heavy to move, hard to cut. They are not as insulating. But, they are harder wearing, down 10 years now and they may bow into bubbles in the grooming parlour, but the stable ones have stayed flat. Not sure how much actual protection they give, very little cushioning, very little insulation.

 

[dogatemysalad]

Kraiburg for me. Mine are nearly 20 years old and are still like new after many moves. They drain really well unless your stable floor itself doesn't drain. However, sticking a hose at the back will flush out urine without soaking the bedding on top. I only lift mine once a year to jet wash the stable. I've never had a problem with smells regardless of how poor the stable floor has been.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

My stables are fitted with 18mm 6x4 heavy dimpled rubber mats. Because I fitted them so tightly not a drop of urine gets underneath and they do not move a cm in any direction. There took a long time to lay properly and I went through a couple of Stanley blades but it was worth it. The mats haven’t been moved since they went down 3 years ago and they nor their beds smell at all.

 

[meleeka]

I have recently bought these from Ark.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-Mat-Sp...-/232580524323?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292

They are much lighter than the rubber mats I had before, but haven’t moved an inch. They are also much softer than rubber mats. I’m very impressed with them, especially as they were cheaper too.

 

[Bernster]

Recently got equimat. They are thicker but lighter than standard rubber. Much easier to handle and were easy to fit. I’d get straight cut as not sure interlocking are really that helpful and heard they can bugle a bit. Early days but they seem fine. I did have an issue with the old heavy rubber mats with them getting cack underneath and I suspect it will happen with these too as they have a seam so it must be inevitable.

 

[paddy555]

fieldguard. They went down in 1993, still there and I still love them. Had a few others in the meantime. Hate the thick mayo mats biggest waste of money ever. If I had to have more it would be fieldguard.

 

[milliepops]

I've had lots of different kinds, mayo mats are my favourite and when I have permanent stables I'll kit them out fully as sold the last set. but at the moment i have the heavy rubber ones, 18mm which is pretty good for wear and staying put, but they are much much harder to move when you need to.

 

[ihatework]

On a standard concrete base my preference is Equimats, interlocking ones. The are more robust than cheaper EVA ones but not heavy like the rubber ones.

If you are lucky enough to be on a well draining surface then I’d go for the field guard ones that allow drainage

 

[HeyMich]

I got these from an Ebay shop

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Horse-St...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

They worked out cheaper than the normal brands and delivery was really quick. They've been down for about 8 months now and haven't moved a jot. Really pleased with them so far!

 

[PurBee]

I got these from an Ebay shop

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Horse-Stable-Mats-3-Mat-Pack-12mm-Heavy-Duty-Rubber-1800-x-1200mm/193442328021?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

They worked out cheaper than the normal brands and delivery was really quick. They've been down for about 8 months now and haven't moved a jot. Really pleased with them so far!

ive seen some with that top pattern - are they grippy ontop like the round topped common ones?

 

[PurBee]

Personally none! I removed my heavy mats as I believe the urine sitting under them affected my horse’s breathing. He now has just the one in front of the door and a thick bed otherwise. Sorry - not what you wanted to hear.

ive heard some people say this - my stable concrete has a slight slope to it for drainage. How does urine get underneath the mats? Were you using them without bedding? Im planning on using shavings and hope that that will absorb all pee. Does pee trickle between the tiny join gaps between mats?

 

[PurBee]

Im using a semi-deep bed system at the moment - ive got at least 6 inches of compact shavings underneath them to soak pee, and when that layer is damp it gets hauled out.
however, trouble is they lay and get up and due to concrete underneath, the whole 6inches of pee shavings moves, due to slippy concrete, so at the front where they are liable to mix the pee with fresh topping, so im wasting bedding as im skipping out fresh with pee shavings. It gets churned up.

so im hoping mats being grippy and cushioning will mean i can have shallow bedding of 3 inches, big banks, and skip out pee daily....thats the plan anyway...whether it’ll work....?

 

[ihatework]

ive heard some people say this - my stable concrete has a slight slope to it for drainage. How does urine get underneath the mats? Were you using them without bedding? Im planning on using shavings and hope that that will absorb all pee. Does pee trickle between the tiny join gaps between mats?

Unless you have a fully sealed floor then yes pee does get under them. How much depends on the drainage, amount/type of bedding and how well fitted the mats are. But inevitably it’s good practice to lift and disinfect every now and again. Hence why I like the interlocking lightweight equimats

 

[PurBee]

I've had lots of different kinds, mayo mats are my favourite and when I have permanent stables I'll kit them out fully as sold the last set. but at the moment i have the heavy rubber ones, 18mm which is pretty good for wear and staying put, but they are much much harder to move when you need to.

yes the weight of them is horrendous! Why would i need to move them? Im ignorant! Im hoping to tightly fit them in the space ....would it be worth me using silicone sealant along the join gaps to stop pee trickling underneath? The floor slopes back to drain out the back all washing water....they dont pee at the front, mainly middle and back.

 

[PurBee]

Unless you have a fully sealed floor then yes pee does get under them. How much depends on the drainage, amount/type of bedding and how well fitted the mats are. But inevitably it’s good practice to lift and disinfect every now and again. Hence why I like the interlocking lightweight equimats

Thanks - ill check out the equimats. I did see some evo and rubber mix mats.

i bought a load of rubber crumb mats 1x1 metre yrs ago, 1 inch thick...unfortunately they are not waterproof and pee soaks into them and leaches through to floor underneath!

 

[PurBee]

I have recently bought these from Ark.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-Mat-Sp...-/232580524323?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292

They are much lighter than the rubber mats I had before, but haven’t moved an inch. They are also much softer than rubber mats. I’m very impressed with them, especially as they were cheaper too.

Ive seen eva ones - do these not leave a hoof print impression on the surface or are they a denser eva?
what bedding do you use on top? How long have you had them down?
I have some 10mm eva mats in a room that the furniture chair legs leave a dimpled impression into...but it is a soft eva...i know there’s different grades. I was just a bit worried that eva foam might not be robust enough.

 

[ester]

I've used the hard rubber version (preinstalled) on livery and we now have mayo mat eva ones even though I was totally resistant to them before I asked on here. That was about 4/5 years ago??

They don't leave impressions and given that we have two oldies I am pleased we went for them from a comfort point of view even though we do have full beds too. (usually wood pellets on wee patches and miscanthus on top).

 

[meleeka]

Ive seen eva ones - do these not leave a hoof print impression on the surface or are they a denser eva?
what bedding do you use on top? How long have you had them down?
I have some 10mm eva mats in a room that the furniture chair legs leave a dimpled impression into...but it is a soft eva...i know there’s different grades. I was just a bit worried that eva foam might not be robust enough.

They don’t leave hoof marks at all and are probably harder than your soft grade. I put a shavings bed on top (only a bale for 3/4 of a 12 x 12 stable) and went for the thickness recommended for my 12hh pony. I also have a 16hh freisian and a 500kg cob that use that stable as a shelter so I’m confident they are heard wearing. I’ve only had them down since September, so I can’t give a long term review yet.

 

[jnb]

Equimats, I have had mine around 16 yrs, moved them 7 or so times, still as good as new. I used a thick shavings bed and never had smell issues nor has one ever moved so much as a mm.
Would buy again in a heartbeat.