Stable Mats

[michb52]

Morning everyone! Was looking for some advise with regard to stable mats. Basically just wanted to know if anyone uses them or knows someone who uses them and what the opinions are on them.
I am thinking of getting them for my four year old mare who is a nightmare to keep. She is so wet and dirty!
I have recently brought her back into work and have put her in a stable that I normally keep my other mare in. It was deep litter shavings - a really nice bed! Within a week she has ruined it to the extent that I am going to have to clear it out completely and start again!
I then moved her a few nights ago into another stable with a straw bed. I have been up every morning to muck out and bank the bed and then again in the evening to muck out and put the bed down again and I'm taking out approx 2 barrows a trip!!!
I am thinking that mats are my only alternative!

 

[ihatework]

Definitely your best bet I would say.
There are a few different types on the market, your standard 6 x 4 ft rubber mats - these are heavy and take 2 people to move but do the job
There are also EVA mats, much lighter and easier to handle, I use mightylite mats but there are other manufacturers too. The only small downside is that they do spread slightly and you may need to re-trim them after the first few week of use.

Having had both rubber and EVA I would go for EVA every time.

If you have a wet mucky horse the easiest and cheapest way is to use a small amount of shavings or other absorbant bedding and just sweep the whole stable out every day then just pop a bit of disinfectant down, fieldguard green gloop is good.

ETS: I have found that rugs can get a bit stinky using the above method and would advise keeping the NZ on in the stable, seems to not absorb any urine and also gets a bit of a wash in the rain!

 

[Macha]

Your Horse mag has Rubber Matting on test this month, looking at lots of different style etc

 

[michb52]

Thanks for the info!
Have you matting up the wall as well?
My friend has also expressed concern ref the horse getting cast?
Sorry for the 40 questions!!!

 

[ihatework]

No I don't have any matting up the wall and haven't had a problem with horses getting cast.
There is nothing to stop you putting shavings banks in. but if your horse is anything like mine the banks will be pulled down in seconds and mixed into a nice big mush of wee and poo

 

[AmyMay]

The whole yard has greengaurd mats down - and they have certainly cut the work down. Minimal bedding is used.

HOWEVER, the geldings have been taught to wee in to buckets at a signal, and only one mare is particulary wet - so does have more bedding than the others.

If you are willing to have enough bedding down to soak up the wee - but dispose of the whole bed daily then you'll be on to a winner.

Personally - I'd keep her on straw. Any that we had on straw were mucked out daily and easily filled two wheelbarrows.

 

[michb52]

Thanks for everyones advise!
Will get the mag today and do some more reserch on the net at lunch!

Michelle

 

[Theresa_F]

I use stablelite - very heavy, soft and porous. Had mine for years and they have lasted very well with a 750 k horse on them. This is my second set - last ones are still in use in a field shelter and are about 11 years old - only sold as I went down to one horse.

I use a 1/2 bale of shavings and 3/4 bale of dixons chopped straw - (mix them) a week for Cairo. This is with him in 16 hours four days and 24 hours 3 days a week in the winter.

He is a big horse and on a very high fibre diet with the obvious consequence.

I put down a bed of about 4" over the back half of the stable and take out about half of it completely every day.

By putting down a small bed, minimal smell, his rugs do get dirty, but they did on a conventional bed as he likes to lie in his poo.

I take them up once a week and pressure wash them and the stable.

One of my best buys.

 

[TGM]

Best thing I ever did was get rubber matting! My old mare is very wet and dirty and would just churn all the droppings into her shavings bed

. If you are going to go the minimal bedding route then do make sure you buy good quality thick springy matting. I have seen some cheap thin mats that are fine as under bed mats but IMO not suitable for the minimal bedding approach.

 

[samp]

I used to have a gelding that would box wlak and take over an hour to muck out. I bought some secondhand mats and reduced mucking out to 10 mins. I have recently purchased the Equimats and only takes 5 mins top - totally recommend

 

[barkinghorse]

I put William on mats as he was very wet, mine are sealed so i just jet them out weather permitting.
I still use 2 bales of shavings a week, but i put new bedding in every day.
Time wise, it's a life saver, i just shovel it all out and put down fresh!
On the smelly rug front, i have a very light turnout rug i chuck on him at night and remove in the morning and his rugs are clean and dry. A big plus this time of year when it's cold and damp.
Jo

 

[michb52]

Thanks again for all your replies and advice!

Apart for Ben and Jerry's does anyone else have the walls done as well??

 

[Tempi]

my gelding is the messiest horse alive (ask Piaffe!) but at least on rubber matting i can just sweep it out. he has a small shavings bed at the back of his stable, and he still lies down at night on it. its much much cheaper and easier!

 

[TGM]

[ QUOTE ]
Apart for Ben and Jerry's does anyone else have the walls done as well??

[/ QUOTE ] Nope - haven't done the walls. In my personal opinion I don't think banks actually make much difference to whether horses get cast or not. My old mare got cast several times whilst on beds with big banks, but, *touch wood*, none of mine have got cast since I have had the rubber mats.

 

[zulu705]

I got the 6 by 4 heavy mats about 2 months ago for my mare on box rest recovering from tendon injury. She was on straw and box walks. I like the mats but she doesn't seem to be cleaner nor is it quicker to muck out, though I am probably doing it wrong. I tried megazorb bedding first, didn't get on with it as it goes mucky really quickly, though didn't really smell. Now just on normal shavings, have small banks and thin bed over half of stable. Push it all back in morning and take muck out and lay bed back down at night. Works ok but not as quick as I'd like. The mats I got are diffcult to sweep really clean though as have bobble top.

 

[magic104]

There was an article some months back that stated banks do not stop horses getting cast which I can state is true. I dont bank anymore, the horses do have a fairly thick bed even with rubber matting. If your mare is very wet she will need enough bedding to soak up the urine, as it can be quiet slippery when they get up from lying down.