Stable matting

[Kikke]

Hi All,

We are moving stables and the new ones don't have any matting down, just concrete and deep betting in the back half.
I would like to put some sort of matting down but having never had to choose myself I wonder what is best what everyones experiences are with different sorts.
I have been reading about foam matts aswell and was wondering if any of you have experience with these as I have never come across them.

Many thanks for your advise!

 

[npage123]

It's a wise decision you're making to get rubber matting. I've not regretted buying mine for one moment. Some people buy only a few mats to cover the front of the stable (where there are not bedding), and ensure the bedding is done deep enough so that matting isn't needed for the whole stable. But I decided to spend more and buy enough matting to cover the whole stable. It's initially more expensive, but you can then over the many years to come use less bedding if you wanted to and save money that way.

I've bought rubber matting from Quattro over 15 years ago, and they are still as good as the day I bought it. I chose the 'Quattromats', and the 6 large mats have always fitted nicely into the 12' x 12' stables that I've had at the different livery yards over the years. They do also sell the foam matts/EVA, but I've seen (other makes) of foam matting not lasting as long as plain rubber matting, so didn't want to go for that option. What I do remember was the superb service that I got from them. The guy took ages to explain the different types of matting that they've got and to help me decide on the most appropriate type of matting for my horse.

https://www.quattro.org.uk/equine/stable-matting/stable-floors/

Just a tip - they are terribly heavy and are awkward to carry. I have found the easiest way to move them is to fold the mat in half, push a long piece of wood through the loop and get someone else to help you carry it by lifting the wood, one person on each side. Don't know if that explanation makes sense. Or just get two strong people with very long arms to lift and carry it, or drag it along the ground.

Just as an aside, I have also used Fieldguard. If I remember correctly their stable mats was much more expensive than Quattro matting. But they are probably more well known and have got a great reputation. I've bought horsebox ramp matting from them, which was a huge improvement to the ramp to help with gripping during loading.

https://fieldguard.com/product-category/rubber-mat-shop/

 

[fabbydo]

Mayo mats are thick, easy to cut to size, last forever (my oldest ones are 20 years old) and are very lightweight. I can move them by myself with no trouble.

 

[ester]

Kikke I asked on here recently as I had got used to mats on livery and we were keen to try and make Mum's life a bit easier in winter. I said no EVA originally but after asking on here everyone was raving about Mayo mats so that is what we have. It will be interesting longer term, I'm not convinced about the crud getting in the seams ATM though am sure they are fine for my tidy boy, the urine is coming through them and running forwards in messy mares stable but that hasn't been down as long and it seems to be reducing.
They are certainly lovely and warm and soft which does matter when your pony is in his dotage

 

[asmp]

I think the opposite to npage! I took my rubber mats out as I decided they were contributing to my horse's respiratory problems because the wee was collecting under them. The mats were too heavy for me to move on my own hence they didn't get cleaned under very often.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Hi All,

We are moving stables and the new ones don't have any matting down, just concrete and deep betting in the back half.
I would like to put some sort of matting down but having never had to choose myself I wonder what is best what everyones experiences are with different sorts.
I have been reading about foam matts aswell and was wondering if any of you have experience with these as I have never come across them.

Many thanks for your advise!

I like equimat as they are light and cut to size. All the stables are matted and much warmer too

 

[npage123]

I think the opposite to npage! I took my rubber mats out as I decided they were contributing to my horse's respiratory problems because the wee was collecting under them. The mats were too heavy for me to move on my own hence they didn't get cleaned under very often.

I'm very lucky that my OH is very handy. He has always helped with the fitting of the mats and they have always been fitted so tightly together, with no gaps between the mats and covering wall to wall - you can't detect any smell whatsoever from anything underneath.

I felt it was essential to buy rubber matting as preferred my horse standing on that rather than cold, hard concrete.

But what works for one person/horse doesn't work for another, each to their own

 

[milliepops]

I have 44mm mayo mats in one stable and they are excellent, the other stable has 34mm Easimats which are also good and have survived multiple stable moves!

I have equimats in my lorry and I'd love to have them in the stables, unfortunately out of my budget at the moment but my old patchwork EVA mats are doing just fine. The oldest ones are about 6 years old now and still looking tidy. I'll never go back to heavy rubber.

 

[MuddyMonster]

Another vote for EVA - I would never have heavy rubber mats again.

 

[PoniesRock]

Old cattle matting is half the price and thicker than equine matting. Really hard wearing too!

 

[ester]

we have cowmats outside the stables they are soooo heavy!