rubber matting

[razzdazz]

Hi all, just a quick question about rubber matting that may sound daft. My friend has kitted all of the stables that she uses out with rubber matting but the only bedding that she is adding is banks (shavings). Now I was always led to believe that the mats were just instead of the concrete flooring and that you still had to cover them with a form of bedding as you would usually. Which one of us is right??? She is adamant that no extra bedding is needed
Thanks

[MoonlightandRoses]

I'm with you on this one - you do need some extra shavings / straw over the top for absorbency and to stop splash-back type situations. Admittedly you don't need anything like as much though, so maybe that's where she's getting confused. Will see if I can find you any links.

[ObviouslyInvisible]

I know people who put a full bed down on top of matting, and people who only sprinkle a thin layer of shavings over to soak up the wee and minimise splash-back on the horse legs/belly.

I think generally the idea is that you use less bedding with mats, saving on cost and mucking out time, but I wouldn't leave them totally bare personally, for the splash-back reason.

In fact, personally, I'd still put a proper bed on top, so they're comfy and warm. But I'm soft!

[MoonlightandRoses]

In fact, the first few links in this Google search all confirm that bedding is required - they simply refer to 'reduced' bedding requirements.

Hope you can persuade her as her horses really should not be having to make do with just the rubber matting, it is inadquate and unfair on them.

[annieapple7]

You are supposed to use a thin layer for absorbency not for cushioning. Horses lie down on the ground outside -there are no fluffy shavings beds there! I am considering them for the long term cost savings - shavings now £9 a bale and I was getting through 3 a week for 2 horses through the winter. But if I was rich I would have rubber and thick shavings of course!

[Butkin]

Definitely some bedding required - as detailed above.

We have 2/3rds rubber - towards the doors - and 1/3 shavings only - at the back. They do all their droppings on the shavings and often lie down there as well but the rubber is great for when they are just standing about and we have their hay above the rubber which means easier to sweep out.

One thing we do (which isn't as promoted) is to have the pimples on the bottom and the grooves on the top. Makes it easier to sweep out. I guess the grooves are to channel the wee to a drain but we don't have drains in our old stables.

[marge2]

Have you ever seen the state of rugs after your horse has layn down even on 'reduced' bedding with rubber mats. One yard my horse was at years ago put them down with just a thin covering of shavings. My rugs were rank and I had to get them washed so much more often. I would always put a proper bed on top, but perhaps I'm too soft too. They can't be very comfy to lie on can they?

[ObviouslyInvisible]

We've always used the mats with the grooves on top Butkin. I didn't know that wasn't the right way! Some people I've mucked out for have had the grooves running side to side, which I really don't get. So much easier to muck out with the grooves running back to front, so you can sweep everything to the door. Some people even have random off-cuts of mat to make it fit properly, with the grooves running in different directions! Nightmare to sweep!

[horseylady]

I use my mats the wrong way round then?!! Whoops?! Saying that horse has full bed on top of mats and I lift my matts once or twice a week to stop them smelling!! The idea is you use less but in reality I don't!! Well maybe a couple of bales less but not much!!

Much prefer them to her standing on concrete 24/7 in the winter.

[Booboostoo]

You can use mats completely on their own, some people are forced to do this because of their horse has severe respiratory allergies, but you need to seal the mats so that no pee gets trapped between them and the stable should be slopping to the outside so that pee runs out and is collected in a drain.

I seal all my mats so that no pee gets through (therefore there is no need to lift them or clean them, they are very clean with no trapped pee underneath) and use a small amount of wood pellets where the horse is likely to pee. All of mine roll and sleep on this arrangement with no problems.