Rubber stable mats

[annieapple7]

Hi tack room chums
Have just added up how shavings are costing me. A bale is £7.60 and being frugal, I get through a bale and half a week. For the 6 months the 2 horses are in, it will cost about £275.
Today I saw some rubber mats for stables, they are £45 for 6 x 4 feet and 18 mm thick. I have seen them cheaper too.
Does anyone use them? Apparently you don't need any bedding on top, maybe just a sprinkle to absorb wetness and just sweep away each morning.
I don't like the thought of the lying on rubber rather than soft shavings, but then they lie down on the ground outside don't they?
Any thoughts or advice?

[horseylady]

Mine goes through 2 bales a week and is on matting!! In 24/7 in winter and a box walking very wet mare don't go together !! Love my mats though dread to think how much I'd use without them. Might try wood pellets soon cost is astronmical ATM :(

[MagsyMoo5]

Hi just joined MN and found this thread...
We have mats and as long as they are fitted wall to wall & locked together tightly they work well. Problems arise when there are gaps between mats as everything collects there & seeps underneath - which then is smelly.

We have also just changed to double dedusted rape seed straw from shavings on top. it is brill! £5.99 a bale and as Loshad does we skip out 2 or 3 times daily & remove wet at weekends as the straw takes the wetness to the bottom leaving dry on top ( not sure how or why it works ...but it does!). there are a few good brands if you google rapeseed straw. and they list their stockists.

[Aftertheraincomesthesun]

Do you work for horsemats Steve?!

[RedComet]

Since thus treat has surfaced again any views on shavings/ bedding please. Using hunters on mats and when she is in season we put woodpettes under the shavings which I find helps with smell. Would be nice to hear some other ideas.

Thanks

[elastamum]

We have equimats and we use woodpellet beds on top. I think it costs about £5 a week per horse and very easy to muck out. My muck heap is tiny. Brilliant bedding imo

[elastamum]

We have equimats and we use woodpellet beds on top. I think it costs about £5 a week per horse and very easy to muck out. My muck heap is tiny. Brilliant bedding imo

[elastamum]

We have equimats and we use woodpellet beds on top. I think it costs about £5 a week per horse and very easy to muck out. My muck heap is tiny. Brilliant bedding imo

[elastamum]

We have equimats and we use woodpellet beds on top. I think it costs about £5 a week per horse and very easy to muck out. My muck heap is tiny. Brilliant bedding imo

[elastamum]

Sorry!

[elastamum]

Sorry!