hi im new here, hope to make a few contribution my self
but i have a question about stable matting to begin with

We have been using straw bedding currently as a flooring, but have been looking at rubber stable matting as a more cost effective solution. As well has being hopefully easyier to clean out. I just woundered what peoples opoins where on this

http://www.polymax.co.uk/Catalogue%2...ble%20Mats.htm

Its the MM002 and MM014 One has a textured effect the other has dipples which one is best

many thanks
james

I love mats, they are an easy way of cleaning a stall, although you also want to put something on top of the mats for beding. I happen to like just plain shavings. I do not care for straw at all considering it takes too long to clean out, its messy, and does not aborb pee very well. Using just mats and nothing at all on top does not allow the horse any cushion and will create bed sores and also will not aborb pee at all.

All of my stalls are matted, but like fancyhorse said you still need some type of bedding on top. There are so many different types of bedding, you just have to find something that works well for you.

I am currently using straw bedding. The mushroom growers around here will come and take straw manore for free, so it is very efficient for me. But if you have other ways of getting rid of your manore, than there are plenty of other types of bedding out there.

Good Luck!

Since you put bedding on top of the rubber mat, is the rubber mat for comfort? Or, is the rubber mat easier to clean than other floors? (what else would it be.. wood? or concrete?)

Just wondering the reasoning behind the rubber mats!

Rubber mats serve purpose as far as: easier for you to clean stalls, prevent horses from digging holes, keeping stalls cleaner and drier for the horses. I have only seen dirt surfaces, havn't come across any concret or wood as of yet. With the dirt the saving tend to get very dirty fast and create mud, which is much harder to clean up. Also, if you have a digger, boy do you get large holes and fast! By investing in mats, it cuts the cost in the ammount of saving you use and also labor involved.

I have concrete floors in my barn, i use the mats to prevent them from having to lay on the cold surface of the concrete and to help with cleaning

We used to use the rubber mats in the stalls that we had in our arena barn. The reasoning for this was because the horses would paw and dig at the ground, digging themselves holes and low areas. Rubber mats helped to keep them from doing that, as well as giving them a cushioned surface to stand on. Over top of these, we used pine shavings which were easy to "pick" and keep clean.