I bought a coco mat for the trailer ramp to make it less slippery.
The mat seems nice and grippy, however, it is easy for the entire mat to slip and come off the ramp. For those who use coco mats–what do you do to secure the mat in place, so it does not slip down when the horse walks on it?
Do you want it secured there permanently or only when loading/unloading? If permanent I would think some good screws with big washers.
I personally prefer a really good rubber mat unless you are using an old style horse van with the steep ramp. I have never had my horse slip on my Trail-et ramp. I would bet your could get a rubber ramp mat from Hawk, Equi-spirit or Cotner. They all seem to have nice grippy mats even when wet.
Related question. I have always avoided unloading my horse onto asphalt. Virtually all trail heads and equestrian venues are gravel parking. But is there anything that might work if you really needed to do this,?
I have a coco mat and I have not had a problem with it slipping. I load one horse, then slide it over to the other side of the ramp to load the other. However, it is pretty heavy and thick. I really prefer this to the ramp itself, which has quarter sized raised nubs that I swear make it more slippery when it is wet or cold.
I would just like to say I think the coco mat is a great idea and I’ve been wondering the same thing myself. I have owned my horse for 10 plus years. She has gone up and down my trailer ramp for all those years at least one a month. She had never slipped. I don’t care if it was wet there was manure on it or anything else. However, a few months ago she slipped to her knees and scared the s… out of me. Not sure what happened but when we got home and unloaded it happened again. So just because it hasn’t happened yet doesn’t mean it won’t.
We use a coco mat on my trainer’s steep side ramp into the 6 horse and it’s never slipped. Maybe give it a try without securing it and see if you really need to?
just while loading and unloading.
I tried it once and when the horse hesitated with just front feet on, it started slipping. It’s possible it wouldn’t if the horse walked right on. But, while I re-train this horse to load, I might need something to keep it stable.
The horse was injured while slipping off a ramp and didn’t want to trailer at all after that. I’ve spent the last couple months working with her on a friend’s step up. She’s mastered the step up now, so it’s time to get her used to my ramp again. But of course, I want to set us up for success and mat slipping worried me.
If you have a trailer repair place near you, they could probably permanently fasten it on. I suppose you could try C clamps, but I can see potential problems w those- sticking up and some how tripping or a horse or person or getting caught somehow. Maybe a hardware store might know of something like that which is flat???
I don’t have a problem with mine slipping but it’s quite long (6 ft or so, I think) so it drapes a little onto the floor of the trailer, which anchors it a bit. I can see if it was shorter it might slip.
^^^ this. The coco matt should be long enough that it reaches over the end of the ramp. It shouldn’t slip if it’s long enough. If yours isn’t long enough, maybe try scooching it up so it does lie on the floor of the trailer.
Ok, thanks–makes sense! It’s long enough to lay in the trailer, but only a bit. I’ll scooch it up so at least a foot is lying in the trailer bed. It’ll mean the very bottom of the ramp won’t be covered, but that’s also a part that a horse doesn’t ever really step on.
Thank you!
Is it possible that the rubber on the ramp needs to be replaced? My ramp has a very rough mat on it, but after ten years I could see the bumps getting worn smooth and being much slipperier.
These are the kind of screws with a big flat head that are often used to install mats:
https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Redline/WLS100.html
Some people also install a few ‘treads’ on the ramp, so if the hoof slides it will stop at the next ridge of rubber.
Thanks for the info on the screws. The ramp was rebuilt last year and new ‘rubber’ put down. I’ve thought about the rubber ridges and am worried that she will get her shoes caught on them.
Currently she is good but it now takes 2 people to unload her as i have to be in the trailer with her to back her off ever so slowly. She was tip toeing off until the last time. Rightly so she is scared.
Friends I ride for have a horse van with a steep ramp and use a coco mat for traction. They ran the end of the coco mat around a 2X4 and secured it with washers and screws to the board. The board is about a foot wider than the door opening, allowing about 6 inches of board to contact either side of the doorway to stabilize the mat, with the loose end unrolling down the ramp to the ground. Its made storing the mat when not being used pretty easy too, as the mat just rolls up around the board.
We put treads on our ramps. We talked about the coco mats, but decided against them as too much work, dirty, no room in our storage area when loaded. When we go out, trailer is packed to the gills with driving equipment. We take 2 to 5 horses and their accessories. Loading all that you get sweaty, don’t need to be wearing horse poop after rolling up dirty mats too, for hours of travel.
Husband put small strips of wood across the ramps, about 12 inches apart on a rubber covered ramp. Our big horses have big hooves, long strides, so that tread spacing works pretty well. Though smaller horses also do fine with the ramp. Horses can ALWAYS trust their footing on the ramp, shod, barefoot, wet or dry ramp. Makes them very easy loaders in any situation. Even horses unfamiliar with the trailer or ramps will load in them easily, in very short order.
I love the treads for being one less thing to “deal with” in the process of loading up to head out. No extra time needed to use the ramp, no extra dirt on ME!! I have a terrible time staying even “sort of” clean around horses. So one less dirty job is a big help. I can’t think rolling up or folding coco mats will keep me clean. There is ALWAYS one comedian who would poop and then spread it all over the mat! Ha ha
Treads are screwded firmly to the ramp. They do get chipped, edges round off, but still hold the hoof in place going up or down. Treads are easily replaced cheaply, do it yourself, if they get too worn with use.
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