Interlocking vs. 4x6’s …Any opinions?
We bought enough mats at a farm auction, they came from a dairy that closed, to use on our 9, 16’ x 16’ stalls.
Those mats were most 10’ x 8’, so you can get mats at supply places in many other sizes than 4’x 6’.
Been installing the interlocking kind (6 pieces for a 12x12 stall) and so far so good. I like that I can lift up a piece at a time and re-level or repair what’s underneath.
It takes a lot of grunt to move these sections. I cannot fathom transporting, moving or installing one of the same weight and thickness that’s also 6x as large.
We installed 4’ by 6’ heavy weight mats 23 years ago (these are nothing like what Tractor Supply sells) , the mats are still where we placed them. The stalls are used nearly every day and show nearly no wear.
[QUOTE=DHCarrotfeeder;7257347]
Been installing the interlocking kind (6 pieces for a 12x12 stall) and so far so good. I like that I can lift up a piece at a time and re-level or repair what’s underneath.
It takes a lot of grunt to move these sections. I cannot fathom transporting, moving or installing one of the same weight and thickness that’s also 6x as large.[/QUOTE]
On the other hand, the larger sizes won’t move.
You don’t have to lift them to fix anything under them, if set right the first time.
They tend to stay where you put them, no matter how wild horses are on them.
There generally are trade-offs to much we do, that is life.:yes:
There were always mats in every barn we boarded at and I hated them - always had a corner sticking up - usually in the middle of the stall!
When we built our barn we went with interlocking and I love them - set them and forget them is all I can say. No movement or curling and nothing that a horse can get a hold of/mess with. I would never go back to regular mats again.
I think if you don’t have a good, level base then you’re going to have problems with mats. I have the 4X6’s over level crushed stone. It’s a flat surface and the mats fit tightly together and I have no hint of an issue and no reason to suspect I will.
Bluey,
I agree with that point however unless you’re on concrete you can / should expect periodic maintenance on the stuff underneath. Settling, washout, burrowing mice, etc.
Both will work. In my case I think putting in a one-piece 12x12 rubber mat of the same material as our 4x6 interlocking would have killed me.
David
Are we talking about the smaller interlocking mats sold at TS, or a 4x6 interlocking?
Equustall flooring in stalls
We have used Equustall flooring in both our NJ and Virginia barns. We used it in NJ for about 11 years- looked brand new when we left. Put it in our Virginia barn in 1999, and have not had one problem with it. Planning on using it in Aiken whn we move there- can’t say enough good about it!
http://www.acfenvironmental.com/equustall.html
I’ve been using Humane Loktuff 4x6 interlocking, 3/4" thick. Being 3/4" thick helps the interlocking hold tight. I used a hand tamper to set all of the seams flush.
Used 4xz6 in past ~ Interlocking now / worth the pri$e = SUPERIOR !
[I]
4x6 in the past ~ worked nicely with most
[/I]* interlocking now all stalls = SUPERIOR and worth their pri$e ! 
:D:yes:
What do you know, just heard of more and more barns here taking mats out, using them other places than stalls, except under feed buckets and/or front of stalls, they still have some there.
They are saying back to dirt, their horses are happier, lay down more again and yes, there is more maintenance adding dirt, in some stalls more than others, but the horse’s obvious comfort is worth it.
They are also saying it is easier to clean out of the dirt than mats.
I will say, most here have outside runs and don’t bed the stalls, so that may be one difference.
More to consider, we are still wondering about what to do with our new stalls, once we get that far.
We have the mats, but sure can use somewhere else too, if not in stalls.
If you use the 4x6, here’s a tip for carrying them: Pick up one end and fold it back over itself lengthwise. Then with one person on either side of the mat, pick it up where it’s folded. They’re still heavy as all get-out, but it’s way way easier to carry this way than trying to hold onto the ends, or dragging.
Question about Equustall Flooring
[QUOTE=eventgroupie2;7262334]
We have used Equustall flooring in both our NJ and Virginia barns. We used it in NJ for about 11 years- looked brand new when we left. Put it in our Virginia barn in 1999, and have not had one problem with it. Planning on using it in Aiken whn we move there- can’t say enough good about it!
http://www.acfenvironmental.com/equustall.html[/QUOTE]
I’ve never seen these used in a barn so wonder if you use them with no bedding on top or do you add shavings or straw?
I would think that the hard plastic they are made of would be harder on the horses than rubber mats when laying down in the stall.
Mary in Western NY
http://www.bpequine.com
In my old barn I had mats in the stalls, but one stall had these http://www.acfenvironmental.com/equustall.html. I wasn’t very fond of them. Maybe it was the way they were installed. They were harder than the mats, could be slippery and were harder to clean.
I got a sample of the Equustall things-they sent me 4 of them. I put them at the gate of one of my infirmary paddocks, sunk down into the stone dust. They are fantastic. Once in 3 years I’ve had to put a new shovel-full of stone dust over them. I think you could only use them in a dirt-floor stall, I think you would counter-sink them, put stone dust over them then shavings on top. I actually am not sure I can imagine them in stalls.
As for ‘carrying’ 4x6 rubber mats, clamp vice grips on one short end, 2 per end, about a foot in from the edge and drag them.
