Since there are studies now that link OC with foals slipping getting up I am very interested in replacing my smooth stall matts with ones with more traction for the stalls the foals live in duing bad weather. AND BOY ARE WE HAVING SOME RAIN NOW!!! My 2 weaned, 7 month old foals can go out in a sand arena but they will not sleep in the wet sand so they come back in to their shared 24 x10 stall to eat and sleep. They LOVE their shavings! But, sometimes they push the shavings out of the way as they get up. Since 8 months is a critical age for developing OC I want to get the matts replaced pronto. Any help and recommendations is appreciated. My supplier has interlocking, scratched texture and button which I suspect is the best texture they have. I dont want to just ask the supplier in case there are better brands or ideas. So??? Help???
Have you looked at this http://www.comfortstall.com/CS_Products_Comfortstall.html
or similar
http://www.stablecomfort.com/
I love mine. Easy to clean, urine does not get under, so hygienic, and little shavings required, so low dust.
Have you looked at this http://www.comfortstall.com/CS_Produ...fortstall.html
OMG that sounds soooo nice! Do you know if there is anyone selling them in Europe?
Something like this?
http://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplies/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10052&storeId=10001&langId=-1&division=FarmTek&productId=22443
How about pulling the Mats out and putting sand in the sleeping area? Sand is easy to pick, not slippery and drains well. Of course you cannot feed on it, but you could making feeding station with Mats either outside or in the corners of the shelter. When the kids are older or moved elsewhere, you could remove the sand and replace with Mats for older horses. Way cheaper than the stall skin type flooring. I have read studies…I wish I could remember where…that the Soft stall floors are not good for horse’s legs. Something about needing resistance to get good blood flow, I think. Any one else remember seeing that information anywhere?
I have only read that the comfort stalls are good for horses with any foot or leg problems, and particularly for horses who lie down a lot (due to illness, age, pregnancy etc). It is said to give the equivalent cushioning of 4" of bedding, without the dust. I like being able to remove all traces of urine or feces (swept away) and minimize bacteria and odour because there is no collection of urine in the old bedding (dirt, sand, straw) nor under the mat.
My oldest comfort stall installations are about 11 years. Installing correctly is key.
Thank you everyone who has responded. All good ideas and products. Not exactly what I am looking for yet, though so keep em coming. I really want a well textured interlocking or roll out sheet stall matt. However, a roll out would be very, very heavy and probalby not practical to get in there…take too many guys. I have interlocking matts in the isle and other stalls and love them but they are not textured enough for this purpose.
Not sure where you’re located, but if you’re anywhere near Eugene, OR you should check out Pacific Rubber. They carry all sorts of non-slip rubber in rolls, mats, and interlocking tiles. Since you have mats already, you could get something that is textured, but semi-thin in roll form and just put it over the existing mats. You would need to anchor it to keep it from slipping, but it would probably be the easiest solution.
Just bought something like this http://www.matsmatsmats.com/commercial-industrial/runner/diamond-runner-mat.html, from Pacific for an application at work. It comes on a roll and they sell it by the foot.
[QUOTE=Thoroughbred in Color;6696495]
Not sure where you’re located, but if you’re anywhere near Eugene, OR you should check out Pacific Rubber. They carry all sorts of non-slip rubber in rolls, mats, and interlocking tiles. Since you have mats already, you could get something that is textured, but semi-thin in roll form and just put it over the existing mats. You would need to anchor it to keep it from slipping, but it would probably be the easiest solution. I have not even opened your link yet but its the most brilliant idea yet!!! Thanks, I am sure I can make some version of this work.
Just bought something like this http://www.matsmatsmats.com/commercial-industrial/runner/diamond-runner-mat.html, from Pacific for an application at work. It comes on a roll and they sell it by the foot.[/QUOTE]
Great Idea!!! THanks!!! I live 2 hours from Eugene, where are you?
I’m just outside of Eugene.
I just ordered Equimats for my barn. They are EVA mats rather than straight rubber; they are lighter and softer than the traditional hard black rubber mats. They also have the ‘traction’ on one side.
I go them from www.equimats.com
I did a ton of research since I wanted something marginally softer than traditional rubber mats, but not those soft stall systems. I have been in barns wiht the soft stall and did not like them at all. They become very lumpy over time and I didn’t see how it was beneficial for the horses to be standing on an uneven surface. Also, I didn’t like that they were attached to the stall walls, making them impossible to move.
I also looked at ordering daity EVA mats. I think these would be excellent for horses as well but could not find a supplier that was convenient to me.
Good luck.
