Just wondering how many of you have dispensed with banks when using rubber matting?

Have not used bankings for a long time. My stables are quite large 12 x 14. and I have not ever had a horse cast. But mine are never stabled for longer than 12 hours at a time, even in the worst of weather.

i guess though, anti cast strips fitted round the walls would be a good idea!

I used to have the crumb style mats too. Never again, they smelt, were heavy and really hard to move or clean. Unless you have a more or less standard bed on top, rugs do get filthy and so does any exposed bit of horse. So while mucking out on day to day basis was quicker, we spent several times as long cleaning the mats, horses and rugs at the weekends. It ended up being very expensive.

I have seen the solid rubber mats in use. These are not so heavy or smelly, but the horses and rugs still get filthy and you need more bed on top to make it inviting to lie down on. I have also seen in some circumsances, bedding build up under the mats so they get lumpy etc. This means regular lifting - so again its not really labour saving.

For many years I have kept my horses on Aubiose. I only use half a bale per horse per week and with my clean girly not even that. There is no smell, the bed is deep, the horses and rugs clean and it only take 10 mins to skip them out in the morning. It depends how wet your horse is, but the Aubiose clumps a bit like cat litter, so it is easy to remove if you want to - but it doesn't have to be done daily or even weekly. I do mine about once a month, less on a good well draining concrete floor.

Our biggest horse was 16.2hh in a 12 x 12 and never had banks. We only use minium amount of bedding that is mostly swept up the next day and fresh put down. All the horses which have used our stables have laid down. The rubber is much more comfortable than the hard ground!

Thanks for all your help, just trying to find the best price. Where have you all bought your rubber matting from?

Thanks

Katie where are you in the UK? I ask cos I have 6 x 6' x 4' stable mats for sale (used 2 months only) I used them with quite a thick bed on top and banks. Have sold the horse so mats are to go too. £20 each but collect from Knutsford, Cheshire. They are good quality with the nobbles on the top and drainage underneath, quite thick and very heavy. Only one has a slight split on an outer edge. Also have 2 stable gateway mats (have holes in for grass to grow through) that are 5' x 3' each at £15 each (unused)Cheers Marion 01565 634440