Groundmaster Stall Materials/Mats

[pasosx3]

Anyone using or familiar with Groundmaster Stall Mats? I'm thinking about using them instead of regular mats. Thanks!

[Abejita]

used it at a farm in 1993-94
if the material hasnt changed I found it to be very slippery, (just the type of thin,slick plastic that was used)the drainage holes were great at catching the times of a pitchfork ( bedded in straw) and you better have help laying it.Now ,seeing as it was one piece and 'pegged into the floor it didnt shft and I cannot testifly to how long it lasts because I left within a yr ..

[pasosx3]

Thank you Abejita for your comments. I'll be using shavings and not straw and a rake instead of a pitch fork. I had wondered about the tines getting caught up in the drain holes. That's interesting that you found it to be slippery. That's one drawback I find with rubber mats, too. Because the urine drains through, did you find that it helped keep the odors down and the amonia smell down? Thanks again. I appreciate any and all ideas or comments on this.

[Finogirl]

The trouble with mats is that they trap the urine to a certain degree under them, so you need to lift them at least weekly to allow them to dry out and get trid of the amonia. I used mats a lot with my minis and htey are great apart from that. I don't know the name of the ones I have..sorry.

[Cindy]

The trouble with mats is that they trap the urine to a certain degree under them, so you need to lift them at least weekly to allow them to dry out and get trid of the amonia. I used mats a lot with my minis and htey are great apart from that. I don't know the name of the ones I have..sorry.

What did you have under the mats? If you put some kind of base under the mats for drainage you do not have that problem. We have what they call here M-10 under ours. It is like very fine crushed rock. I never pick up the mats.

[Finogirl]

In England most stables are on a solid concrete base which makes mats a little difficult, I had paving slabs on sand under mine so there was some drainage but some still got stuck under there. Yes I can see what you use would work very well.

[pasosx3]

Hi, I had planned on having concrete floors with mats and shavings until I heard stories about the amount of urine that gets trapped and the smells and cleaning/maintenance issues, even with floor drains. So, I've rethought it. I like the idea of the urine draining through with the Groundmaster. I'll be using packed earth as a base for the stalls. But, with the Groundmaster, I'm wondering about the crushed stone, etc to help with drainage. We live in Northern FL. Cindy: are you anywhere near FL? I haven't heard of that stone material you mentioned, M-10? Thanks.

[PLEASURE PASOFINO]

Becky, this is the same system on displayed at Mundial?

Yeap! I agree, NO CONCRETE FLOORS! try to saty away from them if you could helped!

[Trudy]

We used to have Groundmaster. After no mats we loved it. Problem was, after it became worn it became slick. We now have had equi Terr for six years and are really happy with it. We have info on it if you would like me to send it to you. Equi Terr is a rectangular 15" x 20" x 1 3/4" porous paver with interlocking edges. When laid in a "bricklayer" pattern, the pavers snap into place forming a permanent flooring structure. It is used at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, Austria, in the Equine Arena in Hanover, Germany site of the International Hunter/Jumper Show, and at Churchill Downs in Lexington, Kentucky. It is very easy to keep clean. We didn't have it in one barn and seemed that that barn with six stalls took longer to clean than the other barn with sixteen stalls. we now have it there also. Trudy

[Cindy]

Hi, I had planned on having concrete floors with mats and shavings until I heard stories about the amount of urine that gets trapped and the smells and cleaning/maintenance issues, even with floor drains. So, I've rethought it. I like the idea of the urine draining through with the Groundmaster. I'll be using packed earth as a base for the stalls. But, with the Groundmaster, I'm wondering about the crushed stone, etc to help with drainage. We live in Northern FL. Cindy: are you anywhere near FL? I haven't heard of that stone material you mentioned, M-10? Thanks.

I am in North Georgia. The M-10 is called by all different names all over the country. What it basically is is like the crush and run that you put on a gravel drive but without the rocks. It is the stuff that is used in many arenas that is grey in color. I have it all over my place as it is great for keeping things dry and keeping good footing when it rains. It is in my barn isles, in my arena, in my round pen, under my stall mats and in walkways connecting these areas. Come visit if you are in the area. LOL

I don't know anything about these Groundmaster mats but my mats do not have any holes in them and I don't have a drainage problem so I don't really know if that is necessary. And it does seem like it would be a pain when cleaning. The only thing that I would change about the mats that I have is next time I would get the interlocking kind so that the corners cannot be pulled up. I also use Woodypet bedding and would suggest you try it. People either love it or hate it. I love it. The stalls are much easier to clean and I have less waste. It is more expesive than shavings though.

[motorgypsy]

I had to go to stallmats because one of our mares drinks and pees gallons literally. Her hooves started melting it was so bad. We used a huge amount of shavings with no success. We finally contoured the underfloor so it would drain out the back and used minimal shavings and it worked great. The base was red clay by the way. We were there for a year and it wasn't lovely under the mats but there was no noticeable odor until we pulled the mats at the end of the year. I also used the stall mats when the same mare was injured and had to be kept quiet. We had a 20 x 30 square area with 20 x 10 under roof and we put stall mats on that part again contoured and again over red clay but this time we used the equine fresh, the cheaper version of Woody pet on top of the mats since we needed a softer surface to keep her more comfortable and she was on it for at least six months and again no odor and it drained quite well. And yes we had her checked and lots of bloodwork and she came up normal on everything. Vet said she's a nervous drinker! So for some reason the clay base must have just made a much better seal with the mat than concrete or other surfaces because the mats have been down for five years with the goats using the area as a shelter (and bathroom)and there is still no malodor.

[pasosx3]

Thank you everyone for your comments. I know I can count on this Forum for great ideas and suggestions! I apologize for not responding sooner, I've been away from my computer.

Felix: I agree, no concrete on the stall floors. Thanks for reinforcing that decision. What do you guys use for stall flooring?
Trudy: I hadn't heard of Equi Terr until you. Thank you so much for the info. I looked it up on a search. Is it made/sold in Alabama? I want to make sure I've got the right product. It looks very interesting. I like the idea of it being interlocking and easier to handle. And, I like that it is used in arenas and jumping arenas. Groundmaster doesn't recommend their product for outdoors. Also, if they use it in arenas, then I assume it isn't slippery even when wet. I would certainly appreciate any additional info you have on it.
Cindy: I will discuss the M-10 with my contractor and see what he says. It sounds really good. I've also been thinking about the WoodyPet, too.
Motorgypsy: We don't have much red clay where we are, but I can see where sloping the floor would be a good thing. I know I want to use some type of mats or pavers, etc and not just packed dirt. I'll look into the cheaper woodypet alternative, too. I prefer fluffy-type shavings to sawdust.

I'm really leaning towards a product that lets the urine drain through and not sit on top and soak up more bedding. If anyone knows of any other products out there that I should consider, please let me know. Thanks!