anyone found outdoor rubber mats?

[marianne]

I've found several suppliers in the UK - but would like to offset UK price + delivery against the equivalent found here .... if anyone know where I can get these?

They're at the doorway of most shops but no shop employee/manager is able to tell me where they get them! [oh that's been there for years ....]

[gillmcg]

Hi Marianne, just so's you don't think you're being ignored I thought I'd reply! Nope, not seen them for sale - night raid on the local supermarket perhaps? Will keep my eyes open (well, mostly do anyway as it's dangerous otherwise). Where are you thinking of putting them?

[marianne]

I want to put some mats down at the entrance to fields and around the water troughs. Last winter was a DISASTER and 3 of mine ended up with mud-fever. Trying to put plans in place to avoid repeat performance this year.

[gillmcg]

Yep, was pretty darn wet here too. Locals keep telling me it wasn't normal but I'm not risking it! Big drainage plans for the 'field shelter' part of the barn and in front of it as that was underwater last year. One gateway is fine - the previous owner of the field cut into the bank and crushed what looks like a whole roof of old clay tiles into the gateway and that's great. The other gateway is awful and not sure yet what we're going to do about that. At the moment I'm just thinking I'll take them out in front of the barn and walk them down the road to the other field - means they won't have a field shelter during the day but they tend to use it more in the summer anyway.

[marianne]

Ooooh Gill, I've just had a load of old tiles dumped in my field ;D Was going to put a sand/pebble mix on top once it was flattened. Do I need to or did your old tiles settle/mix with the earth?

[sarahfox]

Hi Marianne,

I think fieldguard do some outdoor holey mats,the other place I have seen them is ebay I think.They do work out quite expensive though,we decided to do the fronts of our shelters with hardcore and then top with woodchip,works out about the same costwise and I think it may work better.

[marianne]

Hi Sarah,

Yes it's the fieldguard mats I was looking at :-) I've found 3 or 4 other manufacturers in the UK with similar prices. It's just getting them out here that's going to make them prohibitively expensive.

[gillmcg]

The old tiles need smashing into quite small pieces and then they just get absorbed into the soil! I had great fun attacking some with the lump hammer. Good for foot conditioning too. You need LOTS though....
I was going to suggest that Chris could bring back the mats for you and you could pick them up from here but he's got a vanful in mid October and not sure when he's going back again; obviously no good to you if it's after Christmas......, and thinking about it you'd need a van to pick them up from here so scrub that..... He hates rubber mats with a vengeance as I brought some with me from the UK and we've moved them around a bit - they have a life of their own, one gave me a bloody nose once!

[marianne]

With a delivery quote of over £500 for various items from Fieldguard at the moment, I'm tempted to take my lorry back and load up with loads of other things while I'm there ;D

Thanks for the tip re the tiles, Gill, I'll get the sledgehammer out!

[ted]

Marianne , the Donkey Sanctuary use a plastic mesh on their footpaths .

I have seen this for sale in France - Gamm Vert and also the Bricomarché .

Ted .

[marianne]

hmmm, thanks Ted, will go try and locate some. Is it very thick? (I guess 'mesh' doesn't sound it!)

[ted]

Marianne , it's quite thick , grass grows through it , you can mow over it .

It is used for all the grass paths and avoids hordes of visitors churning them up . It's also used for field entrances to avoid hordes of donkeys doing likewise .

Ted .

[Jo Bond]

Hello there

I had loads of questions for you last night..but I told you I'm half asleep right now!!

Did you ever find a good place for the mats as Andy has now decided he wants them!

Also I'd really like to get hold of the panels you've been using for the loading..would you be able to get me some? I can send you a cheque and then organise to come over your way to pick them up. No problem if you've not got time. I'd probably need 7? - 2 for each side and 3 for across the back?

Cheers

Jo

PS Got a new horse today!! Not mine to keep...she's with me for the next couple of years for me to train in endurance but she's a real softie!

[marianne]

Hi Jo, I got my field mats from Fieldguard in the UK. They were more than half the price ANYWHERE in France, delivery was a bit pricey (but still way cheaper than France) but Laura (details by PM if you don't have them already) has a bargain delivery contact if you need it.
www.fieldguard.com - I got the biggest mats available (1,5m x 1m) because you've seen the size of my horses and you can imagine their momentum when they're travelling at speed!

Have found the mats are really good instead of gravel where the horses tend to poo a lot because it's so much easier to pick up instead of when it's on stone ....

Let me confirm that the fencing (sorry, loading panels) are still available on Monday - then can pick them up for you no problem.

HEY - want to know all about your new horse ;D

xxx

[Jo Bond]

Thanks so much for checking out about the panels.

I'll email you a photo of the new horse

She's called Nikaya. She's anglo-arab, 7 years old and already qualified at 90km. She's done nothing for 4 months so is in a bit of a state..I must have removed over 100 ticks yesterday and I don't think I've got them all yet. Also wormed her as I know that she won't have been done in a long time, if ever.

Luckily there horses are tough so she should soon be in fine form again. Then I'm going to have to get super fit ready to do some serious distances on her.

The breeder has let me have her as she is scared of people, you normally can't catch her in the field etc so he wants to see if it improves her performance by developing a bond with me. Cool thing is that when we went to get her; I walked into the field and she came straight to me and started snuffling my face. :)The breeder couldn't believe it. So I think with a bit of time and care she's going to turn into a right softie.

Jo