easylift mats

Solid Rubber or Foam (EVA)

The majority of our range of floor matting is Solid Rubber, however we also offer EVA matting for both walls and floors as well. Both types are commonly used in stables, but they have key differences in terms of material, durability and performance.

  1. Material
    • EVA Mats: produced from Ethylene Vinyl Acetate, which is a type of foam material, are flexible, soft and lightweight
    • Solid Rubber Mats: made from virgin rubber, these mats are denser, heavier and more rigid
  2. Comfort
    • EVA Mats: are softer and more cushioned, offering comfort for animals and reducing pressure on their joints. Whilst EVA mats provide cushioning, they do not offer as much traction as the solid rubber mats, increasing the risk of slipping, especially in wet conditions.
    • Solid Rubber Mats: less cushioning than the EVA mats but still provide a high level of support and comfortable. Being firmer than the EVA mats, they offer more stability under foot.
  3. Durability
    • EVA vary in how they have been manufactured depending on the use they have been designed for. EVA Wall mats are typically thinner than the floor mats and offer more flexibility to ensure they can adhere to the walls. The EVA floor mats are typically thicker than the matting designed for walls, and have been produced using a stronger compound of foam. They have been designed to withstand the weight and traffic seen in a horses stable. Overtime the EVA floor mats may compress and lose their cushioning.
    • Solid Rubber Mats are extremely durable and designed to stand the test of time. They are extremely heavy duty and can withstand an enormous amount of pressure. These mats tend to maintain their form and don’t compress like the EVA mats can.
  4. Low Maintenance
    • All styles of stable mats generally reduce maintenance by making cleaning easier and requiring less bedding. They help to maintain a cleaner and healthier environment for your horses by preventing the build up of moisture and manure, therefore minimising bacteria.
    • We always recommend that when mats are loose laid in the stable (ie. not glued together), they are taken out of the stable at least once a year to clean underneath (top tip – take a photo of how the mats are fitted prior to taking them out and number them using a paint pen to save you time when it comes to re-laying the mats). This applies to both EVA and Solid Rubber matting.

Pattern

One of the most noted characteristics in the different styles of stable matting is how they look. All of our mats have different patterns on their top surface, each of which offer their own benefits:

  • Bubbletop (Solid Rubber)- these mats are a great choice for use in foaling boxes or stables with an older or younger horse that needs a bit of extra help getting up in their stable. These mats are also often used in Wash Bays and Solariums. With the extra grip, these mats can be difficult to clean, especially if you are using shavings or pellets.
  • Amoebic (Solid Rubber) – these mats have a low profile, easy sweep pattern on the surface that is easy to clean, whilst still providing a high level of grip. Whilst these mats are without doubt our best seller for stables, they are also incredibly popular when used as Gym matting, and have been supplied to 1000’s of CrossFit / Weight Lifting Gyms up and down the country.
  • Cobbletop (Solid Rubber) – We often refer to these mats as a nice mix of the 2. Offering more grip than the Amoebic mat, yet easier to clean and maintain than the Bubbletop, it is the perfect middle man.
  • Windsor/Diamond (Solid Rubber) – The raised diamond pattern on the top side of these mats offer a superb, non-slip surface, but with the mats still being low-profile, they are still offer the benefits of being easy to keep clean. These heavy duty mats offer extra durability and are the ideal choice for horses prone to box walking, weaving or generally moving around in their stable.
  • Newmarket (Solid Rubber) – Formerly the ‘Croc Top’ mat, these mats are our own design. After compiling a customer wish list, the number one request was for a surface that is easy to sweep clean. The crocodile skin pattern on the top surface of these mats offers optimum grip, whilst still being easy to sweep clean.
  • EVA Matting – often featuring a slightly raised or patterned that offer excellent traction and support and preventing slips and falls.
A close us showing the top pattern of the 19mm Windsor Diamond stable mat.

The Underside

One further important factor to consider with the different styles of stable matting is how much you need the underside of the mat to benefit you. If you are using stable matting in a field shelter, or are having the mats completely sealed within the stable, this will not cause a concern. If however, you are having the mats loose laid, or are only covering part of the stable floor, the drainage will be an important thing to consider.

  • EVA Matting – the floor grade matting we supply (34mm Sandown) has been designed with a round foot pattern on the underside that helps with both drainage and aeration/cushioning of the mats. Whilst these mats have been designed for stables, it is important to note they are not suitable in field shelters or traditional stables with old/uneven floors.
  • Solid Rubber Stable Mats – traditionally have channels that run the length of the mat that help drain the water away from under the mats and prevent liquids pooling underneath.
  • Newmarket Mats – as mentioned above, these mats were designed by us after compiling a wish list from our customers. Perhaps the most unique feature of these mats is the hundreds of sqaure feet on the underside of the mat providing multi-directional drainage, alongside a high degree of air-cushioning, meaning the mats feel more comfortable underfoot.
Newmarket Mat Main Profile

Although rubber matting is not rocket science, there are a number of important factors that should be considered before deciding on the best type of mats for you. Ultimately, the choice depends on your priorities: budget, durability, time saving aspect and any specific needs for you and your horse.

If you have any questions or require any further advise on the best style of matting for you, please give our office a call today on 01787 886929 and a member of the team will be happy to help. Alternatively, send your enquiry to [email protected] and include as much detail about you and your horse, alongside your stable size and postcode, and we will be delighted to send across some free, no obligation quotes.

Together with our sister company, East Anglian Seals, we have over 50 years experience working within the rubber industry. We pride ourselves on our knowledge, high quality products and fantastic customer service. Check out our Trust Pilot page for just some of the wonderful reviews we have received from our happy customers over the years.

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