| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| MinHe |
Posted - 09 Oct 2012 : 10:59:25 PM
I don't recall seeing EVA 'mix' mats mentioned in our many discussions on matting - anyone know anything abut them?
Keren |
| 8 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| MinHe |
Posted - 15 Oct 2012 : 7:44:56 PM
Thanks for the info! I am looking at some 2' square 'jigsaw' mats as I think they will be easier for me to more around (though I don't plan on doing 30 moves with them, LOL!), and also because I can afford to do 2 stables for my budget.
Keren |
| ella |
Posted - 15 Oct 2012 : 6:31:00 PM
I have EVA Equimats purchased in 1992 & still going strong. So glad I bought lightweight, jigsaw fit mats now, having moved them into at least 30 different stables over that time span. They wash so easily & dry quickly.
I bought some cheaper, thicker EVA mats for use in dog kennels & these have also proved to be durable, although there are some minor chew injuries to the corners!
Ask for a sample to examine to see if you like it? I have seen some rubber crumb mixes that did look as though they'd crumble too easily.
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| MinHe |
Posted - 11 Oct 2012 : 6:36:20 PM
Hi Callisto, the listing I found on ebay was for "FANTASTIC LIGHTWEIGHT EVA MIX STABLE MATS 30mm THICK" and that one didn't say anything about size/weight of horse - I'm looking for 2 Arab boys, one of 14.2h and one of 15h neither of whom are shod.
There are so many listings at different prices it's making my head spin! A friend is also giving me the address of the place she got hers from - but they told her that wall weight mats would be fine for an unshod pony. Her pony is a Fell so easily weighs as much as my taller boy! Now even more confused, LOL!
Keren |
| Mrs Vlacq |
Posted - 11 Oct 2012 : 3:48:24 PM
I've always thought the heavy ones are rubber; our lighter (better!) mayo/cow comfort mats are rubber and EVA; plain EVA or 'EVA Mix' are mixed with another foam, not rubber, so are more spongy, softer, less robust. |
| Callisto |
Posted - 11 Oct 2012 : 3:44:31 PM
The only ad I found on ebay for EVA Mix mats said suitable for 14 hh and below, despite being 30mm thick, which led me to believe that those particular ones were not up to the weight of anything bigger - sounds like they are inferior Keren. |
| MinHe |
Posted - 11 Oct 2012 : 3:10:16 PM
I am wondering as sellers of EVA mats on ebay say "do not confuse with EVA mix mats" and the mix mats are considerably cheaper. Don't want to buy them though if they are not as good!
Keren |
| Judith S |
Posted - 10 Oct 2012 : 09:09:52 AM
I think it is simply that there are a number of producers of this type of mat and they use different mixes of rubber and eva. |
| Callisto |
Posted - 10 Oct 2012 : 12:49:22 AM
Are they not the same as EVA mats but just a slightly different description?
If so, we have EVA mats
Pros: very light to move around/lift, very giving for horses to stand/lay down on as much more spongey than rubber mats, when originally fitting them leave a gap around them to allow for expansion as the horses move around on them. They are very easy to cut with a penknife or Stanley knife.
Cons: have to be refitted periodically (after each winter for example) because they expand so you have to cut them a bit smaller. Once they have started to expand they can buckle upwards where they butt up to the next mat, if bedding then gets underneath then they can be kicked out of place by the horse and since they are so light then they can move quite a bit. Depends on the horse how well they take this...
Shouldn't think they will last as long as my solid rubber mats.
However we have used them for two winters now and I like them - very squidgy to walk on, and so easy to lift and clean underneath (I can carry one in each hand with no bother). You just have to be aware of the expansion thing and trim them as necessary to stop them lifting. If you stack them up in the yard (for hosing off etc.) be aware that a strong wind will blow them around the place!!
I hope this helps
ETA
I have just googled them to see what I could find, not much, but if you are referring to the EVA and rubber mix mats then the only reference I could find was that people thought they would last longer than the EVA ones. I would assume that they would be heavier too. However this is a manufacturer's description of their EVA mats and it appears that they are a mix of rubber and EVA anyway...Our horse mats that use this foam and rubber compound are much lighter at approximately one fifth of the weight of traditional rubber stable mats. This makes them very easy to fit and very manageable to remove, clean and refit when required....so maybe they are the same thing with a slightly different description? |
