Okay heres one for everybody Rubber mats

Okay first off why I am posting this. Ugggh okay see a neighboring barn to me which is a friend of mine "Somewhat" Came over last night to see how everything was going. ( Nosey ) When she does this she's always picking at certain things I do. There are days I would rather be chased by killer bees then deal with this person. Lol. Anyways... She came inthe barn while I was repairing some stall boards ( don't ask ) lol . Okay this is what was a "Heated discussion"

RUBBER MATS!

Okay I love the rubber mats in my stalls and agree it does save on bedding..However it bugs me that so many barn owners use just enough bedding to absorb urine and I don't know they think its a air freshner thing.
People have told me over and over and over again that they don't need the bedding because the horse has Rubber mats. HELLO that's like saying you don't need a matress you have a rug.
Horses lay down and without any bedding will get rub marks ( Usually on the hocks ) I don't see how adding just enough to soak up urine saves on bedding. You have to add bedding daily ( pretty much)
Now my neighbor starts litterally trying to drill in my head about not using so much bedding. I bed my stalls well and I find this benefits my horses by far more then lack of bedding does.
My stalls are 12x12 some are bit bigger each stall gets 4 to 5 bags shavings per week ( only because I like bright clean bedding ) I also bank my stalls. I want my horses to be comfortable when they have to be in them. I'm not saying this is the ONLY way. What anyone elses choice is that's their choice.
Well any ways my neighbor goes on and on about how boarders wont like that I bed my stalls like I do. I have 2 boarders but both are out 24/7 (Which is by far better then anything ) I plan on a open house soon. Im wondering if I should invite my neighbor ( Am I nuts!?)
Okay whats your views on the Rubber mat / bedding debate.
We all have opinions so BE NICE! Lol

TRR

Invite your neighbor, throw her onto a rubber mat and attack her with killer bees.

You need bedding ontop of the rubber mat to soak up the urine and make it comfortable!

You know I have thought about tossing her in a stall and telling her to sleep on it, but then I would have to feed her FORGET THAT

I don't see anything wrong with extra bedding in the stalls. It's your money, you can spend it however you want to. Extra bedding makes your horse more comfortable, and probably extends the life of your rubber mats. Why would a boarder not like the way you bed the stalls. If you didn't put enough in your boarders might complain. But I don't think they would care about a little extra. Extra is a good thing.

I've heard the same argument from people who use only a teeny amount of bedding. And generally I'm standing in their barn aisle with a hankie over my nose because the ammonia is so strong. I prefer to bed the way you do, it helps keep smells down and the horses are more comfortable, IMO.

But, it's YOUR choice, not hers and no I wouldn't invite her but that's because I'm getting really grouchy with people in my old age.....JEEEEEZ what a pill!

First rubber mate are to make the stall softer second horses do not like to get pee on them so is there is not enough shaving then the horse will not pee as often and that could be a bad thing-so is you friend dose not get that idea them tell her to stand in a stall that dose not have a lot of bedding and see what happens at another barn

My hats off to you for being able to afford 5-6 bags of shavings/stall/week..here that would be $25.00 per stall per week! I don't use that much shavings over my mats at all & my barn doesn't smell and my horses are happy, healthy with great bare feet & they all lay down regularly to rest, even my Belgian. However, what you do in your barn is totally your business..if she is any kind of friend or not I would have to be assertive and let her know that how she handles her barn might differ from how you handle yours but it doesn't mean either of you are right or wrong. If she persists in being so rude I don't think I would be so welcoming to her..just my 2 cents though!

I'm curious about how large your manure pile is. That many bags of shavings each week landing on the pile . . .

We bed per need of horse. We do not have any hock sores or rub marks. Some horses trash the stall and need shavings added daily. Others are so neat with their manure and urine spots, you hardly know they were in over night.

Our mats are not to save bedding but to save the stall floor. If no mats, the urine would sift into the stall base and have to be dug out each day. After picking, I typically leave any wet spots open to dry for the day. If I have time I lime the stalls on the weekdays but for sure on the weekends. We do not use 5 bags per stall and we do not have an odor issue.

You need to keep your neighbor OUT of your barn!! It's YOUR $ and YOUR bedding--do what you want!!!!
If you ever want my opinions on how to bed a stall, start a thread and ask me. I won't volunteer it here OR criticize you.