fergusnc wrote:DJR and anyone else that uses the EZ grip...do you use two?
I bought two, but prefer to use only one.
I attach one EZ grip in the middle of either the long or short side of the mat depending on my end placement. I then hold the EZ grip handle with one hand and hold the "latch" of the EZ grip with the other hand and pull with both hands. This clamps the "latch" even more strongly down onto the mat and prevents awkward slippage partway through a move.
I have the 6x4x3/4 mats on three different surfaces. One surface is concrete. One is sand over gravel. And the third is sand over dirt. Here's my experience with the mats on these three different surfaces:
1. Mats shifting.
Worst on concrete - fixed by ensuring a tight fit of the mats (but not too tight otherwise rippling can happen).
Least on sand over gravel or sand over dirt - any mild shifting results in the cracks filling with sand from below and that acts as grout to prevent further slippage. From time to time I have to sweep the bare mats to remove excess sand that has surfaced, but it isn't a big problem.
2. Drainage.
Worst on concrete. I find that I have to remove all mats at a minimum of annually, optimally 2-3 times a year (but I rarely get to it that often), then dry out the concrete and the underside of the mats before putting the mats back in place. The area where the mats are used on concrete is a big run-in (30' deep x 12' wide) and the horses are never locked in overnight - they come and go - so they have the option of going out to lie down in the pasture vs. in the shelter. I used to bed it down deeply to help sop up the urine (why oh why do horses pee on shavings when they have an entire lovely pasture to pee in???). Now I don't do that because I found that a light bed was enough to soak up urine since they seem to prefer to pee in the shelter and lie down in the pasture (the rotters).
Best on sand. I've had zero issues with odor or drainage and have not had to remove the mats since they were laid down (4 yrs now).
3. Moving mats.
Easiest on concrete as they slide well, but it really isn't much harder on sand.
I did NOT tamp down the sand before adding mats. I just raked it to a reasonably level plane and slid the mats on top of it. Over time, with the horses on top of the mats, they've settled but without any major ripples or problems with corners coming up. When a corner comes up from time to time, I just lift the mat and re-excavate the sand and then settle the mat back down.
I single-handedly put 37 mats down in my new barn recently. I collected the mats myself, loaded them in the trailer, unloaded them, and placed them including cutting them where needed. It was hard work because the mats are heavy, but very feasible (I'm a semi-fit 5'7" slightly overweight 50-something year old). I used a single EZ grip for all of this. I got quite good at it as I went on, including learning just where to attach the EZ grip to make the final placement go well. The end result was very pleasing (and personally gratifying!) and is holding up well.