Mud control grids

Where do we manufacture our mud control grids for horses ? 

Just like our models of pvc career fences, pvc gooseneck fences, racecourse handrails and equestrian fences, our mud control grids for horses are made in France, more specifically in Seine-et-Marne in Nangis, around 70km from Paris.

TÉKIDÉ is part of the ÉKOFAB Group, which has its own design office and manufacturing unit. Our R&D department designs from A to Z the following products for the equine industry:

• Rails and barriers for riding arenas and racecourses,
• Crowd barriers for racecourses and competition arenas,
• Horse starting gates,
• ÉKI Shet small mud control grids,
• ÉKI Cob large mud control grids.

When the TÉKIDÉ and ÉKOFAB teams design solutions for the equestrian industry, they must meet the following criteria: 

• Improve the comfort, well-being and safety of horses at work, in the stable or in the meadow,
• Facilitate working conditions and the daily lives of people working with horses,
• Be efficient, durable and resistant,
• Have the lowest possible impact on the environment. For this last point, our tiles are eco-designed, based on the principle of the circular economy: 100% made from recycled and recyclable raw materials, which are sourced from local partners and manufactured in France.

As you can see, we take great care in the manufacture of our products, and stabilization slabs are no exception. What's more, they are dimpled, so they drain well and preserve the characteristics of the soil.

How can I stabilize muddy ground using mud mats ?

Our mud control slabs are a fantastic solution for combating mud and protecting your horses' feet.

However, we strongly advise against installing mud slabs in a paddock or meadow where the surface is covered in deep mud. The ground to be stabilized must be firm, smooth and level before the tiles are installed.

To ensure that your installation is durable and resistant, and that you and your horses enjoy the best possible conditions, whatever the weather, we recommend that you follow our installation advice.

We recommend preparing the surface to be stabilized beforehand. For a quality installation, simply follow the steps below: 

• Level the ground with the material in place and remove any stones, pebbles or other rough edges. The surface for the tiles should be as smooth as possible.
• Install the slabs so that they are firmly anchored in the ground and rest on the floor at all points. We recommend that you leave them to rest for a few days before letting the horses run on them. This will give the tiles time to become firmly anchored in the ground. This will prevent unevenness underneath your surface, which will be strengthened as a result. 
• For an optimum finish, add a layer of washed sand to your tiles. River sand of the 0/4mm type or silica sand free of fines are also very good alternatives. In all cases, make sure you use a material that drains well and is not abrasive for horses' feet. This will increase grip for your guests and protect the mud-control mats.

If you wish, a geotextile can be laid under the slabs. This will prevent mud from rising up.

Do not lay your slabs on the ground to be stabilized when the temperature is below 4°C, as the slabs will not anchor properly!

To see how the slabs fit together, watch our video:

Which mud control grids for horses should I choose ?

To make the best choice for your horse mud mats, you need to know what you need them for and what surface you need them for. However, their characteristics are similar and the two types of slab can be used in identical situations. 

Small stabilising slab - ÉKI Shet

The density, thickness and weight of small ÉKI Shet mud control grids for horses give them great stability and excellent trafficability. Their compact size makes them easy to handle in relation to their weight (35kg/m²). 

This small stabilizing slab for horses is ideal for installation in confined spaces or for stabilizing access paths, for example.

Large stabiliser panel - ÉKI Cob

The large ÉKI Cob mud control grids are ideal for covering large areas quickly and easily: paddocks, active stables, team areas. It can also be used as an underlay for your work areas: riding arenas, riding arenas, lunging rings, walkers, training or gallop tracks, etc.

The two models of TÉKIDÉ stabilization panels are reversible:

• On one side, a flat, raised surface with drainage holes.
• On the other, a slatted surface that can be filled with sand or small gravel.

Geotextile can also be laid under the slabs if you're worried about mud rising up, or when they're used with the honeycomb side up in a training area or as an underlay for working tracks.

They are : 

• Designed to withstand the passage of heavy vehicles,
• Jointed in all directions, making them easy to lay,
• Fitted with an anti-lift system once they have been fixed together,
• Can be used alone or filled, depending on use.

In short, TÉKIDÉ tiles have similar uses and characteristics. However, the price of the two tiles is not the same, due to their different designs. 

You can find all our installation advice for different uses in this document. Our teams are also available to answer your questions.

Why use stabilizing paving for horses in riding schools ? 

In a riding school, in a private stable, on a competition site or at home, there are many reasons to use TÉKIDÉ paddock slabs!

They'll change your life (no less)

The many people who use our slabs are unanimous: they're addictive. Their effectiveness in combating mud and their ease of installation and maintenance have convinced them. No more gravel, no more concrete, no more solutions that don't last. Admittedly, the slabs come at a price, but the opinions are unanimous: it's well worth the effort, for horses and humans alike. It saves time, comfort and well-being, and is a long-term solution.

They're multipurpose

A mud control grid has many possible uses. As we mentioned earlier, its unique design and reversibility mean that it can be used for many purposes: 

• Cleaning up muddy areas in a paddock or meadow: around a hay rack, feeding or watering areas, under a shelter in natural soil, etc.,
• Creating storage or parking areas and access paths,
• Stabilizing active stables, horse track systems or paddock paradises (in this case, laying with the honeycomb side up is recommended, with prior preparation of the soil and a geotextile),
• The creation of an underlay as part of the construction of a riding arena, a round pen, a walker or a gallop track, for example.

They are designed and manufactured in-house

At our ÉKOFAB factory in Nangis, Seine-et-Marne. Which means: 

• Less CO2 emissions - your stabilizing grids don't have to travel around the world before arriving in your meadows,
• Know-how, skills and technologies developed in France, and staying there
• Jobs in our region,
• A relationship of trust and proximity with the designer-manufacturer, because that's us ;),
• The possibility of innovating and adapting our products to your needs, without intermediaries.

They come from circular economy

ÉKOFAB, our manufacturer and partner (TÉKIDÉ is a brand of the French group ÉKOFAB), uses innovative manufacturing processes. Its strategy is geared towards the circular economy: 

• Eco-design, by our design office, for products with less impact on the environment, throughout their life cycle,
• Careful selection of partners around us: our raw materials are sourced from local suppliers,
• Sustainability,
• Re-usability: unlike a concrete slab or gravel, if your horses move to another pasture, you can move the slabs and reinstall them elsewhere,
• 100% recycled and recyclable raw materials,
• Recyclability when they reach the end of their life.

Finally, our mud mats are draining, so water can continue to circulate under your stabilized surface. This preserves the nature of the soil and allows vegetation to grow back. 

There are many reasons to invest in TÉKIDÉ mud slabs. If you still have questions, our team is at your disposal!

Is mud-control grid for horses effective ?

TÉKIDÉ anti-mud slabs are extremely effective in keeping your horses' feet dry, provided the ground has been properly prepared, as detailed in this document.

Sturdy and easy to maintain, they allow heavy vehicles to pass over them, making them more comfortable for horses and humans alike. 

As well as stabilizing muddy areas, their reversibility means that anti-mud slabs can be used in a wide range of situations: stabilizing active stables, paradise paddocks, team areas, etc.

They can also be used as a base for work areas (riding arenas, lunging rings, gallop tracks, etc.).

Anti-mud stabilization slabs for horses are draining. They allow water to drain quickly and efficiently, helping to prevent mud from forming in paddocks or stables. Vegetation can also grow back through the holes in the surface of the tiles.

They are easy to install and maintain, making them a practical solution for horse and stable owners. 

In summary, anti-mud stabilization grids for horses are effective because they provide a stabilized surface for horses' feet, promote drainage and are hard-wearing and durable.

Compatible with a variety of surfaces, they are an ideal solution for keeping environments clean and safe for horses, all year round.

Good to know :

ÉKI Cob - Small mud control grids

Dimensions

1175 x 800 x 44 mm

Composition

100% recycled and recyclable materials

Weight

approx. 24.5 kg

ÉKI Shet - Large mud control grids

Dimensions

800 x 425 x 46 mm

Composition

100% recycled and recyclable materials

Weight

approx. 10.5kg

The tiles are delivered on pallets. You can find all the delivery information here. If your delivery address is in France, you can also collect them from one of our Click & collect partner.