Grip for the ramp and the horse area
When considering the safety of equine transport, the provision of adequate grip for loading, unloading, and transporting horses stands paramount on any safety agenda.
A manufacturer’s misstep in this critical area could compromise the entire horsebox, potentially leading to a range of issues, from physical injury to increased stress and abnormal behaviour.
Whilst our primary focus centred on horsebox ramp grip, we did not neglect the equally vital aspects of durability and longevity. Our comprehensive assessment of the ideal surface encompassed several crucial factors. These included strength and impact resistance, the surface’s resistance to shrinkage, and its ability to withstand exposure to various substances such as chemical cleaners, disinfectants, urine, and water.
The prevention of water ingress from the horse floor and ramp emerged as a key concern. But, given its detrimental impact on both the structural integrity and lifespan of the vehicle, we placed greater importance on waterproofing, making it a top priority in our essential criteria. By doing this, we not only prioritise immediate safety concerns but also address the long-term durability and functionality of our KPH horseboxes.
Our research findings
Armed with a comprehensive list of requirements and a great deal of practical experience, we looked at the available products on the market in detail. Horsebox ramp grip had to be excellent for over ten types of UK horseshoes, as well as for unshod horses. We also factored in grip for riding boots and an assortment of wellington boot variants. We knew rubber-based products age badly, cracking and shrinking. Kick sheets expand and contract with heat, often loosening screws and fixings.
The surface of EVA matting degrades looking unsightly very quickly with light use. Liquid rubber floors shrink exposing seams. We also noted that all these products needed finishing cappings, and all allowed water ingress. Sealing was also an issue with no lasting sealer adhesives options that work with them. In fact, it quickly became apparent that each product had one or two positive attributes along with many negative ones. At this point we started testing products outside the sphere of horsebox manufacturing.
Designing for grip
Of the products we tested, Polyurea was by far the best. By working closely with our chemical manufacturer, local university, and two lifelong horse transporters, we pioneered a completely new product and finish. The result was our amazing Coat-X Polyurea protective coating! In fact, the grip was so good we had it independently slip tested against all available flooring products, where it outperformed them in both wet and dry conditions. Coat-X is rated to British Standards 7976-2.
Coat-X is incredibly versatile. We spray it on walls, horse floors, ramps, and horse paddings. It completely eliminates the need for sealer adhesives, joints, and cappings, providing a smart, seamless, 100% waterproof finish. This versatility enhances the overall quality and lifespan of our Aeos and Helios horseboxes.
The durability and superior grip of Coat-X significantly contribute to the safety and longevity of our products, making it an essential component in our horsebox design.
Some of the additional benefits of Coat-X:
- Amazing durability for horsebox ramps and floors
- No loss of load space
- Replaces granulistic rubber flooring and heavy rubber matting
- Replaces spray-on rubber and liquid rubber floor matting
- Easy clean and not affected with urine or cleaning chemicals
- Maintenance free and great for horsebox longevity
- High impact resistance
- Any thickness required
- Sound deadening qualities
- Smart one-piece finish for horseboxes
- Independently slip tested, both wet and dry to British Standards 7976-2
- Can be sprayed on almost any surface
- Contains no solvents
- Environmentally safe
- No V.O.C’s or C.F.C’s
- Not affected by moisture or temperature
- Not affected by ageing
- Can be steam cleaned, and power washed without damage
- … and our personal favourite, Coat-X dries in a few seconds.
Food For Thought…
Among all our blog topics, testing for grip has been by far the most protracted process, consuming the most man-hours. The entire procedure—from finding a suitable product and designing the finish, to creating samples for horses to walk on, and then logging the findings over an extended period in various weather conditions—has been incredibly time-consuming, but ultimately invaluable.
As always safety, and primarily horse safety is at the forefront of everything we do. Thank you for being part of our journey and we would greatly appreciate your thoughts on this blog post! If there’s anything we might have overlooked or if you have additional insights to share, we would love to hear from you.
Please feel free to send your feedback to kevin@kphltd.co.uk
Thank you for helping us improve.