Let's Talk About Studs
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| Not actually studs... but stud... plugs? |
I'd love to hear from those of you that event or hunt and use studs!
When and why do you use studs? What kind do you use? Did you always use studs? Did you have a horse that used to be barefoot (all around or just behind) that you then shod for the purpose of being able to put in studs?
Please give me your knowledge! I am greatly lacking in understanding when it comes to beefing up our horses' footwear.
This is one of those things where if you ask 5 people you'll get 10 different answers, and none of them are necessarily wrong. It depends so much on the individual horse, the rider, the course, what they're used to, etc. I know some upper level riders (think Olympian) that never stud. Ever. I know others that will stud horses as low as Novice level. As with most things, I think the general answer is somewhere in between. I put hind shoes on anything jumping regularly - our footing is too hard and slick here. For me personally though, I think studs are something that really don't start coming into play until Prelim level, maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaybe Training for some horses or in some conditions. That's where the speed and the technicality is such that it's "pushing the envelope" and the horse might need some help. Personal opinion, of course. ;) I will probably have mine drilled and tapped when he's confirmed at Training, just in case we come across a course that is particularly slick or boggy, since he's not particularly graceful.
ReplyDeletemy mare isn't shod behind either so it hasn't really come up much. but i tend to think most horses can get by at the lower levels without studs in most circumstances
ReplyDeleteI've never used studs on any horse. I generally prefer to keep them barefoot when possible (because I'm cheap), but when I was eventing very regularly what feels like a million years ago, I had my farrier put shoes with borium grips on Moe's front hooves. They added just a little bit of extra grip and traction without having to mess with screwing in studs.
ReplyDeleteIn the clay soil of Indiana, a lot of my eventer friends studded regularly for Training +. That sort of ground is so slippery, they really had to even if the ground wasn't particularly sloppy.
ReplyDeleteComing from Hunter/Jumper land, studs are actually used a lot in the jumpers. If the course is on grass and bigger than like 3', it makes a lot of sense to use studs on a lot of horses, simply because grass and dirt aren't as grippy, and to turn tight, the horses need to be able to get some good grip. On certain horses, they're even useful in more normal footing over bigger tracks, but they tend to tear up the footing, and they can be harder on the horse's legs.
ReplyDeleteAs a fox hunter, studs are used for the footing, mud, ice, asphalt roads. It gives the horse traction. Also like any human althelete who wear cleats- it a little insurance to give the horse traction, so they don't slip and tear something or fall.
ReplyDeleteI've studded horses for training and above, depending on the location. In Oregon and Washington the footing is usually slick rain soaked grass so larger studs get used. Down at several of the California shows the footing on xc is so sandy you don't even need studs at prelim! Totally agree with what Amanda said about 10 answers from 5 people, there is so much variation in info.
ReplyDeleteI'm a hunter. Studs are like a chupacabra to me LOL
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