Anyone fancy talking to me about studs?

Auslander

Auslander

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It's for an article, and I've got a couple of stud companies, vets and farriers on side, but I'm interested in the laymans point of view. What works for you - Do you still do what you've always done, or have your practices changed as more information becomes available vis a vis concussion, dynamic forces etc etc. Do you stud for competing on a surface, and has that made a difference? Have you stopped studding, and if so - why? Are you a stud on each branch of the shoe, or do you just stud on the outside. Any other gems of wisdom to share? If you could ask any question of a vet/farrier/stud company - what would it be? You can be an eventer, dressage, showjumping, polo, hunting, PtP'ER - all input valued.
 
Got rather excited then and thought you meant the
Tsonga.jpg


type of stud! (fans face frantically)
 
Ok so:

I now have stud holes as far forward in the front shoe as possible (ie as close to nail holes as poss) to give the foot the best chance of retaining some slip on landing (as that is how they were designed to move). If the ground is suitable I don't stud in front to help this.

I only stud on the outside of the shoe with youngsters until they are balanced and don't try and step on themselves. After that, whether I go to two studs or not depends on how they push off the floor. If, when you trot them up, they twist the foot as they push off, I only stud with one (as two would stop that natural rotation and put excessive force on the joints), if they are dead straight, I'll go to two.

I don't stud to work on a surface, except incidentally when they are eventing so already studded up.
 
SpottedCat said:
Ok so:

I now have stud holes as far forward in the front shoe as possible (ie as close to nail holes as poss) to give the foot the best chance of retaining some slip on landing (as that is how they were designed to move). If the ground is suitable I don't stud in front to help this.

I only stud on the outside of the shoe with youngsters until they are balanced and don't try and step on themselves. After that, whether I go to two studs or not depends on how they push off the floor. If, when you trot them up, they twist the foot as they push off, I only stud with one (as two would stop that natural rotation and put excessive force on the joints), if they are dead straight, I'll go to two.

I don't stud to work on a surface, except incidentally when they are eventing so already studded up.
Click to expand...

Exactly the sort of thing I'm after - thank you so much.
 
I actually have a pic of the foot with stud holes moved further forwards if you want it?

252289_10151082072376874_1746644953_n.jpg


ETA: Sorry, that is massive and I have no idea why!
 
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Oh dear OP, I guess you are rather inviting some comment - nice one NicNac, but not my type .......... I did read that and did a double take about what sort of studs?

Joking aside, I can give you some feedback on what my daughter has used and does use. Firstly, she has one stud hole on each shoe, I know there is some debate about whether to have one or two, but our mare always has had one and she deals with it fine. I would add the stud hole is on the outside of the shoe on each foot. Always used to use whatever we would get our hands on and would plug up stud holes with cotton wool and vaseline.

However, now she is a confirmed Supastuds user. Dead easy, but you do still need your tap, it just makes life a lot easier. Also have found the Supastuds travel studs a huge, huge time saver - just clean out stud holes and screw them in the night before. Dead easy and it saves poor old mum's back at events. (No, I dont work for them, or have any connections with the company in case anyone asks, we just like the product). Regarding the type of studs, we just use what is appropriate to the conditions, we dont fanny about over it.

I have to be honest and say that she does not stud up for everything. Of course where its on grass she does as a matter of course and that includes dressage on grass - she even studded up for the Pony Club Nationals. If she is showjumping or doing dressage on a surface, she does not bother. No specific question to ask really, just wanted to share mine and Mini TX's very simple philosophy about studs. It can get so dam complicated.

Fit farrier photos - yes please!!!!!
 
I stopped studding up about 5/6 years ago, only compete at lower levels (Unaff 90/100 level or SJ to 1.10) and fortunately the horses I've competed all had a decent sense of self preservation :D I never felt at any disadvantage not studding and I'm not certainly not slow xc :cool: I try and keep things as simple as possible and at that point my old boy had just been diagnosed with arthritis in his hocks so it was an attempt to reduce concussion.
 
I used to stud up anytime I was competing on grass, one stud on the outside of each foot. My horse has since injured his DDFT tendon and although the incident had nothing to do with wearing studs having read various reports regarding the effect studs can have on jarring ect. I now avoid them like the plague.

This year I competed another horse in low level BE, two events were very wet and I suspect we were the only one without studs however horse coped fine both times and never slipped. The horse that broke down is, fingers crossed, going to be eventing again once more next season (again at lower level) but he is now barefoot as I want to do as much as I can to keep him sound. He had a history of slipping behind even whilst wearing studs so it shall be interesting to see how he copes without shoes.
 
I stud up whenever competing on grass. One hole on the outside. Also confirmed Supastuds user! Love the travel studs ... Don't put them in too early though as mine once had their tops sheered off when the horse walked around in it's concrete pen... I find bungs of cotton with ballistol or baby oil work best in wet conditions and the v shaped rubber ones when it is dry. We always need to tap as we do loads of roadwork and the top of the studholes gets narrower as the shoe wears... The screw in allen key bungs don't seem to work fir the same reason. The one thing I have found is despite having almost the entire collection of Supastuds I really only use the big pointy ones and the travel ones ...
 
Thank you so much people - really helpful!

Spottedcat - pic is perfect. I'd like to use it if you don't object - happy to credit you if you PM your real name/description of horse.
 
I never stud up for jumping on a surface but I'm never going for the time in a jump-off, if I was, I might.
I do exactly what SC does with hind shoes, one stud if horse screws foot when moving (most do ime), two if it doesn't.
I always use as small a stud as I think I can get away with. Mostly because I was told by a BE official of a horse who had huge studs in and landed fine in a water jump, went to turn and suffered a (fatal) spiral fracture of a front leg as the big studs locked the foot in place so all the stresses went up the leg. :( :(
Whatever shape stud I am using (square, dome, pointy) I always use a smaller version in front than behind. I never mix and match.
self-tapping studs are the best. almost-flat 'sleeper' studs make life much easier at shows, just swap them for bigger studs.
I always clean stud holes out after washing horse's tail and legs, then the mud in them has softened and it makes the job a lot easier!

I'm not 100% sure about the 'studs farther forward to let the foot slip' thing of SC's though... hmm. Surely if the stud is further back, more of the foot can move before the heel (and stud) comes into contact with the ground? I am going to have to really think about that one!
 
Afternoon all! I've been inundated with pics of studs on white backgrounds from stud companies for this article, but what I really want is pics of studs in shoes/horses studded up/that sort of thing.
Any body have any reasonably high resolution images of their horses feet with studs in, or action shots of studs being inserted. If I see another white background, I might just cry!
 
I don't have pictures like that - but do you want to take some? J has stud holes you are welcome to pop over this week and we can mock up some cleaning hole type pics?
I'm with kerrilli and SC on most aspects, only stud when absolutely necessary, if poss only stud behind, always as small as possible. Roo always just on outside, j has had two behind before when really slippery as he's fairly careful with his feet. Also a big fan of super studs, travel studs are a godsend. Also learnt the hard way to look after my studs after a few incidentally with rust!!
 
ecrozier said:
I don't have pictures like that - but do you want to take some? J has stud holes you are welcome to pop over this week and we can mock up some cleaning hole type pics?
I'm with kerrilli and SC on most aspects, only stud when absolutely necessary, if poss only stud behind, always as small as possible. Roo always just on outside, j has had two behind before when really slippery as he's fairly careful with his feet. Also a big fan of super studs, travel studs are a godsend. Also learnt the hard way to look after my studs after a few incidentally with rust!!
Click to expand...

I'll text you! That may be a solution-if I can manage to take decent shots with my phone!
 
kerilli said:
I never stud up for jumping on a surface but I'm never going for the time in a jump-off, if I was, I might.
I do exactly what SC does with hind shoes, one stud if horse screws foot when moving (most do ime), two if it doesn't.
I always use as small a stud as I think I can get away with. Mostly because I was told by a BE official of a horse who had huge studs in and landed fine in a water jump, went to turn and suffered a (fatal) spiral fracture of a front leg as the big studs locked the foot in place so all the stresses went up the leg. :( :(
Whatever shape stud I am using (square, dome, pointy) I always use a smaller version in front than behind. I never mix and match.
self-tapping studs are the best. almost-flat 'sleeper' studs make life much easier at shows, just swap them for bigger studs.
I always clean stud holes out after washing horse's tail and legs, then the mud in them has softened and it makes the job a lot easier!

I'm not 100% sure about the 'studs farther forward to let the foot slip' thing of SC's though... hmm. Surely if the stud is further back, more of the foot can move before the heel (and stud) comes into contact with the ground? I am going to have to really think about that one!
Click to expand...

This saves a lot of typing:) I never use them on a surface, even when going in jump off, current horse is fast and can win, he really relies on them on grass, previous owner used fairly large studs but I use the smallest I feel he needs depending on the going. I will sometimes take fronts out after SJ so he goes xc with less jarring.

I also need to think about SCs theory, it seems the wrong way round to me and I would like to see some other thoughts on it.
 
Your farrier or mine? Incidentally mine is coming on Friday - maybe we should combine J's photo shoot with his visit then you can pick his brains about studs at the same time :)
 
jnhuk said:
I have one stud hole in the outer branch for hind feet but then there is a slight twist to his action. My farrier is not keen on studs both sides
Click to expand...

Does he have an explanation for that line of thought - it'd be really interesting to hear from a farrier who isn't a fan of double holes.
 
Article now drafted, and many photos achieved - by lying face down in a puddle, in the rain, behind ecroziers remarkably tolerant Mr J!

What I am lacking is a any pics of horses, with studs clearly visible, in motion - taking off or landing over a fence, over a fence, or in motion on the flat. If anybody has a pic that would work as the main image, I'd be DEEPLY grateful!

The magazine goes to press next week, so I will stop banging on about studs - I promise!
 
Just seen this - help yourself to picture!

The theory with the stud holes is that the horse should be landing heel first, not toe first, both when galloping normally, and when landing over a fence - biomechanically they are designed to do that. Therefore by moving the stud further forward in the front feet, you allow the horse some more 'slip time' before the stud bites. In all honesty I suspect it is entirely minimal - but then isn't everything about tiny degrees which make a difference?! I did want to video the horse in them and replay on slo-mo to see if the theory was correct - but then the horse broke, so I did not get a chance :(
 
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