Barefooters...

But regardless of the state (or not) of your horses feet, that won't affect the need for studs? Thought it today as I cleared our stud holes for tomorrow! X
 
I think many find they simply don't need studs and that the horse's bare hoof does the job well.

If they need extra traction, the use hoof boots. I have heard of some people putting studs in hoof boots for even more grip. HTH :)
 
Cedars said:
... What do you do for studs?
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There has been some attempts to put studs onto certain hoof boots, but none have been successful at this time.

There are a bunch of barefooters who compete without studs successfully. I believe the PhD thesis that the farrier did went into the increase of jarring on the legs that came with studs - but you will have to forgive me, I haven't read it in full yet.

But if an owner wants studs then shoes are the only answer at the moment.

Shoeing for the competitive season and going unshod in between (like we used to do traditionally) is a fair compromise between performance and hoof health IMO. :)
 
Naturally said:
I think many find they simply don't need studs and that the horse's bare hoof does the job well.

If they need extra traction, the use hoof boots. I have heard of some people putting studs in hoof boots for even more grip. HTH :)
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I prefer not to use hoof boots if I'm going fast or over squishy ground: feel much more secure on the bare hooves. There's no need for studding in the activities my pony does, so the question hasn't arisen. I've been hunting (granted, only the once) and very low XC bare-hooved, and felt perfectly safe.

It's my understanding that people that do bigger XC bare-hooved might consider not running if the ground was so terrible that they thought they would be in danger. Ask cptrayes about it; she's evented barefoot.
 
patterdale said:
I agree, I've thought that before. No idea what they do, and as there hasn't been a torrent of answers I can only wonder :)

But there's probably a supplement for it ;)

(tongue firmly in cheek)
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Please try to grow up.

The snarky tone of your posts make you look wholly ignorant on the hoof and how to keep it healthy. You look even more foolish when you troll posts in your bitterness.

I don't have all the answers and I am still learning - always will be.
But I personally put a fair amount of my personal time trying to help others on here and answering emails and PMs and your childish behaviour offends me.

You said on your own post that people shouldn't post unless they have anything helpful to say.

Until you know everything - don't mock others.
 
Obviously I was joking. I made this very clear. Please stop following me round and attacking me like this.
I have nothing against horses being barefoot, I just choose not to do it myself.

Again - clearly a joke. Please leave me alone.
 
All this barefoot/shod/unshod stuff is getting very childish.
It's why the horse world is so horrendous really. I really couldn't give a giant pap what other people do with their horses, how they do it, why, what they call it...I just get on with my own thing and try not to judge something I have no real idea on.
I think people could do well to try and do the same :)
 
I hope that wasn't aimed at me, BDC. Im genuinely interested as I will want Puz to have studs when she's older but hopefully no shoes.
 
Cedars, why do you want to know firstly, and secondly, stud for what purpose?

If just to stop slipping on hills, then bare feet don't need studs as they are grippy enough already.

If to provide more grip when doing dressage on arenas, then the same applies. Even on very wet grass studs can't help you that much and I have personal experience of this.

If for xc, then, you still don't need them as I found out after giving it a go myself with no boots. My pairs partner who had studs did slip at a sharp turn whereas my horse stayed put.

When (aiming high :D) I reach higher levels and feel I need to shoe for studs then I will. There is no "either or". There is only what is best for the horse and if you feel it is prudent to shoe and use studs, go for it. Personally I disagree with studs, but I don't disagree with shoeing for a purpose - just my opinion on the matter. I sure many will disagree. That's ok though, we are entitled to our views on things :)
 
I event at BE90 on a Connemara and my sister is about to move up to BE100 with her ex-racer. They are both barefoot and I really don't miss having to put studs in!
 
patterdale said:
Did someone go round badminton/bramham/one of the b's without shoes a few years ago?
Or did I dream that? I vaguely remember something about it
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Tom Robinson evented an Advanced horse with a Millenium prefix who could not be kept sound in shoes.

I affiliated evented 2 Novices and 3 Intro/PN with no shoes, and therefore of course no studs, and had no problems due to lack of studs.

There is now PhD research by a farrier which suggests that a certain amount of slippage is required in order to reduce unhealthy levels of stress on the joints and Moorman, another farrier, who posts on this forum, is very much against studs for that reason and has said he thinks that they should be banned.


OP I still don't really understand your question. The rule book is clear that boots are illegal. What did you think we did about studs, glue some on? Drill holes in our horses' feet? Shoe for the one day? :D
 
I shoe jumped a barefoot pony once on grass after it had rained. Interestingly enough every other horse/pony there was shod and slipped except mine. He put in a lovely dirty stop, stayed put, didn't slip into jump and sent me flying!

If the hoof is trimmed correctly and balanced the frog and foot offer fabulous traction. Far less chance of slipping in snow/ice too.

I forget dome of the challanges faced by shod horses as I have been barefoot for 5 yrs now and rarely have any foot issues.

People I hack with they have shod horses get worried about certain sufraces, deep mud, loose shoes etc... I don't really give it a second thought!
Oberon r u a EP? As u sound very knoweldgeable in this subject , and ur info matches up with my training too :-)
X
 
No studs or shoes here, I've found that both of ours slip less over different surfaces and at different paces so the option of adding studs hasn't ever been an issue as we simply don't need them. Even if shod I would be reluctant to stud due to the forces spread through the leg. Sometimes down steep scree and mud slopes my mare might slide at times, always feels in control though and I'm happy that it isn't a bad thing!
 
Studs and road nails are required because metal shoes are so slippy, and provide little or no grip.

Bare hooves seldom slip in most conditions.

My experience is that bare hooves are safer and slip less even in extreme circumstances, ie. Muddy conditions and big fences.
 
Horse used to slip in dressage when shod + studs. Horse now unshod and does not slip :) Evented in torrential rain/deep mud, as well as hard, no grass cover ground and no slipping.
I was sceptical myself when I first started but I can only go on my experience, which has been great :)
 
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