Studding / Supastud Questions

[horseywelsh]

New to studding, so I have no kit and no studs at present.
Horse also only has front shoes on, but a full set with stud holes is arranged for next shoeing. We have been SJ and XC (75/80cms) with this set up fine over the last couple of months, picking our days/ground etc however we now want to progress further.
We will be doing SJ/XC with the possibility of aiming for an unaff ODE, then Intro towards end of year so dressage on grass is also an option.

Reading around Supastuds seem like the way forward and seens as though I'm investing in a new set may as well opt for the better ones.
Looking on their website sounds like we will need a set of the pointed ones, and a set of domes? Would those 2 sets suffice?
They come in small, medium and large, no idea which to go for (horse is a 15.2 TB)?
Eventers do you have the same type of stud in for all 3 phases?
Do you "need" a supastuds spanner or is a normal one ok?

If you could tell me what studs you have in your "kit", which you most use etc, that would be most helpful.

Sorry for all the numpty Q's - freshly peeled mango with meringue and cream on offer ;D

 

[ajn1610]

Def do supastuds sooo much easier to use. I use a small normal spanner and it's fine. Wouls also recommend getting a set of travelling studs and cleaning out the holes and using them the night before. It's a lot easier than faffing sround pulling out cotton wool when you are trying to tack up at the event.

 

[kirstyhen]

I have just re-stocked my stud kit as it's been years since I had stud holes!

I went for SupaStuds as I have used them before and really like them, so I bought the Stud Kit - Spanner, 4XTravel Studs, 4XSmall Conicals, a Box and a StudStasha (which aren't in a stock at the moment but they are forwarding on). I've also got 8XDressage Studs, 4XSharp Studs, 4XMini Sharp, 4XPolo Studs and 8XSmall Domes.
I reckon that covers me for hard-soft ground, but if it was really boggy I'd need some bigger studs. I plan on getting more of the same studs so I have a good stock of them!

 

[jess_asterix]

I use these the night before an event http://www.supastuds.com/details_27.html

I use these for all 3 phases when the ground is pretty normally ( not rock solid or really soft) http://www.supastuds.com/details_20.html

When the ground is deep i use these in the hinds http://www.supastuds.com/details_19.html
and these in front (but a slightly bigger version) http://www.supastuds.com/details_73.html

In hard ground i use these in front http://www.supastuds.com/details_25.html
and these behind http://www.supastuds.com/details_20.html

Occasionally I will just use these all round http://www.supastuds.com/details_22.html which I find really useful!

Personally the only Supastuds I use is the travel ones as I have just collected so many studs over the past few years and none of my local stores sell them.

I also find a ratchet as they tighten the studs up better than my weak arms!!

I use the same studs on both the inside and outside of the foot.

 

[rossiroo]

I have always found supa-studs great, they did do a leaflet explaining all about the studs, but why not e-mail or phone them, i'm sure they will help.

 

[kerilli]

ditto the flat travel studs, these will become your favourites of all... just swapping studs at the comp is sooo easy compared to cleaning out holes and putting studs in from scratch.
i tend to use: for fronts: small square, small pointy. never anything bigger in front usually.
for hinds: medium square, med pointy, large square, large pointy.
between all those i think i can just about cover all bases. if it's absolutely bottomless deep thick mud there's no point having studs at all really, the whole foot gets all the depth/traction it can, so i never use the ginormous studs.
a normal spanner will do, but the flat tapper-outer is v useful imho, as is their magnetic wrist thingy.
huge Supastuds fan here, won't use anything else now.

 

[horseywelsh]

Many thanks for all your replies so far.
Kirstyhen - you are very prepared, did you buy direct, good service?
Jess-asterix - thanks for all the links to which you use and when, most helpful


Our local saddlers don't stock them either so I would be buying direct - good idea re phoning them, will do that before I buy but wanted to hear what people use. I don't want to buy too many and not use them, but also want enough different sorts to cover varying ground conditions.

 

[horseywelsh]

ditto the flat travel studs, these will become your favourites of all... just swapping studs at the comp is sooo easy compared to cleaning out holes and putting studs in from scratch.
i tend to use: for fronts: small square, small pointy. never anything bigger in front usually.
for hinds: medium square, med pointy, large square, large pointy.
between all those i think i can just about cover all bases. if it's absolutely bottomless deep thick mud there's no point having studs at all really, the whole foot gets all the depth/traction it can, so i never use the ginormous studs.
a normal spanner will do, but the flat tapper-outer is v useful imho, as is their magnetic wrist thingy.
huge Supastuds fan here, won't use anything else now.

Thanks - hadn't thought about the travel studs, but with an excited youngster at comps they would no doubt be a godsend.

Not sure what you mean by the flat tapper outer but will have a nosey on website again.

 

[kirstyhen]

I buy them direct off the internet, pay for normal delivery and they arrive a couple of days later. Fab service.

I ordered my stud kit first and then added to it based on the stud guide I got with the kit, although I did have some SupaStuds left from my other horse's stud wearing days. So I have...

Mini sharps/Sharps/Dressage - In front for hard to good ground
Sharps/Dressage/Small Conicals - Behind hard to good ground
Small Conicals/Polo/Small Domes - In front good to soft ground
Polo/Small Domes - behind good to soft ground

Reckon that covers me for every type of ground I'll encounter. I bought smaller ones as I didn't want to over stud, my horse has fab balance and is very sure footed, so I don't think I will need anything bigger.

 

[horseywelsh]

thanks again - good to hear service is good.
My mare is similar, her balance is realy good - we haven't had any problems slipping but I have picked my days and not gone tight/fast in jump offs. She's ready now though for bigger challenges and don't want to ask her for these until studded as I don't want to knock her confidence by slipping etc. Like you say also don't want to over stud.

On my list so far I have:
small conical x 8
dome stud x 8
travel stud x8

and maybe dressage stud x 8, medium conical x 4

think i'll buy a cheapo normal box and spanner to try and save a few pennies.

 

[Jane_Lou]

I would also go for something smaller for hard ground, I used small sharps in front and sharps behind and found they did the job. Also, if you are having 8 holes I would buy at least 1 spare of each incase you loose one in the grass!

My kit box is an old supplement box, I store the studs in little plastic money bags, cleaned and sprayed with WD40 - which is an essential piece of you kit anyway!

 

[horseywelsh]

thanks, good tips, will buy spares

think i'll get some smaller (sharps) then rather than the dressage stud

 

[kerilli]

i was trying to find a 'flat tapper outer' which is actually called a 'safety tap'. this sort of thing. brilliant, so much safer.
http://www.loftusdogharness.co.uk/stud_tap.html

ooh, found a nice cheap one!
http://www.parnabys.com/Safety Spin Tap

this is a good page with lots of explanations:
http://www.studsandstuff.com/usingstuds.html

the supastuds are self-cleaning NOT self-tapping so it's worth re-tapping the thread carefully before trying to put the travel studs in imho. not re-threading though as if you do this a few times you'll end up with a messed-up stud hole and find it really difficult to get the studs to lock tightly.
if you do it just after washing the horse the day before an event, then any mud in there will be soft and easy to get out.

 

[horseywelsh]

brilliant thanks Kerelli - safety tap looks much better than the original taps. Seen a few eek moments with those.

Another question - stud girths.
For the height SJ and/or XC we will be doing (for now max 90cm) should I invest in one of these too?
Again any good makes to go for/avoid?

This change of discipline lark is proving to be quite costly, lots of fun though.

 

[jenbleep]

i was trying to find a 'flat tapper outer' which is actually called a 'safety tap'. this sort of thing. brilliant, so much safer.
http://www.loftusdogharness.co.uk/stud_tap.html

ooh, found a nice cheap one!
http://www.parnabys.com/Safety Spin Tap

this is a good page with lots of explanations:
http://www.studsandstuff.com/usingstuds.html

I've seen these and think they are brilliant

 

[kerilli]

brilliant thanks Kerelli - safety tap looks much better than the original taps. Seen a few eek moments with those.

Another question - stud girths.
For the height SJ and/or XC we will be doing (for now max 90cm) should I invest in one of these too?
Again any good makes to go for/avoid?

This change of discipline lark is proving to be quite costly, lots of fun though.

Well, i would put a stud girth on, personally.
i always choose ones with symmetrical elastic - so either just elastic in the middle (my favourite) or on both ends.

 

[SpottedCat]

I very rarely use anything other than the supa studs dressage studs these days - they seem to cover most eventualities! Over the years I have built up quite a collection, but the dressage ones (and the travel ones) are the most useful IMO.

Don't forget it is very rare to be at an event where there is not one tradestand selling studs....so easy to add to your collection if needs be.

I lent someone 8 dressage studs at Mount Ballan last weekend, and they were really pleased with them.

 

[FigJam]

SupaStuds are the best. They have a brilliant selection of different types and also do fantastic "travel studs" which means you can prep stud holes the night before comp, put these in and then all that needs done at show is swap them for studs you want to use, so quick and much easier than stressing about cleaning holes on the day!

I use a pretty similar set up to kirstyhen;

Travel studs;

I use these "mini sharp" studs in front for firm-good going, they are really little but sharp enough on firm ground to give a little "bite";

Then the "small conical" behind;

The "dressage" stud is great for fairly hard ground and I would usually use these behind in place of the small conicals for pretty hard ground, keeping the mini sharps in front;

I have the "polo" (front) and "bullet" (hind) studs for soft conditions, but only used those a couple of times. (As per advice from farrier and weighing up opinion on here, I use one stud per foot on the outside, many folk will advise not to use a pointed/sharp stud on the inside of the shoe, so this may affect your choices if studding two per shoe)

PS- their online site and ordering/delivery is fab, so would definitely buy direct.

 

[ecrozier]

Another supastuds fan here! I also find that the small conical and small dressage cover most eventualities with my smaller horse, he's only 14.2 and very sure footed so I rarely use much more than that and will tend to leave them in for all three phases. Younger horse is less balanced so do sometimes use the medium sized ones for him, especially behind. Only ever put one in outside of each hoof, but that's all a matter of personal preferance and there are arguements both ways I think!
Re stud girths, I would use one if you can. I haven't jumped my youngster with studs in front feet yet as have only just got a stud girth for him, his first BE is weekend after next. I got the aerborn comfort stud girth as it was a good price and he's funny about his girth sometimes, if it's not soft/sheepskin he pulls faces when you girth up, always has done. His mightily expensive professionals choice sheepskin girth he doesn't even look around! But I was worried he might object to a great lump of leather stud girth, and ATM can't afford a pricey sheepskin lined stud girth, so the slightly more flexible/soft aerborn one seemed a good conpromise. He's very happy in it so far, used for a jump lesson last week with no complaints!

 

[Fairy Dust]

Another fan of supastuds- they just make evrything so much easier!

Re girths- I have recently bought a Stephens leather one, approx £100 but it was the only make that matched the colour of my saddle and I am very pleased with it. It's very soft and hasn't rubbed my sensitive chestnut which many do, I also think it's just as nice as the Amerigo ones which cost £££££!

 

[missprimitive]

Another fan love them - especially the travel studs make things so much easier especially for example when your sj is on a surface and they wont allow studs.

Maybe get more than 8 though if you find you lose one in the earlier phases always good to have a couple of spares. Not that im allowed to stud up any of our horses the OH feels its a mans job and it makes him feel important, but he's commented a few times that the studs are a funny size so unless you have one of those adjustable spanners the standard ones you buy in tack shops dont always fit

And to help you remember how to put them in lefty loosey, righty tighty!!!

 

[horseywelsh]

And to help you remember how to put them in lefty loosey, righty tighty!!!

Hahaaa shall remember that now Yeh, does seem that I might be better getting the supastuds spanner, seens as i'm a newbie to this studding might make it easier.

Thanks for all your replies espec figjam putting the piccies on.