Studs, long term effects of use.

frazzled

frazzled

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After reading a comment in another thread about studs effecting a horses joints I wondered what people thought about this and the use of studs in general? We use studs on the back feet and have found this sufficient for our horses but we are only eventing at a low level atm (upto BE100). I worry about my daughter being caught by them if she comes off but if I am totally honest have never considered any effects on the horses joints.
So just wondered what peoples thoughts / experiences are on this issue.
 
I think there are loads of arguments for and against but there is no conclusive proof that they have a detrimental effect on horses joints as far as I am aware. Both mine and my sister's horses wear road studs (one in outside of each hind) all the time for hacking out and my horse is now 19 and has not exhibited any ill effects or noticeable joint problems over the years. Wearing studs is preferable to my horse falling on the road as far as i am concerned having experienced him slip and fall when one of his back studs had come out (I hadn't noticed when getting him ready). Resulted ina broken collar bone for me and luckily for him he just was rather bruised but it could have been worse.

We change them to various different studs, depending on ground conditions for xc/dressage and SJing (if on grass) as certainly with my horse he does have a tendency to lose his footing behind and I feel with them on both me and him are more confident.

I don't think it is necessary to out studs in the front feet as I believe they are supposed to slip to some degree and I think studding them can cause stress on the front end (although that is just my belief, that is not a scientific fact!) but one stud in each hind seems to work for me and my horse.
 
Its horses for courses!

My advanced eventer can no longer wear studs due to spavins-we did try culkins (the old fashioned way of studs made as part of the shoe) but even this was too much for him.

We thought about just putting studs in his fronts but after xrays decided not to as there is some general wear and tear-so studs although would help grip but would also jar up his joints.

We discussed with the farrier just the normal road studs to put two in each foot at the rear of the shoes but as my horse walks slightly different on both fores again he does actually need to travel on the surface a bit.

If you look carefully at different eventers and SJ you can see Riders have different set ups on their horses and what works best for their way of going
 
Think it really depends on the horse, whose riding it and what its doing.
I have had to ride horses both with and without studs. I completely believe that road nails are the best thing since sliced bread. They are small enough not effect the horse but big enough to stop skidding on tarmac.

I have always had a bit of an issue with studs being used instead of a balanced horse. Seen plenty of ponies especially at pony club where they are worn to be on the safe side...IMO if someone is out xc schooling they should not be whipping their horse around tight enough for it to fall over. And an honest pony will jump from a skid should rider or horse have second thoughts. So contraversial as it may be I really think children jumping under 3foot should not be wearing studs unless their horse is a bit tetchy ('special') about slipping etc. After that I think it should be really thought about.
I have experienced horses becoming lazy with studs and just not bothering to balance themselves.

My comment about joint wear is because I recently started playing rugby in studs again and as I am a winger there is alot of changes of direction my joints really feel it. Obviously I couldn't play without and the forwards I speak to say they don't get joint pain as much so it think it is the turning and jumping about as well as the impacts when tackling. So I can easily see that horses wearing studs will come across a similar impact.

I know what you are saying about your daughter and going over has only happened to me once aged 9 and it was turning to a fence instead of doing a half circle only did it once tho! I know exactly the predicament because you could tell her that until you were blue in the face but as soon as you let them on that course they are on their own. Having said all this my OH says that after a season your joints harden too studs (says a man who has now had 7 knee dislocations!) so I will leave that for you to draw your own conclusions!
(disclaimer: I know that horses joints are differant to humans but both being biological mechanisms there must be similarities)
 
I believe there has to be some impact to joint from use of studs and don't use them. That's because we're barefoot and do everything bare - we do slip on grass but mostly so little I don't even notice. When we have slipped enough for me to be aware of it it has been when horse has been excitedly tearing along paying no attention to me and has slipped. On these occassions though the slip has felt controlled and horse has been able to quickly correct himself. He suffers no confidence knocks from these slips.

On roads being bare is brilliant - we simply do not slip :)

If we were shod then I would consider using studs. I saw a pony XC training earlier this year - the ground was very slippery and his rider had forgotten the studs. His friend was studded up and merrily jumping everything but he was really unhappy and jumping poorly or just not jumping. Riders mum went back to the lorry to get studs and once fitted the pony was far happier, jumping everything with confidence. At the same time my horse and OH were happily jumping everything bare. Horses for courses :)
 
Well I know that road nails do have a negative impact on the joints, I wouldn't have thought that studs were quite as bad though, as they're used on a giving surface, so aren't so 'jolting'?
 
Be intrested to see the data behind road nails effecting joints is it on tinters if yes can I have the link? will have a mooch on google. (note: not trying to prove you wrong or anything just interested always mind open :))
I also think that the impact caused by road nails must be minimal bacause of the little time and work horses (that I have ridden) have spent on hard surfaces where the road nail will effect the angle of hoof, also still allows the movement of the hoof on impact just gives extra tread.
 
I think I would rather use studs then risk a horse falling over, my old pony fell over and pulled a muscle in his hind quarters, it could have been a lot worse and this was whilst he was barefoot. As soon as he was sound I got some back shoes on him and put some studs in however, about a year later he developed arthirits in his hock.

Whether the two are related I have no idea but now I just try to avoid jumping on grass as a show jumper there are a lot of arenas with good surfaces which I'd rather go to then jump on grass, I know for eventers this wouldn't be possible.
 
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