Studs (use or not)

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vicm2509

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All winter my horse has had front shoes only. I took them off as he tends to rip his fronts off with his backs (not all the time but this has happened about 5 times in a year) and I dont do much road work tbh, but will be doing a little more in the summer. He managed all winter with just fronts and was going on a horse walker for about 30mins a day which has a concrete floor, also occasional hacking but mostly just schooling in menage.

Anyway hes doing really well with them off but my instructor was shocked that I was doing a dressage test on grass with no studs in and said I was brave
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I will be doing lots of dressage, SJ and a little ridden showing over the summer so question is do I get a full set of shoes with stud holes in them? If he has 4 shoes he will have to wear over reach boots when turned out and it will cost me twice as much to shoe him plus replacement shoes when he pulls them off.

Opinions please
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Oh and im only doing Prelim/Novice dressage and jumping no bigger than 3ft when out. Wont be doing and XC comps or any major fast work.
 
I tend to find in dressage on grass that it's the back end that can slip out round the corners, so I stud back feet only and then just one on the outside of each foot
 
The level you're talking about I would leave him as is tbh. They cope well enough in the wild without shoes after all. If it becomes a problem you can always put some on later
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I think you'll have less problems with no shoes on the back than shoes without studs, I'd probably leave as it is, that's what I'm doing
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I would see how you get on!! If it's a problem you can always get the gear for him, but you won't know if you don't try!
I take it you are doing the BHS dressage this weekend? I was going, but Mickey is lame (3rd week!) but hopefully we'll be back for the 1st WRTC show.
 
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I take it you are doing the BHS dressage this weekend? I was going, but Mickey is lame (3rd week!) but hopefully we'll be back for the 1st WRTC show.

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Yes im going to Arrowe Pk on sunday
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I will hopefully see you at Wirral then as go to most of their events and will deffo be at all the summer shows. If you end up coming to watch on sunday PM me, im on at 1005 and 1305.


Hes not due to be shod for 5 weeks so I may see how he goes, I should have done a bit of jumping aswell as dressage by then so will hopefully be decided then. I just got a bit worried as my instructor seemed totally shocked when I told her he had no back shoes on and I wouldnt be using studs.
 
I do the same as you by the sounds of things- SJ on grass, dressage on grass and ridden showing including Workers and I wouldn't attempt any of it without studs- he'd go skidding in every direction. Just one small one in each shoe.
 
It really depends on the horse and how balanced they are.

I used to compete every single weekend as a kid jumping up to 3'3 (SJ and eventing) on grass and never ever even thought about studs! Never had any problems either!

Nowadays I have realised they are very useful and I do use hind ones on my horse who does BE and BSJA, mainly because the fences are bigger and he definately feels more confident doing dressage on grass with studs in.

Saying that, I have only just shod one of my other horses (and now use studs) - for the past 3 years he's Show jumped, done little XC's, WH etc. all without shoes on! I remember when he qualified for the RC SJ Champs 2 years ago and someone came up to me afterwards absolutely shocked that he had no shoes on!

It's really up to you.
 
If you have competed before and not had problems then stay as you are, if this is the first time enter a couple of events see how you go and if your horse does slip then see about having studs put in.

Jumping 3ft on grass could be very slippy especially after a few horses have been around the course.

Word of caution though, if you are riding on grass only then one stud in each shoe should be okay, however if you need to ride on hard ground / concrete etc then you will need two studs in each shoe that is to have the studs in.

Any farrier will tell you that having only one stud in a shoe can and will damage your horse legs.
 
I only ever use one stud in the outsides. My farrier mentioned the idea of damage from the twisting (ie. why youd put in 2) but he also said that he's seen the odd horrific damage caused when a horse stands on itself with an inside stud. It's really down to personal opinion (as with everything in the horse world!).
 
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I only ever use one stud in the outsides. My farrier mentioned the idea of damage from the twisting (ie. why youd put in 2) but he also said that he's seen the odd horrific damage caused when a horse stands on itself with an inside stud. It's really down to personal opinion (as with everything in the horse world!).

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Completely agree - I only use one as mine is too stupid not to stand on himself, and he's fine with it. Also, if you put two in, as they go to make a tight turn, the hoof can't twist as easily (think of yourself pivoting on the ball of your foot round a corner) and my personal feeling is that you then put a lot of stress on the joints higher up the leg. It's all personal preference, but I agree with MM that it is inaccurate to say it causes problems only using one stud.
 
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