What studs should I use?

Jun 3
Horses can lose confidence if they slip, so if horses are shod, we can fit studs to help give them grip and feel more confident in their footing. BE Organisers put in a huge amount of work to their ground but going can vary due to other factors such as the time of year, terrain, soil type and weather - so how should you stud up for the going?

There are three main considerations when studding up: ground conditions, the type of horse and the activity.
  • Less is more – you certainly don’t want your horse to slip, but at the same time, if you go too big you can risk jarring your horse’s legs. We often see horses over-studded – horses’ hooves are designed to slide slightly when they hit the ground which helps expel forces through the limb, and if you stop them sliding at all, it can cause serious injury including soft tissue and jarring injuries.
  • Generally speaking, the more pointed studs are used when the ground is hard and/or slippery. The harder the ground, the smaller and more pointed the studs need to be. Hard ground with short grass, particularly if it is wet from dew, is more slippery than softer ground. This is particularly true for dressage and show jumping on grass, as you are making tight turns and the horse can back off on corners if they aren’t confident of their footing, but a small stud can give them that confidence.
  • Larger, square, dome and bullet-shaped studs are designed for use when the going is soft. The softer the ground, the larger the surface area you want from your stud.
  • Some of the studs are a hybrid, which are designed to help when the ground is mixed or difficult to gauge, such as when there has been recent, heavy rain on top of hard ground.
  • Generally, we would use larger studs in the back than in the front, but it’s ok to use the same size front and back.
  • A general rule of thumb is that the smaller the horse or pony, the smaller the studs used.
  • From a safety aspect, stud girths can be used to protect the horse’s belly from puncture injuries caused by studs.
  • If your horse has never worn studs before, it’s worth practising on grass before your first competition to familiarise them with the sensation.

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One stud or two?
  • Riders once worried that two studs in the front hoof would stop the horse’s hoof from being able to turn. However, studies show that, although a horse’s foot is designed to turn, it does so around a centre point, not an arbitrary point on the outside of the foot or wherever the stud hole is positioned.
  • The argument for using two studs in front is that it as a horse lands over a fence and slides a little on landing, the hooves will slide evenly forward and avoid a twisting action. Using only one stud on the outside of the front hoof will cause the limb to twist and risk injury.
  • Studding behind is more individual because horses are liable to injure themselves as the hindfeet pass closer together than the front, so one stud in the hinds is often used.
  • If you do use two studs in the hindfeet, make sure the inside stud behind is not pointy – horses can catch themselves more easily behind, and can be fidgety after cross-country when washing down and removing tack, so there is also a risk of the horse injuring himself if the studs are very pointy. A road stud or tiny square as the second stud in the hinds is recommended.
  • In addition, a horse will either have its foot off the ground as it turns or at least be weighted towards the toe. The stud is rarely in the ground as you are turning.

Studding is a personal choice and everyone you ask will give you a different opinion, so these are a good starting point. Don’t be afraid to ask more experienced riders and coaches for their advice and you’ll find out what works for you and your horse through trial and error.

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