So I am definitely a member of the screw-in stud camp. I like being able to adjust what I need depending on conditions, which really just means switching between hexagonal road, small road and large road. I always stud in the front and in the back either just outside, or outside with a dull stud of the same type on the inside.
What does everyone else do? And how many wears do you tend to get out of a stud? I feel like mine are getting gnawed up awfully fast this year…
Thanks!
Totally agree with you on this. They can be a hassle to put in, but I want to be able to adjust for conditions as well.
I rotate between grass tips, bullets, and roads - always with a plain road of similar height on the inside.
I have some studs that have lasted me years and years. Other times, I lose one. Overall, I don’t think they’re too worn to prevent future use though. Perhaps if I was on hard pavement more, it would affect the wear.
I do drive-in leave-in dots of borium on all 8 heels. The studded shoes get reset once or twice and the borium dots hold up to that easily (that’s about standard for resets on a shoe with no studs around here, too.) They get reset with ‘fresh’ shoes for their November appointment. That lasts to the new year reset, which lasts thru end of February.
If we get extended bad weather, we shut down hunting, so there is less pressure on both shoes and studs. In that case I can expect the studded shoes to last thru that ‘March reset’.
My observation is that about 75 percent of winter hunters around here do studs of some sort and I’d guess 75 percent of those do the drive-in leave-in’s.
I found that cheaper road studs definitely wear down more quickly. The ones I get for about $2.50 each from Smart Pak seem to last longer, that said how long depends of how hard the footing is. I hunt twice a week (and I also use studs for some cross country hacks if I plan to move out some) and I usually replace my studs at least once each season. So about 2 months per set?
Depends on the footing and quality of the studs - think I’ve seen some tungsten/steel ones around that have to be older than me.
Our current kit is, gosh, at least four years old - only saw use at a few shows. Clean them, dry, spray with WD-40 after use and they’ll stay looking new.
I’d say replacing every few seasons is adequate if they only see use at a few shows a year… If you’re doing long distance rides and hunts, you’ll have to replace them more frequently.
I find that the ones I use most (pointy grass tips for hard ground) are worn pretty blunt by the end of the (eventing) season. So probably 10-12 events and 20-30 lessons/ schools/ gallops.
Ditto what BigMick said. Depending on the stud, the quality, and the use, I keep some for years. If you’ve worn some out quickly this year, it is likely due to the hard, dry ground conditions. I probably keep mine longer than the average person, though…
Yep, cheaper the stud, the faster it wears out. I still get the cheaper ones now but only because it is difficult to find the better ones.
I vary the studs the back, and use small square road studs in the front.
Thanks for the input! So it seems I am pretty typical with how often I go through them- a bit more wear this year due to the hard ground it seems!
So my next question - other than Smartpak is where does one find these elusive nice studs? I picked up some at the farrier supply store the other day that I will try out tomorrow…
England, unfortunately. The best I’ve found are “Mordax” brand. (Not expensive, just elusive.)
Dover used to have them and the Middleburg Tack Exchange occasionally does, but they’re really hard to find on this side of the pond these days.
A VERY good English friend brought me some last year!
About ten years ago, my friend and I participated in this big tack “yard sale”. We had a booth and were selling stuff and of course browsed through everyone else’s. Anyway, someone was selling a pencil box filled with studs, a tap, hoof pick, etc. for $15. Filled!! We split the studs between us, and I got the tap and box. I still have many of those studs today.
Deal of the century.
VTO has some good options too.
Like others, it depends on conditions. I use screw in studs and get my from the Farrier Exchange in Aldie, VA. They are Mustad brand.
FitToBeTied- those are the ones I got to try next. Hopefully I will like those as they are right down the road from me!
I will also check out VTO- it looks like they carry the MV Pop studs, which seem to be very nice and I have read about over on the Eventing forum.
Huntin’ Pony- I actually got in contact with the Mordax people in the UK and they are sending me an estimate for shipping to the states. I have a feeling it will be horrifically expensive, but if it isn’t too bad/we can get enough people on board, we could place an order and then divy them up and ship them out stateside- which shouldn’t cost much.
Also, on Thursday I started the day with 8 studs and ended the day with 1. Granted my horse pulled some serious idiotic antics (for which he got brought in early- postscope poor guy has awful ulcers).
What could have caused me to loose that many? My farrier is wonderful and I know he countersinks the holes. I didn’t retap them before I put in the studs because they went in easily. Any ideas?
BCGirl - As for losing studs, the only solution I’ve found is to crank on them very firmly with the wrench when installing. (This of course requires a technique that does not torque the horse’s foot - I place wrench so that I can put my thumb around the wrench and my fingers on the other side of the hoof.)
And then you may have to struggle a little to get them out later! (BTW - I have still lost one occasionally even when very tight at the beginning.)
Please let me know how Mordax replies. I’m interested.
What a timely thread! I just had my boy’s shoes tapped and pulled out the old jumper’s stud kit. I really appreciate everyone’s comments - very helpful for someone who is new to hunting!
It seems screw-ins aren’t terribly popular with my hunt, but I’m just not comfortable with, and won’t be out enough to justify leave-ins. I think my guy needs more traction than borium dots alone will give.
I don’t want to hijack the thread, but I’d love to hear more about specific studs for various conditions. I imagine we don’t have as much frozen ground as many of you, but we’ll cover mud, grass, road, rock, etc. on a typical outing.
It’s different than what we dealt with on the jumper! So far the grass studs have been good, but I’m thinking of adding to the kit…
I use hexagonal road studs mostly. For horses with four shoes, I’ve recently started using small squares in front with hex roads behind.
For me, grass studs would be too much. My horses are pretty handy (and small).
My horse is not big, but he’s not especially sure-footed…
Huntin’ Pony, I sent you a PM about Mordax
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