Stud/Belly Guards... the who? Why? When?

[cswoodlandfairy]

So I understand that a belly guard is designed to protect the horses belly from studs when worn. But I see so many people having their horse wear then with no studs worn. So my question is, if studs aren’t used, when would you use one, how would you know, or is it even necessary?

I have a 5yo OTTB with massive amounts of scope. We just moved up to the .90m and he jumps them higher than needed but in good, but loose, form. We haven’t reached a height yet where effort is really needed. That being said, does he need one? How would I know? I have one since my old trainer expected me to have one regardless of height, but that horse is retiring and before I sell it just want to know if maybe its something I need later? I mean not gonna lie I like the look, but rather have tack with purpose than look.

Videos of my 5yo for reference.

2020 SWVHJA Finals - Sir Frost - .90m Jumper IIc

Culpeper HITS - Sir Frost - .90m Jumpers - II.c

[MHM]

Cute horse.

I think the most effective way to tell if you need one is to use it a few times when you jump and see if the horse puts any scuff marks on it. They’re pretty easy to see.

One thing about those girths. I would be very, very hesitant to use one on a horse that wears any sort of bar shoes in front. I’ve seen a few videos of horses that somehow managed to hook a front shoe on the girth over a jump. It never ended well. It might be a rare, freak occurrence. But it can happen.

[supershorty628]

It’s a question of jumping style. If they don’t fold their forearms super tight, a belly guard isn’t going to do anything - and to be clear, that’s not a reflection of whether they jump “well” or not. My mare jumped in beautiful huntery form over anything you pointed her at, but she never jumped in a style that would require a belly guard.

Creedance is an example of a horse who tucks his legs very, very tightly and wears a belly guard.

Look at the difference in his style versus my mare:

Your cute little guy, based on those videos, does not jump in a style where I think you’d need a belly guard. And like @MHM, I’ve seen things go wrong with shoes getting caught on them. I wouldn’t use one if not needed.

[initiate1987]

I had an eventer who would have needed a belly guard if I ever got to the point of needing studs. I think the photo I included makes it pretty obvious why. We only ever made it to novice, so we never needed them, but as @supershorty628 said, horses all jump in different styles. If your horse tucks their feet like this, you might need a belly guard eventually. However, I also agree in saying that when you have a horse who jumps like that, you need to be very careful with regards to getting a shoe caught. I wouldn’t use one as a fashion statement, only if you need it.

[Night_Flight]

Sometimes you’ll see a hoof mark even on a regular girth after jumping, which can indicate that they might need a belly guard.

When my old mare was green, my coach at the time noticed that she would occasionally jump really tight and then would hang her legs at the next jump, so he suspected she was hitting herself and then wanting to avoid hurting herself at the following jump. A belly guard fixed that.

Even if she didn’t wear studs, her girth would be noticeably scuffed up after a jumping ride, and that lasted her entire career even though no one watching her would have mistaken her for Creedance throughout most phases of her jump.

[MHM]

@Night_Flight

When my old mare was green, my coach at the time noticed that she would occasionally jump really tight and then would hang her legs at the next jump, so he suspected she was hitting herself and then wanting to avoid hurting herself at the following jump. A belly guard fixed that.

Even if she didn’t wear studs, her girth would be noticeably scuffed up after a jumping ride, and that lasted her entire career even though no one watching her would have mistaken her for Creedance throughout most phases of her jump.

Pretty smart of both your horse and your coach to figure out the cause and effect aspect there.

I agree that some horses will wack themselves in the belly even if their jumping style does not suggest that it’s likely to happen.

[ladyj79]

Most show jumpers I know use them because they generally have a clip in the middle and it’s way quicker and easier to attach or detach equipment like a martingale or breastplate in the event that you want to make a change on the fly in the warmup ring. (And most arent wearing studs unless turf or unusually wet outside)

[Jenerationx]

@initiate1987

I had an eventer who would have needed a belly guard if I ever got to the point of needing studs. I think the photo I included makes it pretty obvious why.

Holy crap those are some tucked up legs! Cool pic! I can’t say I’ve ever ridden a horse with legs that tightly tucked.

[Jealoushe]

My mare had a small cut from her stud in front of her girth after XC one time…that’s when I knew it was time.

[PNWjumper]

I agree with all of the comments. Totally depends on jumping style. My old AO jumper mare got a belly guard whether she had studs or not because she hit her girth often with her feet. She always jumped super tight, and her girths (and bellyguards) are covered in giant gouges and divots - mostly from studs, but some without). My TB jumper who has gone through the 1.50m, has never in his life come anywhere near hitting any body part with his feet. He does not jump pretty like Supershorty’s mare, but he lofts way up over the jump and never folds tight. In 12 years of showing in the >1.40m I have never even thought of putting a bellyguard on him! If it’s not immediately obvious, I find that you can usually get a pretty good feel for whether they will need one or not by the 1.20m-ish level.

ETA: yours jumps a little like mine did at that level, and is not one that I would worry about a belly guard with…at least not yet!

[Pally]

Basically to echo what everyone else said.

In general…

1. They can be called “stud guards” but also “belly guards” and both are accurate (well I suppose “sternum guard” would be most accurate, but that doesn’t have the same ring to it). A plain shoe won’t cut like a stud can, but it can certainly whack and bruise and hurt. Take your fingertips and firmly tap the middle of your chest…ouch right? And your fingers are not metal covered…

2. Most jumpers have one set of tack for all their showing, so if they ever plan on showing on grass it’s easier to just have one set that you know works with your breastplate without resizing or anything.

3. Better safe than sorry? Most pros who have a lot of jumpers have a lot of belly guard girths on hand. So they use them, If they are in the higher levels and/or the horse is tight styled, they make sure they use them. Perhaps that makes them a “trend” but they are using them for the sport designed. I’ve probably sat ringside for hundreds of jumping rounds and seen thousands of warm-up jumps and I’ve never seen a horse get caught up on the leather of the girth (I can vaguely think of a close call with a centre ring but that feature is not exclusive to belly guards). Not saying it can’t or wouldn’t ever happen. but I don’t think it’s a common risk factor.

In regards to your little cutie…

Right now the jumps are too little to come into play. I do see feet lined up under sternum though… moving up will tell you if he (a) keeps a similar, looser shape and jumps higher or (b) starts to fold tighter. If (b) you might need one.

But also, as a general tack hoarder/enabler, since you aren’t asking whether to buy one but rather whether to keep an existing one…well…isn’t it just cheaper and easier to keep it than to replace it later ? (Provided it is the right size of course. Don’t squish him in it or play the loose girth game!)

[Night_Flight]

@Night_Flight

Even if she didn’t wear studs, her girth would be noticeably scuffed up after a jumping ride, and that lasted her entire career even though no one watching her would have mistaken her for Creedance throughout most phases of her jump.

Just following up on this because I came across a photo that demonstrates where my old mare would hit herself over the jump. If you just paid attention in the centre of the arc where most photos are taken, you wouldn’t expect her to need a belly guard, but looking at her take off you can see where she would often fold one leg or the other very tight and scuff up her girth:

Just an example of why the whole jumping effort needs to be looked at when evaluating tack, rather than just what would normally be the most viewed portion!

[Jenerationx]

The stallion spotlight on the site reminded me of this thread tonight.

[endlessclimb]

Stupid question alert: how would a belly guard girth protect from the mark in front of the girth? I thought most of them put the “flap” towards the hindquarters, with a more “ergonomic” shape to the front of them. Or are there ones that have protection in front of the girth too?

[MHM]

I remember that picture! Such a great shot. Which horse was it again? And was he actually jumping the middle standard? Or does it just look that way from the angle?

It’s always interesting to look at old pictures to observe the trends in tack. That elastic neck strap was very trendy back then. Then it seemed to practically disappear from sight for many years. And then it started to pop up again a few years ago, including on the gold medal winner in Rio, if I recall correctly.

The other great photo I remember from Athens was of Chris Kappler‘s horse cantering past the horse logo on the wall of the ring behind him and looking like a mirror image of it. I’m sorry to say I have never seen that photo again.

[weixiao]

@MHM

I remember that picture! Such a great shot. Which horse was it again?

Arko III with Nick Skelton

[MHM]

Actually, that makes perfect sense. Maybe that’s the exact same neck strap he used in Rio. I think it might be the same saddle. Lol.

[Jenerationx]

Thanks @weixiao, yep, that’s Arko III and Nick Skelton.

I think it was just the angle that made it look like he was jumping the standard , if this is the same fence from the same show…

Neat horse. I love him.

[MHM]

Interesting, thanks.

It looks like you could jump the standard based on the flags. And it would probably be much harder to knock down the standard than the rail, even if it’s a bit bigger. Plus the standard has a groundline.

Rider’s choice depending on their horse, I guess.

[MHM]

It’s interesting to see how his leg remained exactly the same over the years. But two Olympic gold medals later, I guess it worked for him. Lol.