Studded Shoes

[Horseman15]

The arena at the barn I ride in is just a dirt arena. When it rains it gets slippery for a few days. I don’t own it so I can’t fix it. What are your thoughts on studded shoes. The first time I’ve seen them were on a horse at Plantation Fields a few weeks back. Are there kits you buy with different studs for different conditions or how does that work? I know you have to have a base threaded shoe.

Thanks

[merrygoround]

The shoes are prepared for studs, and some use waxed cotton, or rubber plugs in the holes to keep them clean so that studs will screw in easily, others use set screws, just small screw ins with hexagonal heads with a small wrench, a hex key, to help remove them Blanks need to replaced so that the wreck has something to grab on, as they can wear smooth.

For a situation such as yours, road studs would probably be sufficient,applied and removed after every ride, as long term use is not the best thing for soundness.

[2foals]

I think that’s a lot of work for daily riding to be putting studs on so frequently. They are a pain. What about smaller (permanent) drive in studs or perhaps even borium for wetter parts of the year? Talk to your farrier.

[Highflyer]

While there are kits out there, you generally get better value by purchasing things separately. As a general rule you use smaller studs to start with and size up if necessary. As a general rule, pointier studs (grass tips) are for dry hard ground, and rounder, chunkier (bullets) studs are for softer/ wet ground, road studs can be used on pretty much any surface including pavement. You don’t want to use anything pointy on the inside. You can use studs only in the back shoes-- in fact, I’d probably start by just tapping the horse behind and see if you need more-- but you shouldn’t do it only in front.

You will need at minimum:

adjustable wrench
tap to clean threads in shoe http://www.bitofbritain.com/The-Safety-Spin-p/0708.htm (get this kind as the “T” kind is much less safe)
large horseshoe nail to help get dirt/ plugs out of holes
plugs http://www.bitofbritain.com/Easiest-Plug-Yet-p/0361.htm (not 100% necessary but make life easier and make the holes last longer-- you can also use cotton soaked in WD-40)
studs http://www.bitofbritain.com/Studs-p/10112.htm (be sure to buy extras!)
Of these, I most often use C in wet weather, M or R in dry weather, and U or V on the inside.

[merrygoround]

[QUOTE=2foals;8183531]
I think that’s a lot of work for daily riding to be putting studs on so frequently. They are a pain. What about smaller (permanent) drive in studs or perhaps even borium for wetter parts of the year? Talk to your farrier.[/QUOTE]

The drive in studs used all winter for winter riding are very, very small. They pose no soundness risk. Borium is very difficult to apply evenly and is there full time, Not good for hoof balance. For occasional or by the hour use, screw ins are best for your horse. Or another barn.

[Jumper_girl221]

Depending on what type of dirt it is, studs might not help that much. Particularly if its clay ground.