When do you put studs in?

[BeastieSlave]

My horse and I are fairly new to hunting and with all the rain we’ve been having, it looks like Saturday will be our first opportunity to use screw-in studs away from home. If this were a show, things would be different and I wouldn’t worry about my horse being anxious to get going or having enough time, but this is hunting… My horse will be up and time will be short.

My question is, does anyone put studs in before they leave home? This fixture is about an hour away and I think that’s too long to be standing on a moving trailer in studs. Am I being silly?

[BigMick]

You definitely want to put them in before you leave. Once at the fixture, it’s a flurry of activity and that’s no time to attempt putting them in.

Don’t worry too much about him standing around in them. Just put some boots on his legs if he’s scrambly in the trailer.

[CindyCRNA]

I put them on at home, then put on her leg bell boots and galloping boots and put her in the trailer that way. It is often a mucky mess at the hunt and it is a royal pain to put them on there.

[BeastieSlave]

Thanks BigMick & CindyCRNA. I want to put them in before we leave. I don’t think it’ll happen if I wait til we get to the fixture
You’re right; he should be okay in bell boots and shipping boots for the ride over - I just worry…

[Dutchmare433]

Agree with above, put them in at home and trailer with bell boots. We used to just have the horses shod all around with small road studs (like winter shoes/studs) for the 2 shoeing cycles during formal season. During cubbing season the footing was usually good enough to get away with barefoot or just plain shoes.

[Hunter_s_Rest]

Most people in Va. (Md and Pa too, I’d imagine) do leave-in borium studs (little dots on all 8 heels.)

[FitToBeTied]

Actually hunted with borium on the shoes when I hunted in Northern VA because of the high number of times we were on pavement. When I moved to central virginia I changed to screw in studs because we are rarely on pavement and found borium to be less effective. I do not like to leave studs in all the time.

With all that said, studs go in at home and the horse travels booted up. I’ve seen several people coming from other disciplines to hunting try to get studs in at the meet. It’s pretty tough to do on a dancing horse.

When the horses are out eventing, the studs go in at the event. A couple of reasons. The first is to get a look at conditions. The second is that a fox hunter is not likely to be dancing around at an event.

[gumtree]

I’m with Hunter’s Rest, as are just about everybody I know who hunt in the same areas use. Borium “tacks” are used for grip on roads and icy conditions.

The few times I’ve used studs I didn’t find them worth the hassle. IMO borium “tacks” are not as aggressive. Gives excellent traction on ice and cold hard roads but also allows for a “slippage/slide” when coming over jumps etc which is important when out on or encountering good footing

Studs can and do “jar” a horse’s legs by not allowing a “natural” amount of “sliding”. Which is why cleats/studs are no longer allowed in racing.

Studs nor borium are going to make any difference in mucky,boggy or deep footing anyway. At least not in my experience.

[FitToBeTied]

I found that the studs were more forgiving on the feet. The horse I hunted in Northern VA when in borium would get bruised toes from the sudden deceleration from the borium. When we went to studs the bruising did not re-occur.

I think a lot of this is dependent upon the horse and personal preference.

[Foxtrot_s]

I’ve never hunted in studs, ever. We don’t have a whole lot of paved road, few tight turns, and I find that the horses adapt very well to all terrain. Seem to learn when to rate themselves - depends on your land I suppose. Also, I would have to put on boots for protection and in the hurly burly, would find sand and sticks or brambles could get up inside. Never use boots, either…some people do, tho.

[BCGirl]

Put the studs in at home- I can’t imagine having that battle at the meet! Just boot them up for the trailer ride and they will be fine! My guys are always fine when we arrive and I am quite possibly the queen of the worryworts- Chicken Little is one of my nicknames!

For what it’s worth, I am in the NoVA area, Loudoun County and I do studs. I just don’t like the leave in borium studs- find them to be like wearing a little cleat all the time. But I know people who do them and wouldn’t consider studs. It is truly what works best for you and your horse!

[BeastieSlave]

Thanks for all the input everyone!

A little background:
We are in GA. Most of our time hunting is spent on trails, in fields, and beside roads. I like studs when footing is sloppy because my horse is not always the most sure footed. We’re not runnung on roads (much) or ice. I don’t always get to hunt every week and I’d prefer for my guy not to have studs (even little borium spots, which probably wouldn’t be much help anyway) all the time.