Should we use studs (READ BEFORE YOU ANSWER!!!!)?

you proably alrewady know of george. we now have everything ready for the easter holidays (including his feed - dodson and horrell country competition mix). we are wondering about the use of studs. i think that it is the short fat studs you would use for slippery conditions (the roads were flooded and the land weaterlogged today) since our major event is outdoors and it is cross country i think that we should use studs. i am just wondering.


i know that i have to use a stud guard/girth and i am wondering if i could get one which is affordable as i am not about to spend 拢60 for something i may only rarely use. does anyone know where i could get one from?
do we have to use aliminum shoes?
should we use over reach boots?

we will be jumping 2'9"-3'3" it has flooded today so i think i will have to use studs regardless of height. i for=und a stud guard on ebay for 拢23.99 (inc. p&p) is this suitable? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Leather-Stud-Guard...

Lots of questions all rolled into one. With studs; you can buy them as singles or you can buy as a pack which includes plugs for putting in the empty stud hole. You also need the stud key. The harder the ground the more pointed the stud. Road studs are not so deep (flatter) sometimes they are hexagonal. Ask your farrier to re-shoe your horse with shoes that have the stud holes. Yes I would use studs for x country at this time of year. The ground is pretty slippy, but you can have the studs ready, you don't have to use them on the day. Regarding the stud guard; you would be able to get one from any DECENT saddler. (if they did not have one in stock, they could easily order it in for you.) Over reach boots; yes. I always boot up for x country. I hope this has helped. EDIT...Yes that stud guard is perfect and the price is great.

hi - how high are you going to be jumping? i really doubt you need a stud girth if you are jumping anything less than 3ft.

i would say that you only need to use studs if the ground if very soft (i.e. like a field) or whether you are going to be doing tight moves with high jumps.

you should always use overreach boots when schooling and jumping for extra protection.

I would use studs if the ground is wet and slippery. Wet ground studs are often fat and hexagonal. Dy ground studs (for in the summer when the grass is hard and slippery are conical and pointed). Road studs (which I've never used cos i have road nails) are quite flat with a little point.

I did not use a stud guard on my mare - you only need one if your horse snaps up his front legs so tight that the studs hit his belly/girth area. If you do need one, check out ebay.

You do not need aluminium shoes. The farrier will put stud holes in your normal ones. Immediately plug them with cotton wool (or the cotton wool plugs you can buy) so you keep them clean. Get a spare horse-shoe nail off your farrier and use this to pull the cotton wool out just before you put the stud in (ie just before you jump). Always keep cotton wool in the holes cos they are a nightmare to clean!

You should use overreach boots on front legs and brushing boots all round.

Good luck - hope you do well!

Hi I think that the studs are vital. Stud guard, almost never needed, but its become like a 'must have' accesory for jumpers now. You dont have to have one. No you dont need aluminium shoes and to be honest they break and are a pest. Racehorses only use them for races. Over reach boots..should never go without especially in the mud. Have fun

hi anna it is sian !
yes u should it will help u grip i told u at school
ps im not at school coz i ave tonsilitus