AMA: When Is It Appropriate To Add Studs?
When is it appropriate to drill and tap to be able to add studs to my horse’s shoes?
“You must drill the hole first, then make the threads for the studs, which is called tapping. The advantage of doing this is to provide variable, removable traction for horses used in varying ground conditions. The most common need for this is for three-phase event horses. The outdoor course may be either slippery or dry, so proper traction equals safety at speed. Then, the stadium jumping may need less traction so smaller studs can replace the larger ones used for cross-country. Finally, in the dressage phase, no traction is needed, so remove all studs and plug the holes. Extra traction in the dressage ring will produce a ‘sticky’ movement.
Another advantage of removeable studs is when they aren’t needed for traction, they are not in the shoe, which could cause damage to other horses in turnout or damage to barn and trailer surfaces. The extra traction that studs produce create extra stress on joints, ligaments, and tendons, so removal when not needed is desirable. Removing and changing studs takes some training and a few tools to accomplish properly. Remember if a horse has two studs per shoe, times four feet, it will take a little time and dexterity to change these studs. Some horses need four holes per shoe.”
Steve Kraus is an American Farriers Association Certified Journeyman Farrier who, since 2010, has been Head of Farrier Services, a Senior Lecturer of Large Animal Surgery at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, and the instructor of the Cornell Farrier School. Prior to that, he had over 40 years in his own farrier business in Central New York, shoeing many breeds of horses participating in diverse disciplines. He is the author of “Shoeing The Modern Horse” available by Trafalgar Square Books.
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