Award-winning SupaStuds have a unique, self-cleaning design which enables them to be screwed into a shoe without previously “tapping-out” the hole. This makes them far faster, easier and safer to insert than conventional studs. A high-tech manufacturing process is used to harden SupaStuds, rendering them tougher than tungsten, and this also makes them rust-resistant, prolonging their life.

SupaStuds have been developed in conjunction with, and are endorsed by, top eventers Matt and Marie Ryan. British Team farrier Haydn Price, Olympic Silver medalist Mary King and Show-Jumping Grandmaster David Broome are also supporters.  SupaStuds are used by many of the top event riders in the country and have become the studs of choice for thousands of competitors at every level across the board in equestrian sport, from driving to polo, showing to show-jumping.

 NOTE: SUPASTUDS ARE NOT SELF-TAPPING STUDS, THEY DO NOT RUIN THE THREAD IN YOUR STUD HOLES! THEY ARE SIMPLY DESIGNED TO CLEAN THE HOLE AS THEY SCREW IN, NOT TO RE-THREAD IT.

Choosing which studs to use is a very personal decision, and we find that, even among the top riders, there is little consensus as to what studs will work best on a particular occasion. We can, however, offer some general guidelines to help you make your own decision.

The factors which you should take into account are:

• The ground conditions
• The type of horse
• The type of competition/activity being undertaken.

1. Ground Conditions

Generally speaking, the more pointed studs are designed to be used when the ground is hard and/or slippery, and the square, dome and bullet-shaped studs are designed for use when the going is soft. Some of the studs are a hybrid (for example the Medium Conical (SS004) and Large Conical (SS005)) which are designed to help when the ground is mixed or difficult to gauge – for instance, when there has been recent, heavy rain on top of hard ground (as can be the case in the summer). People generally use either the same studs in the front shoes as behind, or slightly larger ones in the hind shoes – never the other way round. If you use two studs in each shoe, either use the same ones inside and out, or smaller ones on the inside to reduce the risk of your  horse catching itself with the stud in the other shoe.

2. The Type of Horse

A general rule would be that, the smaller the horse/pony, the smaller the studs that are likely to be appropriate to use. The impact of a large stud on a smaller, lighter animal will be more extreme than on a heavier animal, and you need to bear this in mind when selecting studs. Studs that we consider particularly suitable for ponies and small horses would be the Original Road (SS001), Small Conical (SS002), Bullet (SS006), Mini Sharp (SS009), Polo (SS010) and Dressage (SS011).

3. Type of Activity

This will also affect your choice of studs to an extent – if you are going to be making very tight turns (such as in a show-jumping jump-off or higher level dressage test) you might go for slightly larger studs than you would use on the same ground for less-demanding activities. Remember, though, that larger studs increase the chance of your horse catching itself with a stud, particularly if you are using them on the inside as well as the outside of the shoe. Also, if you were to fall off and get trodden on, the larger the stud the greater the potential damage!

If you are using studs for the first time or are unsure which ones to use, don’t be afraid to ask other riders for their opinion, but remember that it is a personal choice and the final decision is up to you!