Question 1

What makes StudFast stand apart from other studs?

Accepted Answer

StudFast studs are made of a high-resistant polymer which is a more forgiving material than traditional metal studs, in a number of ways. The polymer thread is easier to apply to a metal shoe thread than that found on a metal stud. Put simply, plastic will glide more easily into a steel shoe, than ‘metal into metal’ which is more robust and can be prone to cross-threading.

We keep our studs as rounded and edge-free as possible in order to make them as low-risk as possible. In some levels of human sport such as football, metal studs are banned on account of presenting more risk to athletes than polymer studs- both in terms of lacerations and the jarring effect caused by metal which is less forgiving than polymer. Why should it be any different with our equine athletes? 
-          Our studs don’t rust
-          Our studs are lighter than metal studs 
-          We think our orange studs look pretty cool but the objective is not just appearance, they are also easier to find in the grass when you’re studding up and drop one.

Question 2

What was the inspiration behind making a polymer stud?

Accepted Answer

Our founder Eleanore Kelly evented and trained horses to 4* level, before becoming a sports journalist. As well as reporting on equestrian, polo and racing, she was lucky enough to cover  mainstream sports such as football, rugby, cricket and golf at elite level, including reporting at World and European Championships and Six Nations Rugby. During that formative period, it became particularly evident that horse sport lagged massively behind human sport, in terms of the materials and technology used. Yet many of the challenges were the same in horse sport as they were in human sport. She noted that there was high-tech equipment and materials used to improve performance and reduce the chance of injury which had been scientifically proven, and many of these products could be transferable to horses.

After a conversation with a professional footballer revealed why polymer studs were used over metal studs- on account of causing considerably less stud injuries as well as being less ‘jarring to joints’ than metal- the idea for a polymer stud for horses was born. It took several years of development, a number of experts and countless prototypes, to produce our studs. As well as the welfare element, we were delighted to report that StudFast studs proved to be significantly easier to apply than a metal stud and there was zero risk of cross-threading the stud hole. So we are excited to bring you the very first high-impact polymer stud.

Question 3

How long do they last?

Accepted Answer

This depends on so many factors - the size and weight of your horse, and whether you ride over abrasive surfaces. The nature of polymer is that in it’s very essence it is a softer and more malleable material than a stud made of metal. So this makes it kinder and easier to apply but also less hard-wearing. So if you have to ‘force’ a stud in (we’ve all been there) then there is zero chance you will cross-thread the stud hole, as can happen with a metal stud and often results in the stud not going in correctly and the farrier having to remove the shoe to rethread. However with a polymer, whilst you won’t damage the stud hole, it’s easier to damage the thread of the stud and we recommending replacing it if this happens. As with any stud, we also recommend cleaning your stud holes out as well as you can, as this will protect the thread.

Additionally, if you do have to ride over hard or abrasive surfaces such as roads and gravel then you may find your StudFast stud wears more than a metal stud.

If the studs do not come into contact with abrasive surfaces and are threaded correctly in stud holes which have been cleaned out properly, your StudFast studs should last many uses. After three years of testing on a number of ground conditions, we estimate that they should last up to 10 uses. Unlike metal studs, they don’t rust and owing to our vivid orange brand colour identity, they are much easier to find when you drop them in the long grass or mud! 
Whilst we have not experienced breakages in our trials, after frequent use, our engineer tells us that they may be more prone to snapping at the base. In the unlikely event that a stud snaps on the first use then we will offer a refund.

Question 4

How should I care for my studs?

Accepted Answer

Try to avoid abrasive and solid surfaces as far as possible. Not just because this will cause more wear to your StudFast studs but as is the case with metal studs, it is also not great for your horse as it unbalances the natural footfall. If you must walk on such surfaces go slowly and dismount where possible.

We advise cleaning your studs after each use, as mud and grit might cause wear to the threads when you next try to apply them. The good news is that it does not matter if they are left in a bucket of water for a week because they can’t rust!

Be careful your horse or pony does not confuse them for a small piece of carrot. Aside from being unimpressed by the taste, they don’t hold any nutritional value!

Question 5

What surfaces can you use StudFast on?

Accepted Answer

Our studs our suitable for most terrains including grass, mud and artificial surfaces used in arenas or on takeoff and landing spots. We also use them to travel and have seen no damage to rubber floors or ramps in our own experience. Perfect if you have a horse who is difficult to handle in a competition environment.

Question 6

How are they sustainable if they don’t last as long as metal studs?

Accepted Answer

Protecting the planet is important to us and so is making a premium product that protects our horses, handlers and riders.
We used an advanced and patented material to make our product, which is made from scratch to give it they incredible properties it offers to make StudFast so unique. The good news is that it can be recycled to make other products. You will need to send it back to us though and as we are very conscious of sustainability, we offer you 10% off your next order for taking the trouble to help us protect the planet. 
In addition our studs are manufactured locally to StudFast HQ with material sourced from the UK. Our packaging is fully recyclable, whilst our carrier bags and mailing bags are compostable or biodegradable.

Question 7

What other difference do they have compared to metal studs?

Accepted Answer

At present we just produce StudFast studs in one size, which we believe is suitable for most ground conditions including artificial surfaces. Some of our riders prefer to use a pointed metal stud on the outside in very hard conditions.

Question 8

How many studs should I use in my horse?

Accepted Answer

This comes down to personal preference. Many riders and experts suggest two per shoe, one either side to keep the hoof balanced but there is some recent suggestions that using one stud per shoe allows more hoof rotation but provides less grip. Some riders like too use more than two studs in each to give even more grip, whilst in polo and racing only one stud is allowed on the outside hind hoof.

Our brand is built on the desire to improve welfare and safety it out jeopardising performance and we are currently doing further research with vets, farriers and professionals to discover the optimum number of studs both for grip and to reduce the chance of injury. We will be keeping you updated on this.

For more information, send us a message and we’ll get back to you shortly.

For more information, send us a message
and we’ll get back to you shortly.