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.

StudFast keeps their 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 soccer, 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?

- StudFast studs don’t rust

- StudFast studs are lighter than metal studs

- The orange studs look pretty cool, but the objective is not just appearance. They are easier to find in the grass when you’re studding up and drop one.

StudFast's 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 soccer, 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 soccer player 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 their studs. As well as the welfare element, they 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.

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 its very essence, it is a softer and more malleable material than a stud made of metal. This makes it kinder and easier to apply but also less hard-wearing. If you have to ‘force’ a stud in (we’ve all been there), there is zero chance you will cross-thread the stud hole with the polymer, 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, while you won’t damage the stud hole, it’s easier to damage the thread of the stud. StudFast recommends replacing it if this happens. As with any stud, they 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, StudFast estimates that they should last up to 10 uses. Unlike metal studs, they don’t rust, and the vivid orange brand color is much easier to find when you drop them in the long grass or mud!

While StudFast has not experienced breakages in their trials, after frequent use, thjeir engineer tells them that they may be more prone to snapping at the base. In the unlikely event that a stud snaps on the first use, StudFast will offer a refund.

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 (if riding) where possible.

StudFast advises 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!

StudFast studs are suitable for most terrains including grass, mud, and artificial surfaces used in arenas or on jumping takeoff and landing spots. StudFast studs and also be used to transport your horse with no damage to rubber floors or ramps. This is perfect if you have a horse who is difficult to handle in a competition environment.

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 to use more than two studs in each to give even more grip, while in polo and racing only one stud is allowed on the outside hind hoof.

The StudFast brand is built on the desire to improve welfare and safety without jeopardizing performance. StudFast is 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.