[NEWT]

I was looking on the easycare website and they have two styles to choose from: a)ice studs or b)quick studs.

My mare and gelding wear the easyboot bares and I'm not sure which stud to get. Any experience you'd like to share?

Also, can these studs be used on renegades? I see I can purchase boots with studs built in but I don't want to buy another set of boots on top of what I've invested in this year.

I'm ready for the ice to go away now... but that's just a wish.

[Larbear]

I have the Easy Boot Bares and put in the ice studs; they gave pretty good traction. I did find them a bit tedious (ok, I swore a lot) to get them in and they are pretty much in there for life. I suppose if I really worked at it I could get them out but I found it such a pain to put studs in the toe region, it's not worth it to me to make the effort to get them out.

I don't use hoof boots that much so I just figured I'd leave them as 'ice boots'. The other studs looks like they'd fuction more like traditional studs screwed into regular shoes tapped and drilled for stud application.

I don't know if there are studs you can put in the Renegades but they do have boots now that have studs already in them.

[Countryclips]

If you get the quick studs you must buy the tool to mount them on your boots. I have both kinds and they both work for ice very well. But if there is any snow the quick studs are too short to be of much use as the snow builds up around the stud and can't reach the ice. You also want 4 boots with the studs or your horse will still be slipping around. The quick studs are removable and do not leave any holes in the boot. Like them for that reason.

[NEWT]

Thank you both, that's great information!

I think I may go with the ice studs but... I need to ponder this some more. I like the idea that the quick studs don't leave holes.... decisions, decisions.

[Larbear]

Well, for the ice studs, if you drill into the boots with a smaller hole then having permanent holes aren't such a big deal really. My studs are in pretty tight so if I wanted to take them out, the hole left behind wouldn't be that big.

Most people end up drilling holes for drainage anyways. You could always just leave the ice studs in permanently if you don't think you'd need hoof boots much in non-snowy conditions. Or come spring just get a new pair of boots and just keep your other ice studded boots for winter. I do agree though, you should have 4 boots with studs.