Effect of Bilateral Stud Position on the Duration of Stride Phases and Length of Stride in Equine Athletes
Authors: Abigail Bunyard AWCF
Journal: FWCF Fellowship Thesis
Summary
# Editorial Summary Bilateral stud placement has long been a practical consideration for farriers fitting performance horses, yet until now lacked objective evidence regarding its effects on locomotion. Bunyard's pilot study addresses this gap by using hoof-mounted inertial sensors to measure stride phase duration and stride length across 19 sports horses tested in four conditions: no studs, bilateral studs in the front, centre, and rear positions. Whilst overall stride duration and length remained unaffected by stud position, significant differences emerged in swing phase and landing duration—specifically, centre-positioned studs reduced swing time compared to no studs, and rear studs prolonged landing compared to front studs. The findings highlight a critical practical consideration: high variability between individual horses suggests that optimal stud positioning cannot be prescribed universally, pointing instead towards the need for personalised assessment of each athlete's response to different configurations. For farriers and coaching teams managing performance horses, this indicates that whilst stud choice may offer subtle gait modifications, the investment lies in monitoring individual animals' biomechanical responses rather than applying a one-size-fits-all protocol.
Practical Takeaways
- •Centre stud placement may reduce swing phase duration and could be beneficial for horses requiring improved flight phases, but requires individual assessment
- •Rear studs increase landing duration compared to front studs; consider biomechanical goals and individual horse response when selecting placement
- •High variability between horses means stud positioning should be individualized rather than using one standard placement for all horses
Key Findings
- •Bilateral stud position significantly affected swing duration, with 'Two Centre' studs reducing swing duration compared to 'No studs'
- •Landing duration was significantly increased with 'Two Rear' studs compared to 'Two Front' studs
- •Stride duration, stride length, breakover and midstance durations were not significantly affected by stud placement
- •Inter-horse variability was greater than within-horse variability across different stud conditions, suggesting personalized stud positioning may be necessary