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Uppbindning av hästWatch the TESTING
A controlled experiment to test Carabiner in a panic situation using a 1 000 kg crane as our instrument of force to represent the pulling power of a horse.
Key Findings about Carabiner
Dangerous Sharp Edges
When open, the carabiner has sharp edges.
The carabiner has a fish hook-like design that can cut or puncture a horse’s skin.
Potentially causing severe injuries to the lips and the mouth.
Not a nice feeling for the humans hands either, when the fingers get caught.
Insufficient Safety for Professional Equestrians
The look and feel of a fish hook carabiner does not meet professional equestrian safety standards.
The standard carabiner is dangerous and should not be close to horses.
When used it can become rusty and difficult to operate over time.
This is not a tool that is attractive and safe to work with.
Risk of Getting Stuck
Horses can accidentally open the gate and get the carabiner stuck in their mouth or nose. Leading to tearing and more extensive damage.
The more the horses pull, the deeper the carabiner fish hook digs into the horse.
Panic
Zone
To be able to relase a panicking horse you need to come very close to the frantic horse.
The carabiner is far away from anything safe or a zone of comfort.
In equine care, we’re not just managing animals—we’re safeguarding lives. Every decision, every design choice, carries the weight of potential tragedy or triumph.
Hazardous
Excessive Strength
The high breaking point (over 600 kg) of the carabiner means it’s unlikely to release in panic situations.
This can cause fatal outcomes for trapped horses. Something else i.e. halter or wall fixings, and hopefully not the horse, will break instead of the carabiner.
Noise Pollution
The noise of a standard carabiner that comes swinging to the stable walls is horrible. Whether inside the lorry, or on the metall poles, it creates a loud sound.
The sound from a carabiner is noise pollution for sensitive horse ears and a harmonious working environment.
grooms opinion
Experiences from around the globe, managing delicate horses, she has seen what works and what doesn´t whilst handling horses. Listen to what Paulina has to say about the standard carabiner:
We must modernize safety thinking!
“We must modernize safety thinking.
We also do not have the same pathway to how we become horse owners today. In the past, it was done in a way that you got knowledge in the stable through those who had handled horses all their lives, how to behave around horses and how to handle them.
Today, there are many who buy a horse or farm without having the basic knowledge.
Many do not understand what can happen and how dangerous it can be around horses.”
Things can get stuck!
“Old buckles and attachments that are rusted and stiff can be hard to take off in an emergency and things can get stuck.”
Can’t get close enough to release it!
“People use old style carabiners.
They are dangerous because they have sharp edges.
So in the case of caribiners, these once (SafeConnect) are the best I have seen!”
Horses hanging on their backs!
What bad experiences have you had or seen?
“A lot. A lot.
Dead horses,
horses hanging on their backs.
That happens all the time.”
If you’ve been badly injured a few times, what’s safe doesn’t become expensive!
“Safety costs.
If you’ve been badly injured a few times, what’s safe doesn’t become expensive.”
When they are stuck, then they don´t calm down as quickly!
“When they are in the panic, when they are stuck, then they don’t calm down as quickly, that’s my experience.”
They keep pulling until the halter breaks or something worse!
“When the horses are panicking and they are fixed in place, the halter always breaks at some point.
Usually the rings on the side of the halter, or the one closest to the chin. So they keep pulling until that happens or something worse.”
It can be dangerous if there is no release!
“It’s very difficult, especially with the young horses. It can be dangerous if there is no release.”
Often you do not know the consequences of a horse being stuck until much later!
“Often you do not know the consequences of a horse being stuck until much later.
Perhaps it has affected the neck, or if they sit on their hind legs it is not what the horse is made for either.
I have seen some injuries to the legs, where the horse has injured itself in panic situations, or when a tool has gotten in between and injured the horses.”
Once you’ve experienced that, you don’t want to go through it again!
“A few years ago, I had a horse that got stuck.
It came to a sudden stop. Eventually, they released, and when the horse reared up, it was a challenging situation.
Once you’ve experienced that, you don’t want to go through it again.
It didn’t feel good.
Panic sets in.
What do I do?
How do I calm it down, etc.?
I was just trying to calm it down when it was so agitated.
I myself was a bit shaky, and it wasn’t easy to reattach it.”
Suddenly they feel that it’s too tight and then they throw themselves in a panic!
Have you been involved in anything that comes flying and such?
“That there is good space around so you don’t get crowded or stuck anywhere.
It is different from other sports, where the equipment does not attack you!
The most common thing is that it happens when you clinch the nail.
Then the horse moves a little without you really noticing it.
Suddenly they feel that it’s too tight and then they throw themselves in a panic.”
Just old chains and stuff rusting away!
“When it comes to safety I think the equine world is a little bit behind.
There’s a lot of stables around that just have old chains and stuff is rusting away.”
Everything happens so fast!
“The horses, they push their head forwards fast and then they pull backwards and everything happens so fast.
And that’s what I like, is that they (Easy Connect) release here at the wall or pole attachment.”
When things come flying!
“I have shod a lot of horses.
I have certainly seen many different types of injuries to horses and halters that have broken.
But the scariest thing is almost when the construction that they are fixed to doesn’t hold.
When things come flying.
I once saw a wall collapse in a stable. And a doorframe once came loose.
So I’m most afraid that they’re tied up to the wrong things.”
Pretty poor mindset in the equestrian sport!
“Overall, there is a pretty poor safety mindset in the equestrian sport – considering that they are large animals weighing 600 kg that can run right over you.”
On the old tie ups I can not get close enough to release it at the halter!
“I was close to the horse when it panicked at home.
On the old tie ups (Easy Connect) I can not get close enough to release it at the halter.
With these tie ups, I can easily release it at the fixings so I am not too close.”
It’s slippery ground, they fall over, lie and struggle…
“The worst is almost when the horses have thrown themselves and they are stuck.
It’s slippery ground, they fall over, lie and struggle, then they get even more panicked.”
They have to release!
“If a horse panics and they’re rearing up, you don’t want to be at the head, you can’t get there when they panic, it’s too dangerous, so that’s much better that it releases at the attachment.
They have to release!”
How does the extreme strength of Standard Carabiners pose risks in horse tie-ups?
Standard Carabiners used for horse tie-ups present significant dangers due to their immense strength. These devices can withstand forces of hundreds of kilograms. This excessive strength becomes a serious hazard during emergency situations. In the event of a horse becoming frightened and attempting to flee, it will struggle against the unyielding carabiner until something gives way. Regrettably, it’s seldom the carabiner that breaks. Instead, the horse is likely to incur severe muscular and skeletal injuries as it battles against restraint.
The forceful movements against an such a strong attachment can lead to trauma in the neck, spine, and legs, potentially resulting in strains, sprains, dislocations, or fractures. This scenario creates a situation where the horse continues to panic and struggle, often for an extended period, substantially increasing the risk and severity of injuries. The use of such strong carabiners undermines the very purpose of any safety features on the tie-up device, transforming it into a potential source of harm for the animal it’s intended to protect.
What specific safety concerns arise from the design of Standard Carabiners when used for horse tie-ups?
The design of Standard Carabiners presents unique safety concerns when used for horse tie-ups. One critical issue is the extremely sharp edges that are exposed when the gate is opened. These edges often resemble a fishing hook-like barbed design, which can be hazardous if a horse interacts with the carabiner using its mouth. Horses are naturally curious animals and frequently investigate their surroundings using their mouths. This behaviour can lead to them chewing on or playing with the carabiner.
If the horse manages to open the gate and get its lips or cheek inside the open carabiner, the sharp edges can cause severe cuts or punctures to the horse’s mouth, tongue and nostrils. Such injuries can be painful, prone to infection, and may require veterinary intervention.
The risk of injury is compounded by the fact that these carabiners are not designed specifically for equine use. Their industrial-strength construction makes them ill-suited for animals that might playfully interact with them. This mismatch between design and application creates a persistent safety hazard in the stable environment.
How do Standard Carabiners impact stable safety and functionality over time?
The use of Standard Carabiners in horse tie-ups can negatively affect both stable safety and long-term functionality. These metal devices contribute to noise pollution within the stable. When horses are detached, the carabiners tend to swing and collide with poles and walls, producing loud, disruptive sounds. This constant clanging can be a source of stress for horses, potentially leading to behavioural issues or anxiety.
Over time, Standard Carabiners are prone to rusting, which not only creates an unkept appearance but can also interfere with their operational mechanism. A rusted carabiner may fail to open or close properly when needed, exacerbating an already dangerous situation during an emergency. The manual release mechanism of these carabiners presents additional challenges. In a panic situation, a handler must approach a frightened horse to detach the carabiner, putting themselves at risk of injury. This need for close proximity to a panicking animal increases the danger for both the handler and the horse.
The combination of noise issues, potential for rust, and the risks associated with manual release make Standard Carabiners a problematic choice for horse tie-ups. Their use may be perceived as negligent, especially considering the availability of more suitable, horse-specific alternatives. This can ultimately undermine a stable’s reputation for horse care and safety.
