A controlled experiment to test Coiled Cable in a panic situation using a 1 000 kg crane as our instrument of force to represent the pulling power of a horse.
The extreme stretchiness of the coiled cable allows horses to move far from their intended position.
This is increasing the risk of panic when they suddenly feel resistance.
The appearance could make you think that the coiled cable tie-up is a good length. However it stretches far too long. The plastic cover comes off exposing the thin steel cable. The coiled cable can then act as a “cheese cutter” and cause cuts and laccerations.
Despite being marketed as panic hook or safety snaps, the panic hook attached to the coiled cable does not automatically release in panic situations. What normally happens is that something else breaks – hopefully not the muscular or skeletal systems the horse.
This is not meeting professional equestrian safety standards.
The strange length and stretch of the coiled cable, makes it easier for horses to get their head or legs entangled. This significantly increases the risk of injury.
In emergency situations, handlers must approach panicking horses to release the coiled cable tie-up. Putting themselves at risk and potentially prolonging dangerous situations.
When the coiled cable is put under pressure, some of them do break. This can cause metal shrapnel to fly at high speeds from the panic hooks, risking injury to both horses and handlers.
The coiled cable tie-up can withstand +150 kg of force before breaking.
This potentially causes severe injuries to the horse’s muscular and skeletal systems during panic situations.
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 coiled cable and attachements:
Do “safety-hooks” release?
“No – they do not work as some people seem to think.
Only if they are old and worn out.
If you are lucky, it will be a quick jerk and they are so weak that the horse manages to release them itself because they can reach them.”
“Having something close to the head is not the solution because you don’t go there.
When a horse panics, you don’t want to be close to the head. It’s too dangerous!
You have to move away from the horse when it panics.
So I’ve seen a lot of accidents when there is no release mechanism on the tie ups.”
“Panic snaps are completely useless.
Used them before, but when they get tensioned, you can’t pull, they won’t release.”
“There was a time at another stable. Someone decided to climb up and fix some things on the ceiling.
Then the horse got scared and it tried to back off, but it was stuck and fixed in place with no release.
I was almost crushed.
That was very dangerous.”
“Old buckles and attachments that are rusted and stiff can be hard to take off in an emergency and things can get stuck.”
“It’s very difficult, especially with the young horses. It can be dangerous if there is no release.”
What bad experiences have you had or seen?
“A lot. A lot.
Dead horses,
horses hanging on their backs.
That happens all the time.”
“Safety costs.
If you’ve been badly injured a few times, what’s safe doesn’t become expensive.”
“When they are in the panic, when they are stuck, then they don’t calm down as quickly, that’s my experience.”
“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.”
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.”
“There are so many bad experiences.
So-called safety carabiners that do not release.
Horses that fall over and hang, etc.”
“Some horses throw themselves and then the halter breaks.
If you have a really old leather halter and you think it will break and then suddenly it doesn’t break.
You can’t get close enough to release it because it’s to dangerous!”
“They are also living animals so you can’t predict everything.”
“If so-called safety carabiners are old and worn out, they will release.
If you are lucky, it will be a quick jerk and they are so weak that the horse manages to release them itself because they can reach them.”
“We had a horse at home that backed away a lot when he was tied up and he injured his neck because he couldn´t release himself.”
“In order for a so-called safety carabiner hooks to release, you must pull on them with your hand.”
“Well, it’s when they get stuck, everything has been too strong and then the halters usually break and then they are loose.
When this happens it is a much, much greater force than if they panic with these tie ups (Easy Connect).”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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!”
“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.”
“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.”
The use of steel coiled cable for horse tie-ups can significantly impair a horse’s ability to understand and respect boundaries. Unlike traditional, non-stretching tie materials, coiled cables have an extreme stretch or uncoiling capacity. This elasticity fails to provide clear, consistent feedback to the horse about where it should stand or how far it can move.
When a horse pulls against a coiled cable, the gradual give and subsequent retraction can be confusing and potentially anxiety-inducing for the animal. This lack of clear boundaries can lead to behavioural issues, as the horse may continually test the limits of the tie-up, potentially resulting in unsafe situations. Moreover, the inconsistent tension can make it difficult for handlers to predict the horse’s movement range, complicating routine care and potentially leading to accidents. In essence, the use of steel coiled cables undermines the fundamental purpose of a tie-up, which is to provide a safe, clearly defined space for the horse to stand.
The deterioration of steel coiled cables used for horse tie-ups presents several significant safety concerns. Over time, the rubber coating on these cables tends to wear off, leaving exposed thin steel cables that resemble bicycle chains more than proper equine equipment. This degradation not only looks unprofessional but also poses severe risks to both horses and handlers.
The exposed steel cable can act like a cheese cutter, potentially causing deep, severe lacerations if it comes into contact with skin during a panic situation. Furthermore, the extreme strength of these cables, often capable of withstanding hundreds of kilograms of force, means they’re unlikely to break in an emergency. Instead, other components like the halter, wall fixings, or attachment hooks may fail first, potentially causing additional injuries. The combination of this unyielding strength and the potential for sharp, exposed steel creates a particularly dangerous scenario where a panicking horse could sustain serious muscular and skeletal injuries before freeing itself. Additionally, handlers are at risk of cuts or entanglement when working with deteriorated cables, making routine stable tasks unnecessarily hazardous.
The use of steel coiled cables for horse tie-ups can significantly detract from the stable environment and overall professionalism of an equestrian facility. One of the most immediate issues is the excessive noise these cables produce. When horses are detached, the cables often swing and bounce, causing their metal panic hooks or carabiners to create a loud, disruptive clanging. This noise can be stressful for horses, whose sensitive hearing makes them particularly susceptible to such disturbances, and it can create an unpleasant working environment for handlers.
Another factor to consider is, as the rubber coating on these cables wears off over time, they begin to look more like industrial equipment than proper horse care items. This deteriorated appearance can give visitors and clients the impression of neglect or a lack of attention to detail, potentially damaging the stable’s reputation.
From a professional standpoint, the use of such equipment may be seen as outdated or even negligent, especially given the availability of safer, more purpose-designed alternatives. Modern equestrian facilities are expected to prioritize safety, horse welfare, efficiency and aesthetics, and the presence of worn, noisy steel cables fails to meet these standards. Ultimately, the use of steel coiled cables can create an environment that appears less professional, potentially deterring clients and undermining the stable’s credibility in horse care and management.
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