A controlled experiment to test Lead Rope in a panic situation using a 1 000 kg crane as our instrument of force to represent the pulling power of a horse.
The pistol clip is particularly dangerous for horses as they like to play with it in their mouth. They can get their lips and nostrils caught in the clip causing tearing wounds to the soft tissue.
These clips often end up broken with open gates and sharp edges being serious risks for any horses nearby.
When the pistol clip comes flying in pieces, we have had reports of eyes that have been damaged for life.
The “safety knot” is a well used old knot that a lot of people still think is working. Under pressure it is extremly difficult or totaly impossible to release!
When in a panic situation, it can lead to irreparable damage to horse-handler trust.
When testing it out it is taking too long to undo at 54 kg and becoming un-releasable at 146 kg. Without a panicking horse on the side that is getting soft tissue injuries or worse…
The combination of lead rope, strong fixings and halters can lead to severe consequences.
Using a lead rope as a tie-up is not meeting professional equestrian safety standards. In the end something is breaking, and it will probably not be the rope itself.
What do makeshift tie-ups whisper about your operation? What we often hear is it suggest:
Lead ropes can withstand a lot of force before breaking, potentially causing severe injuries to the horse during panic situations.
Normally it is the halter or clip at the end of the lead rope that breaks, and hard pieces come flying everywere at high speed.
The lead rope is made for leading the horse, not for tying the horse up.
It is safer to use a sturdy lead rope for its intended use and not as a make shift cross or single tie-up.
A lead rope, as a tie-up, does not reflect the true passion behind equestrians work.
Pistol clips are difficult to operate quickly, especially with gloves, making it challenging to release the horse in emergencies.
The pistol clip at the lead rope often breaks to pieces when they are under pressure.
Some lead ropes are equiped with the dangerous panic hook or carabiner.
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 lead ropes and attachements:
“It’s very difficult, especially with the young horses. It can be dangerous if there is no release.”
“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 I can not get close enough to release it at the halter.
With these tie ups (EasyConnect), 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!”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
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.”
“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.”
“Safety costs.
If you’ve been badly injured a few times, what’s safe doesn’t become expensive.”
“They are also living animals so you can’t predict everything.”
What bad experiences have you had or seen?
“A lot. A lot.
Dead horses,
horses hanging on their backs.
That happens all the time.”
“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.”
“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).”
“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!”
Lead ropes used for horse tie-ups, while seemingly simple and traditional, can pose significant risks due to their strength. These ropes are often capable of withstanding forces of hundreds of kilograms.
This excessive strength becomes particularly dangerous during panic situations. When a horse becomes frightened or agitated and attempts to flee, it will continue to struggle against the unyielding rope until something gives way.
Unfortunately, it’s often not the rope that breaks, but rather the horse that sustains injury.
The unyielding nature of these strong lead ropes can lead to severe muscular and skeletal injuries. As the horse pulls against the rope with increasing force, it may experience strains, sprains, or even more serious injuries like dislocations or fractures. The sudden, violent movements against an immovable object can cause trauma to the neck, spine, and legs.
These injuries might not be immediately apparent, as horses are adept at hiding pain. By the time symptoms become noticeable, the damage could be extensive and potentially career-ending for the horse. This scenario underscores the paradox of using overly strong materials for tie-ups – while intended for security, they can ultimately compromise the horse’s safety and well-being.
The safety knots used on lead ropes for horse tie-ups present a significant safety concern for both horses and handlers.
While these knots are designed to be easily released under normal circumstances, they become extremely difficult to undo when under pressure.
This characteristic creates a dangerous situation during emergencies or panic events. When a horse becomes frightened and pulls back, the pressure on the rope causes the knot to tighten, making it nearly impossible to release.
This scenario poses two major risks:
Unlike automatic release systems, these manual knots require human intervention at the most dangerous moment, when the horse is in full flight mode.
The time taken to approach and struggle with a tightened knot could mean the difference between a minor scare and a severe injury for both horse and human.
This manual release system, therefore, fails to provide the rapid response necessary in emergency situations, potentially exacerbating what might otherwise be a manageable incident.
Lead ropes used for horse tie-ups can have a negative impact on both the stable environment and its professional appearance, particularly as they age and wear.
One immediate issue is the noise pollution these ropes can create.
Most lead ropes are equipped with metal panic hooks or pistol clips at the end, which can produce disruptive clanging sounds when the ropes swing after being detached. This constant noise can be a source of stress for horses, whose sensitive hearing makes them particularly susceptible to such disturbances, and it can create an unpleasant atmosphere for handlers and visitors.
Over time, the appearance of these lead ropes deteriorates, detracting from the stable’s professional image.
As the ropes age, they often begin to fray, giving an unkept and neglected appearance.
This weathered look can give clients and visitors the impression of poor maintenance and lack of attention to detail.
From a professional standpoint, the use of visibly worn lead ropes for tie-ups may be seen as outdated or even negligent, especially given the availability of more modern, purpose-designed alternatives.
High-quality equestrian facilities are expected to maintain safety, horse welfare, efficiency and aesthetics of their equine environment.
The presence of frayed, noisy lead ropes fails to meet these standards and can undermine the stable’s credibility in horse care and management.
Ultimately, lead ropes may seem like a traditional and cost-effective option for tie-ups. The long-term impact on the stable’s environment and professional image can be more costly in terms of veterinarian and maintenance repair bills, reputation and client trust.
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