A controlled experiment to test Panic Hook in a panic situation using a 1 000 kg crane as our instrument of force to represent the pulling power of a horse.
Despite being marketed as panic hook or safety snaps, the panic hook does not automatically release in panic situations, endangering horses.
In equine care, assumed safety is often the prelude to tragedy.
Only through constant awarness and good preparation can true security be achieved.
To be able to relase a panicking horse you need to come very close to the frantic horse.
The panic hook is far away from anything safe or a zone of comfort.
Reputable equestrian facilities never use panic hooks for horse containment. They have upgraded to the EasyConnect with the soft Velcro release as a fundamental safety principle.
When they are put under pressure, some of them do break.
Metal shrapnel can fly at high speeds from the panic hook, risking injury to both horses and handlers.
This makes it unethical to use when handling horses during travel or regular stable work.
When a panic hook gets older it can have a tendency to open accidentally, the horse is left loose without any attachment to it’s halter.
This makes it challenging to regain control and safety.
A panic hook can withstand weights from 244 kg to +500 kg, making manual release difficult or impossible under pressure.
Different types of panic hooks break at vastly different weights, making it unpredictable and unreliable as a safety measure.
If you don´t know it is less than 90 kg you are risking, at the minimum, soft tissue injuries on the horses neck. That highlights your level of interest and care in your horses life and wellbeing.
On the opposite side to ergonomic, one handed, safe handling is the panic hook.
Heavy in the hand, noisy and extremly unsafe to use.
The noise of a panic hook 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 panic hook is noise pollution for sensitive horse ears. This doesn´t create a harmonious working environment.
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 panic hook:
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.”
“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.”
“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 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!”
“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 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.”
Panic Hooks, despite their name suggesting quick release, can actually present significant dangers due to their immense strength.
These devices are capable of withstanding forces of hundreds of kilograms, often exceeding the breaking point of other components like halters, wall fixings, or attachment points.
This excessive strength becomes a serious hazard during emergency situations. When a horse becomes frightened and tries to escape, it will struggle against the unyielding hook until something gives way.
Unfortunately, it’s rarely the hook that breaks. Instead, the horse is likely to sustain severe muscular and skeletal injuries as it fights against the restraint. The violent movements against an such a strong object can result in trauma to the neck, spine, and legs, potentially causing strains, sprains, dislocations, or fractures.
The strength of Panic Hooks creates a scenario where the horse continues to panic and struggle, often for an extended period, significantly increasing the risk and severity of injuries. This situation undermines the very purpose of a safety device, turning it into a potential source of harm for the animal it’s meant to protect.
When they are put under pressure, some of them do break. Metal shrapnel can fly at high speeds from the panic hook, risking injury to both horses and handlers. This makes it unethical to use when handling horses.
The manual release mechanism of Panic Hooks presents significant challenges during emergency situations. When a horse is in a state of panic and pulling back with tremendous force, the pressure applied to the hook can make it nearly impossible to slide down the release sleeve. This difficulty in operation defeats the primary purpose of a quick-release system. In instances where the handler manages to open the hook under pressure, another danger arises. The latch can fly open with such force that it may cause serious injury to the handler’s hand.
This risk of injury to the person attempting to free the horse adds another layer of complexity to an already dangerous situation. The necessity of being in close proximity to a panicking horse to attempt a manual release puts the handler in a perilous position. They risk being kicked, crushed, struck, or caught in the tie, all while struggling with a mechanism that becomes increasingly difficult to operate under stress.
This manual intervention, as opposed to an automatic release system, prolongs the dangerous situation for both horse and human, potentially escalating a manageable incident into a life-threatening emergency.
Panic Hooks can negatively affect both the stable environment and their own long-term functionality. One immediate issue is the noise these hooks create. When horses are detached, the metal hooks tend to swing and collide with poles and walls, producing loud, disruptive sounds. This constant clanging can be a source of stress for horses, who are particularly susceptible to such disturbances.
Over time, the appearance and functionality of Panic Hooks deteriorated. They are prone to rusting, which not only gives an unkempt appearance but can also interfere with their operational mechanism. A rusted hook may fail to open when needed, exacerbating an already dangerous situation. The use of visibly worn and potentially malfunctioning Panic Hooks may be perceived as negligent, especially considering the availability of more reliable alternatives. The presence of rusted, noisy Panic Hooks fails to meet modern safety standards and can undermine the stable’s reputation for horse care and safety.
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