Quick release knots

[Rips]

I always tie up with a quick release knot, in the stable, in the horsebox etc
The type when you pull the hanging end the knot just falls apart...

From yesterday I have found out though that if the horse pulls rapidly and hard enough on the tied end the loop doesn't have time to come through and the knot tightens just like a regular knot. :(
This happened yesterday and now I have a leadrope with a permanent knot in it. Its a quick release knot alright but its pulled so tight it will never be opened again!

Has this ever happened to anyone?Is there an alternative type of knot? I know the standard type of quick release is just the easiest, thats why its the one thats always taught but there must be others surely?
Any sailors out there :p
I don't mind taking the time out to learn a really difficult knot if it'll work.

[chev]

I've not had that happen, but I don't use that knot much because half my ponies can undo them. If I thread the end of the rope through the loop to stop them it's not quick release any more!

Instead I've got a rope with a panic snap on one end, and an ordinary Walsall clip on the other. The panic clip is clipped onto whatever I'm tying to and the other clip goes on the headcollar. That way I can undo it quickly if I need to, still have neddy on a lead when I have, and it can't tighten up so I can't undo it or be undone.

[Peace]

LOL chev - Quanah takes the term "quick release" very seriously, and is indeed able to release himself quite rapidly when tied with one. :D

What is a panic snap? Sounds like I need one of those!

[Rips]

Yes I have one too, but yesterday when it snapped off it hit me in the face. :o
Good idea having it on the other end but usually when Mocha takes off she jumps several obstacles before she stops and I hate the thought of them standing on their own leads, guess you just can't win!


Lol Peace!
Mines is just a metal clip, if you pull the leaders side at the clip it opens or if the horse jerks back too hard it snaps opens, mines only really good for leading a horse who won't pull sharply.

[chev]

This is a panic clip;

http://www.robinsons-uk.com/products/ProductDetail.asp?ProductCode=57405

You can zoom in to see it in detail. I don't use them for leading - too easy to inadvertently release them! - and they're fiddly to do up, but for tying up I find them really useful.

[Peace]

Is that what those are used for? :o I never knew - thanks, I learn something every day around here. :)

[Vicki&Milo]

I was taught two different ways of doing a quick release knot, the standard 'make a 4 shpae and then rope through the loop' and another slightly more complicated one, which would be pretty impossible to explain, but is dead easy to do, think its taught with the newer bhs exams.
More important I think is always tying to bale string and not durect to a metal loop. Even with a quick release horses can can tangled but bale string will break, particularly single thickness. Might seem like an escape waiting to happen, but when you've seen a horse with his back leg over a lead rope about to fall over, it seems like a good idea.

[chev]

Be careful tying to baler twine too - it doesn't always break. Thin it out a bit first if you need to.

Peace - they're usually used for leading, as ordinary leadropes. You pull the flat metal bit below the claw-like bit down to realease the claw bit (to put them on you do the same but close the claw bit into a ring around the ring on the halter - the flat metal bit holds the clip in place till you pull down and realease it). The problem is that it's a bit too easy to release it by accident if you're holding the rope near the clip. I've done that a few times! :o

I do love them for tying up though - no worries about knots, or twine that doesn't break, or anything else. You do need to put your own clip on the other end though - or at least, I've never found ropes made with a clip at both ends.

[intouch]

Make a small loop through the binder twine, then another small loop with the part of the lead rope immediately above the bindertwine (the horse end), then a 3rd loop through the 2nd with the loose end. Or is that what everyone was talking about in the 1st place? :o