| Author | Message | ||
     Frances Collings Member Username: Victory Post Number: 52 Registered: 03-2007 |
Thanks Vicky glad they arrived quickly! | ||
| Vicky Brennan Member Username: Vicky_brennan Post Number: 17 Registered: 07-2012 |
Just to say that I got a great deal and stunning service from Jack in a Box for shackles and parrot clips  | ||
| Mike Lawson Member Username: Mike_lawson Post Number: 4 Registered: 10-2012 |
Hi, having driven and stewarded for countless years I have had on three occasions had to stop competitors when driving tight round posts ect that the pins have been released and actually embedded in a post when not taped over thus releasing the traces, luckely no harm came to any body, so it looks to me that either the velcro or tape is a good idea | ||
| Daniel Snow Member Username: Snowd Post Number: 22 Registered: 07-2011 |
Carabiners and quick release shackles are both carefully engineered and safe in the environments they were designed for. Neither was designed with carriage driving in mind and they should be used with caution. Carabiners (or karabiners) were designed for mountain climbing. They were not designed to be opened if there is tension on the line. Dangling on a rope on a mountain is exactly when you don’t want your carabiner to open. We use them for pole straps. They are ok as long as you never try to operate them under tension. Quick release shackles are designed for sailing to give an emergency release to a line under tension. Once the tension is released the boat loses power giving you a chance to sort the problem out. So in sailing it is not usually a problem if the quick release activates on its own. It is a big problem if you can’t get it to release to let the wind power off. For carriage driving if the quick release is unintentionally activated it can cause huge problems. That is why they must be taped or velcro’d. They are fiddly little things so they have a tendency to fall apart and the horse’s tail can get caught up in them activating the quick release. They are not designed to sustain the intermittent pulling of the trace on the swingletree (we have had one fall apart through metal fatigue). We have also had them falling apart because the spring in the spring-loaded pin was stuck. We use them on our traces but we tape them and spray them regularly with WD40 and check the little pin when putting to and watch them all the way round. They fail an alarming number of times. Incidentally I have never seen a carabiner on a trace accidentally come undone and I have never seen a trace with a crew end accidentally come off a pigtail. Of course, this is only anecdotal evidence but it does make me wonder. | ||
| Caroline Court Member Username: Cazcourt Post Number: 8 Registered: 10-2012 |
Hi everyone. Thank you for very kind replies. I would only ever use the shackle type quick release, just because they are efficient and safe. Also means you can clip traces back to the collar for storage and putting back on with out traces all over the floor! I have managed to find some from Tabe Annema - harness maker and great man! Also at a very reasonable price. I have not had to buy any clips for a long time and was just shocked at some of the prices out there!! I am fortunate to never have had a problem with Quick releases coming undone (touch wood) bar onetime when the ring came of the end of the pin and it all popped apart on the floor but was very easy to put back together and carry on!! | ||
| MARTIN PINK Member Username: Dalespilot Post Number: 3 Registered: 09-2010 |
I totally agree with Fiona about the carbine , I would'nt use them in any form around Horses. My wife had to undergo emergency treatment when her had was ripped open by one of these. It was used on a stable chain, unfortunatly when she brought in a friends pony which then panicked & bolted back through the door the carbine ripped the skin off her hand ; she was lucky it did'nt catch the tendon. | ||
| Fiona Powell Member Username: Fionap Post Number: 190 Registered: 03-2007 |
The shackle I suggest you avoid using (except for emergencies, imho) is correctly called a carbine, I believe.  Although it looks innocent, it can catch unwary people's fingers in its teeth, it is impossible/difficult to undo when it is under pressure and I have heard tales of horses getting themselves caught in it (lips and bit!). I would avoid using them on breeching straps, trace ends, pairs pole straps... This is just my personal opinion. I'm sure many others have different ideas and experiences! Please post... | ||
| Fiona Powell Member Username: Fionap Post Number: 189 Registered: 03-2007 |
My pony's undone his by getting his tail caught in it! Jack in a box also supply them... as below.  | ||
| Steph Richards Member Username: Stephr Post Number: 14 Registered: 03-2007 |
Rather than tape why not use the velcro covers which are available. I had mine come undone several times, once when under strain in an obstacle. Since using the velcro covers they have been fine. I think they are available from somebody in the UK but I got mine from Dutch Lettys. She does have a web site | ||
| Carole Redgrave Member Username: Caroleredgrave Post Number: 72 Registered: 03-2008 |
Fred & Beryl always advocate using tape on them! Even in dressage! They do often "pop open"- ask Janet Reeves what happened at Obs 1 at Sandringham! She's still cursing it to this day! As for them opening under strain- mine wouldn't when we had a tip up and ours were the same as in Fiona's pic. If you do tape them always leave a "tab" on the end of the tape- ie- roll it back on itself about half an inch then it's easy to rip it off. | ||
| chris manger Member Username: Chrismanger Post Number: 20 Registered: 01-2012 |
I am guilty of putting tape over them as i have had them kick open a few times. However I always carry a knife and only wrap them once. It's still possible to pull them open when needed and only ever tape them up for the marathon. But i can see the Irony in taping up a quick release | ||
| Martyn Willis Member Username: Martynw Post Number: 40 Registered: 02-2007 |
Please don't put tape over them as I have seen some do you want them quick release for a reason. | ||
| Fiona Powell Member Username: Fionap Post Number: 188 Registered: 03-2007 |
I recommend you get the "quick release" shackles, preferably ones that swivel and have a post which is wide enough for your trace (altho' you can put them on your trace or on the carriage). They are worth the money because they can be opened when they are under strain or weight-bearing - if you have a prang and get stuck you can still open them - otherwise you might have to cut the harness - slower and possibly more dangerous. And the shackles last for years and years! If you use the cheaper spring shackles - single link - these usually have sharp edges where they close and are not designed to be opened under strain. Put them on your Christmas list!  | ||
| Frances Collings Member Username: Victory Post Number: 48 Registered: 03-2007 |
Hi Give 'Jack in a Box' a ring on01424 756021 and we have them in stock for quick delivery | ||
| Julie Hoskyns Member Username: Julieh Post Number: 50 Registered: 03-2007 |
Go to your local chandlers. Go for quality and ask about the breaking strain. Remember you pay for what you get. | ||
| Caroline Court Member Username: Cazcourt Post Number: 7 Registered: 10-2012 |
Hi, Just wondering if people have ideas on where to order the cheapest quick release shackles. The large ones. I need 2/4 and they're expensive!!! |