Do not attach a bucket this way! This snap is facing the wrong direction. If a horse eating out of this bucket rubs on it they can easily get caught on it.
This shows how easy it would be for a rubbing horse to get his halter caught on the rope snap.
You are probably wondering….how can a bucket be unsafe? Well, it’s not the bucket that isn’t safe, it’s the combination of bucket + horse = potential for accident.
Click on the photos to enlarge and see the comments under each of them to see what is safe, and what isn’t safe.
Anybody that has had horses for any length of time knows that they are experts at finding ways to get into trouble. It makes me crazy trying to stay one step ahead of them and keep things as safe as possible.
When you travel a lot with horses, as I have — you learn to spot things that are literally “accidents waiting to happen”. Those that know me very well at all know that I am pretty safety conscious where my horses are concerned. Any time I can avoid something even as simple as a horse getting caught on a bucket, I will go out of my way to do that.
The correct way to have a bucket on a snap - it would be very difficult for a horse to get caught on this. All edges are smooth with no hooks or pointy ends.
Bucket handle hooks can easily catch a horses halter!
While I enjoy learning things on my own I much prefer to learn from others. Especially if it is something that can keep my horses out of trouble. Since I have seen some good wrecks over the years I know that these little things that I can do really pay off where my horses safety is concerned.
First things first – when using buckets of any type check over their handles for any areas that could catch your horses halter. A lot of the handles of buckets (see photos) have enough of a gap in them that a horse rubbing on a bucket could easily catch their halter especially a biothane halter or a rope halter. I’m using photos showing that minus the horse. A lot of buckets come with little rubber ends on the outer edge of the handle but these often come off leaving even more of a gap.
To fix the gap in the bucket handle where it attaches to the bucket you need to squeeze the two sides together. You can use pliers or vice grips. If that is too hard try using a vice to get the two sides tightly together.
Using a vice to squeeze the two bucket handle sides tightly together.
I really keep an eye on this on all of my buckets – as soon as there is a gap (usually if the little rubber end comes off) or if I get new buckets and there is a gap I squeeze the edges together and then add the duct tape. I’ve done this for many years. Like I said I’ve seen some good wrecks over the years with horses getting attached to their buckets in various ways and by paying careful attention to detail I have been able to avoid any such thing happening with my own horses.
I wrap the bucket handle end in duct tape to create a smooth surface.
I also like to wrap duct tape around the handle where it attaches to the bucket. This makes for smooth edges. Besides not catching halters — buckets that are set up this way won’t catch tail hairs either! The tape wears out with use and may need to be replaced every so often. It should last for several months though, or maybe even years depending upon the type of use that the bucket gets. Isn’t it great all of the uses we endurance riders can find for duct tape?
The next important thing to know when hanging a bucket for a horse is to make sure that you use a hook of some sort that the horse can’t rub and get caught on. A lot of hooks look like a good idea but over time you kind of learn which ones are better than others.
Squeeze the two sides tightly together to eliminate the chance of a horse getting caught!
I like using large rope snaps for hanging buckets on posts where a good solid bucket bracket won’t work. Make sure that the part of the snap that opens and closes is FACE DOWN away from the bucket and the horses face. This way if the horse rubs it won’t open up that part of the clip and get caught on it. Same idea of you are using a caribbeaner type clip.
These are the bucket brackets I use to attach buckets in my stalls and on the horse trailer.
You do have to watch your horses and if they play with their buckets they might get the snaps to flip around. If that is the case then use a different type of bucket holder or use feed pans placed on the ground. You could also use duct tape around the movable part of the clip so that it can’t come undone. This is only practical if you want to leave the bucket attached more permanently.
On my trailer I use these bucket brackets (see photo) which hold the buckets extremely secure. I also use these bucket brackets in my barn stalls. It’s only on the hitching posts that I use the rope snap type holders with large “closed” eye hooks. I don’t use open hooks or anything that has an open end or gives a horse an opportunity to hang himself up or get caught on.
How safe are your buckets and bucket holders?
HAHAHAHAHA! You were right, Karen…too funny that you posted this. For anyone else reading, go to http://stallionadventures.blogspot.com/ to see what happens with the WRONG type of bucket hook (and these are sold in tack/feed stores as bucket hooks all the time) I am installing the flat hanger you have in the pics too…this is what I normally use, but since I was boarding, I wasn’t sure about screwing things into the wall.. and at the time it was quick and cheap as well, to just grab a hook and tie twine around the stall bars and hang the bucket…. But not anymore…
Thank you so much for helpful tips like these! I’m interested in competing CTR & LD/endurance and I know these tips will come in handy! Look forward to reading more! Again, THANKS!