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Hobbles

5K views 15 replies 11 participants last post by  jazzyrider 
#1 ·
Do you use hobbles for training or whatnot? Do you think they are evil?

Personally i think they are completely and utterly inhumane. I don't like them.

Tell me what you think.
 
#3 ·
I personally would never use them. I see them as a way of restriction which to me is a way of forcing the horse into a situation were they might be wearing them.


But from what i no some studs use them on the hind end of a mare when she is being served so she doesnt kick at the stallion or anything....but dont quote me on that.....
 
#5 ·
Bitless said:
I personally would never use them. I see them as a way of restriction which to me is a way of forcing the horse into a situation were they might be wearing them.


But from what i no some studs use them on the hind end of a mare when she is being served so she doesnt kick at the stallion or anything....but dont quote me on that.....
yes i have heard of studs using hobbles and sidelines on their mares.
people also use them when the horse is tied up. e.g stallions & colts at competions.
i dont think they are evil, but should only be used in the most necessary of times. and used by someone who is experienced in using them
 
#6 ·
I don't think they are evil if used properly. However I tried on mine and she was able to move very quickly with hobbles on. She didn't fight, but they didn't work the way they should.
 
#7 ·
I guess it all depends on what you do with your horses. If you are training a horse that will never be out of an arena I see no purpose in them. If you trail ride or horse camp. I see it as a valuable tool in containing your horse when no other means are available.
Its also a safety training aid so that if your horse gets something, say barbed wired, wrapped around its feet it doesn't freak out and cause further injury. If you have traveled with your horses much you know that many state and federal parks do not allow highline or picket line to trees. If your out for a few days or a week you have to have some way of containing your horse and this is the best way. I've seen to many horses run throught the portable pens and its not something that would fit in a pack so those are pretty well out. A single leg hobble and a picket are easily packed and I see nothing cruel about them. Better to have them hobble trained then to have your horse run off when you are 30 miles from the truck and a couple hundred miles from home.

See this horse is standing quietly even though his legs are wrapped up. imagine if that was barbed wire and the horse was freaking out because it had not been trained to do so. (from http://www.gaitedhorses.net/Articles/Hobble/hobble.shtml)

 
#8 ·
Good point, Vida. In fact in other countries when you go to camp that's the only way to restrict the horse still letting it graze all night. I've been at such camps and horses are extremely well trained for that. Certainly no inconvenience for the horse involved.
 
#10 ·
This is the only way I have seen hobbles used, for containment. I can't really comment on any other uses. I really didn't know there were other reasons to use them, except in old time cowboy breaking that is pretty much obsolete.
 
#12 ·
I can't imagine how they can be used in riding... :? I heard only about using them to teach horse to stand still and not to be afraid when something "catch" her leg on, say, trail or in wire.
 
#15 ·
Yea, anyone trying to ride their horse in hobbles deserves to be bucked off and trampled on.

Normally hobbles are used to keep the horse still when theres nothing around to tie it to. Cowboys in the west used to hobble their horses when there were no trees around for tyeing.

You have to train a horse to accept a hobble properly before you try to use it, otherwise the horse might hurt itself.

I never used them because I never needed to. Some people hobble their horses when they are tied up in the stall for further reinforcement of patience. It can help to break your horse's pawing habit too.
 
#16 ·
my view is that i have had horses now for 24 years. in that time i have never seen hobbles used for anything. i cant imagine something that i have never had need for would be something i would ever have to use. i think its unnecessary for training reasons but the reasons like vida mentioned are fair enough
 
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