ridecamp@endurance.net: RE: Hobbles (Long)

RE: Hobbles (Long)

Jennifer Heim (JHEIM@gunder.com)
Tue, 22 Apr 1997 08:33:00 -0700

I always break each horse I have ever worked with to hobbles. I use a
combination horse psychology, restraint and a good eyeball (although
Teddy's technique sounds very good). You'll need a regular set of
figure-eight hobbles and an English stirrup leather (or thin belt). This
was taught to me by my great-uncle, who was an original California cowboy
and also was the top trainer of firehouse horses in San Francisco (gives
you an idea how old he was).

In a roundpen, turn the horse loose. In the center, pick up his left
foreleg and flex the hoof against his elbow (sort of like a flexion test)
and with the stirrup leather, tie the leg up this way. Back off. He'll
either get excited or confused - either way, be away from him. Most will
try to put the leg down; some will three-legged hop around, but none have
every fallen that I've seen. Again, most will quit and sit there with a
very disturbed look on their face because they think they have lost a
leg. This is where the horse psychology comes in, you calmly walk to
him, stroke him, remove the strap and give him his leg back. This
elevates your status with him tremendously. You have given him his means
of escape back. At the same time, you've also taught him restraint. I
must stress that you cannot leave a horse's leg tied up for any time
longer than around 7-10 minutes. I've seen my uncle do longer, but these
horses were sore afterwards. Plus, most horses give it up in under three
minutes.

Next, go to the hobbles. 80% of all horses I've seen will accept these
at this point with absolutely no fuss. Some will start to get around
with a couple of grand leaps (and these horses will be jamming around in
hobbles in no time); some take teeny little steps. The other 20% will
not accept it well and are distressed. These horses go back to the
stirrup leather tie up a few more times.

Now, I have no idea what current methods are. These have always worked
for me. I'm not a big believer in starting a horse right off in
figure-eight hobbles because they can very easily fall down if they
haven't learned to give up a leg yet.

Jen & the Sunman (broke to hobbles at three years old, cleans unfenced
pastures ever since)

In a message dated 97-04-22 00:22:52 EDT, you write:

<< Anyone willing to give input on training a horse to hobbles? My dad
used
to hobble his horses to graze unfenced areas and I'd like to do the
same.
>>

I used hobbles on a horse that was a weaver in his stall and dug holes
deep
enough to burry himself. They worked great. He did not panic at all.
In
fact, one day I forgot I had them on him and let him out in the
pasture..he
ran quite well to my surprise. After awhile he was so used to them that
when
I put shipping bandages on him, he thought they were hobbles and "hopped"
with two legs together.

I think they are great. I have always started a horse in them in his
stall.
Worked for me. Anyone else try them in another way?

Teddy

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