Why do people hobble horses?

Question

I mean i dont really understand the whole purpose of this, and would the horse injure itself, trying to get out of it?

Answer 1

They are also used to teach a horse a certian gait. we had hobbles but my dad didnt us them much. if we were out on a trail ride or camping with our hoses he would tie there tails to the rains of another horse in a circle. strange but it worked. they could still move and graze just could get to far. as for injuring them it wont if done properly.

Answer 2

i hobble my black horse while traveling.....he has a habit of trying to wreck out the front wall....he knows he is not supposed to ..... but the smart butt also knows when they are not on.....just as soon as he gets in the trailer there he goes....so thats why i do it....

Answer 3

idk but i think it is kinda dumb in my opinion

Answer 4

i heard that its so you can tie them to the ground but then again iv also heard its for patience. very confusing, i too dont understand!

Answer 5

Hobbles were traditionally used so that horses couldn't get far away overnight in open areas.

It's still an effective way to train horses to get used to having stuff wrapped around their legs. Thus they don't panic if they get all caught up in bailers twine or something.

If the hobbles are introduced correctly than the horse should not freak out. They should also be tight enough so that the horse can only walk just a little and slowly in them to minimize the chance of them getting themselves caught up in it.

Hobbles should not be used to "teach a gait" since horses should have a limited range of motion when in hobbles. This is because, say you had front hobbles on, and the horse could canter, he would run a risk of getting the back leg over the hobble, etc.A horse should not be lunged or ridden in hobbles.

Hobble training is great for even ground tie trained horses, because then if you get a loose boot or polo or your horse gets tangled up in something in the pasture, they won't panic.

I hope this helps :)

Answer 6

horses are trained to be hobbled.look at it this way,when horses were used as a peoples main transportation horses were taught to be hobbled so when someone was in the middle of nowhere and there were  no trees or anything to tie your horse to for the night ,they were hobbled to keep them from wandering off in the middle of the night.the same is done today with horses that are used for trails.when you stop for the night and you are not allowed to tie a picket line to a tree or there are no trees you hobble your horse to keep it from wandering off in the middle of the night.

Answer 7

I prefer to ground tie or hitch them to a high line. That way if there happens to be a predator they can at least use their hooves, if they can't pull the line out. Hobbles are good for a quick fix and it's a good training tool to keep horses from freaking out if they get tangled in something.  

Answer 8

Being experienced in raising horse, I've found that it's not the smart people who hobble their horses. There is no reason for it, it's only for show purposes and typically done to show horses. I would never do such a thing to my horses, as I see no purpose in it. Yes, they could potentially be injured.

Basically, it's to improve their step but as I said only in show horses... it just seems to me like a cruel way of making your horse step better. A lot of people will disagree with me but this is simply my experience opinion

Answer 9

Mine are hobble trained as part of their groundwork...

I go on long trailrides, in the mountains now.  But I prefer to camp and rest in a nice meadow...not under old growth trees where no sun hits the ground.  Trying to tie a horse to a tall patch of grass or flowers...just isn't going to cut it.

By being hobble trained...my horse is free to graze and I am free to do whatever I want to...like a potty break or cooking.

I've been on rides with other people who all race to tie to the ONE tree...and the loser has to tie far away from everyone or hold their horse.

Being hobble trained has saved one of my horses from serious injury before.  We moved to a property that was full of garbage and old fence.  We missed some in the brush...but she found it.  I found her taking tiny little baby steps and dragging the ball of fence.  She stood still while I removed it...and didn't have one single scrape on her leg or foot.

Mine have never been injured in the process of training them either.  And I have a gelding that can hop/lope with them on.  He learned he can...and he does it...without falling down or hurting himself.

It also helps when teaching a horse to ground tie.  Most of the time I don't use the hobbles, I just drop the rein or the lead rope and tell them to stand.

A horse that is not trained for it...will fight it.  Same as they do with a saddle, bridle, and rider.  It's simply one more thing to desensitize them for and train them for.

I take offense to someone calling me 'not smart' because I use them.  I am riding in a mountain trail competition this weekend where one of the obstacles is hobbling your horse.  It's against the law here to tie to a tree for camping and trailrides.  What else are ya gonna do??  I take the time to train them and they have NO problems with it.

Anyone that RIDES with hobbles on though...I agree is stupid.

Answer 10

We only will hobble horses if they are prone to be spooky, when camping. Now just to help you understand we go camping in the back country, a good 3 day ride from where we unloaded from. There is no people around no fences so a picket line is normally what we use, but occasionally we have to hobble one. It's not my favorite method of keeping the horses close, but sometimes necessary. As far as the horse injuring them self trying to get out of them, they are desinged not to hurt the horse(the good ones are). Luck

Answer 11

Uh, they hobble people does that count?

Answer 12

they are hobbled when not in fenced area to keep them close.  and they have to be trained to accept the hobbles.  mine was never trained to hobbles, but i would let her wander and drag her lead rope.  when she stepped on it she would stop or back up until her head felt free.