Hobble Time!

Big Boy in the Trailer!

Mondays are always a little strange for me. I sit here at the computer and try to remember what I did on Saturday, cause I usually don’t write on Saturday or Sunday. So, here I am again, but this time I remembered what I did on Saturday. Thunder wore a set of hobbles for the first time. Hobble training, as I have said in the past, is, I think, one of the most important skills every horse should know and understand. It could safe his life or his foot, which would mean his life cause he can’t survive with out it.

Most people that I visit with have never thought of training their horse to hobbles. Some don’t see the need others think it is cruel still others are afraid to. Training your horse to hobbles can be a little scary especially if you don’t know what to expect. Every horse I have ever trained to hobbles, and I mean everyone of them, will test the hobbles to see what they are all about. Some to a greater degree then others but they will all test them. So if you are going to try this on your own make sure you have a strong pair of hobbles. If you don’t use a good set, and the horse gets out of the hobbles he will try harder the next time you put them on. He figures that if he tries just as hard the next time he will get loose. If that don’t work he will try harder. What I’m trying to say is if you don’t do it right the first time you will make it harder on your horse the next time. 

Some people worry about the horse burning his ankles with hobbles. This can and has happened but depends on how hard the horse struggles, and he will struggle. But if you have a good pair of hobbles and you prepare your horse for this skill, it probably won’t happen. If it does, it’s really not that big a deal. It would be like you and I getting a rug burn on our knees. Hurts, but not the end of the world and I bet we don’t slide on our knees on the carpet again.

I will work on this skill everyday for 5 days having the horse stand an hour the first day and letting him stand longer with them on each day after. Once you have worked on this for a week a horse pretty much has it figured out what he is suppose to do, or not do and you can use your hobbles when you are out on the trail.

Charlie update: Charlie’s mom and dad say that Charlie is getting along great. They ride him 3 to 4 time a week, which is great and he continues to make good progress. Way to go Charlie

Coffee time.

---

Charlie's Family!