Hobble Training for Horses and Mules

Hobbles have an important part to play in our equestrian life. From teaching patience, to back country grazing, the sooner you can get your horse, or mule, used to these back country bracelets the better off they’ll be.
The primary reason I hobble train all of my animals is to teach them to give to pressure. Hobble training is a tool to help my horses and mules learn to be quiet in uncomfortable situations, such as would occur if a leg were to get caught in wire. An animal that can stand steady and accept pressure without struggle or panic is well worth its place in any string.
I believe that hobble training is a fundamental step in every horse’s education. Whether you venture into the back country or stay closer to home, teaching your animal to give to pressure could save his life. A horse that has been taught to give to pressure can wait for help or think his way out of a situation without panicking.
You can find more of my thoughts on this and 177 other trail riding and horse camping topics in my book “The ABCs of Trail Riding and Horse Camping,” as seen on Amazon’s bestseller list. Here’s a link - amzn.to/3CuErid
LINKS:
More practical information on trail riding and horse camping - www.trailmeister.com
World's largest guide to horse trails and camps - www.trailmeister.com/trails/
Rope halter - amzn.to/3t3S0AS
Yacht Braid Lead - amzn.to/3qTkPxU
Tab Hobbles - www.outfitterspackstation.com/...

[@roberthambly9926]

Great video Bob your animals absolutely love you.

[@user-ez9gy5hd7n]

Thanks so much! Sometimes I wonder!

[@UziDoesIt8818]

You are a cool dude. When I get a horse, I'm going to use your videos to train mine. 🥰 thank you for your awesome content!

[@user-ez9gy5hd7n]

Thank you very much for the kind words!

[@patkearney4644]

Appreciated the video. Might suggest an edit to include safe positioning for the operator putting hobble on and off. (Facing forward, behind the knee). Off side first ?

[@user-ez9gy5hd7n]

Good idea! I'll remember for next time!

[@melaniethompson6907]

Where did you purchase your tab(quick) hobbles? I live in the Idaho Falls, ID area and can’t seem to find a good pair of these? TIA

[@user-ez9gy5hd7n]

Melanie, Thanks for the question! I got mine from Outfitters Pack Station. Wade and Simone make excellent equipment - www.outfitterspackstation.com

[@dejaschweitzer2678]

Thanks for the video. When is do you use hobbles? I have a hi-line for camping. Is it more for back country, can you use them at night?

[@user-ez9gy5hd7n]

I use hobbles when I graze the horses and mules when back country camping. I have used them at night to keep a bad pawer from digging a hole under the highline, but I don't like doing so at all. Hope this helps!

[@AndyTheCornbread]

Do you always hobble above the fetlock like that on your personal livestock or do you sometimes hobble below? If you do both what are the times and reasons you would hobble below vs above?

[@user-ez9gy5hd7n]

Andy, Great question! I generally hobble on the cannon bone. And then they usually slide down to the pastern. I've heard many different thoughts on low vs higher so I talked to my vet and his response was it doesn't matter and there's no greater risk of injury one way or the other.

[@AndyTheCornbread]

@@user-ez9gy5hd7n Thank you. I have seen it done both ways and I have always wondered if there was any difference. I like it above the fetlock on the cannon bone but they seldom seem to stay there and generally slide down lower as the horse moves around.

[@user-ez9gy5hd7n]

@@AndyTheCornbread Glad to help!

[@Faithful2410]

My horse can "run" with hobbles on. How do I stop this?

[@user-ez9gy5hd7n]

They all learn to run eventually. I use 3 leg hobbles when they get too rambunctious. A strap runs from the front to a hobble on a rear leg

[@BlackKettleRanch]

Dear Sir, I have watched two other videos of yours and found them to be safe and informative. Posting this subject matter, however, I deeply disagree with. I agree with you that hobbling is a vital skill for all horses and mules. The training of hobbling needs to be left to the professionals and advanced horsemen, not the lay people watching this channel. Training hobbling is an advanced skill with a high level of danger. In my close to 50 years in the horse industry, I've seen and heard of plenty of wrecks involved in hobble training done by the unqualified who haven't worked their way through the ranks. I saw Ray Hunt refuse to teach hobbling at one of his clinics because of the advanced requirement. Your demonstration on your well-schooled Coco over simplifies and under estimates what the lay person will likely come across in hobble training and puts horse and human in danger. I don't teach it to my students until they have thoroughly gone through the ranks and have my guidance for the first few horses for the entire process because every horse is different. Some animals have far more determination than others. The lay person will cause a wreck with those types of animals or make them a more dangerous animal because they're working out of their league. From you're other videos, you've demonstrated that you're all about safety. So why raise the stakes this high?

[@user-ez9gy5hd7n]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on my video. While I appreciate your perspective, I respectfully disagree with your assertion that hobble training should be left exclusively to professionals and advanced horsemen. Hobbling is indeed a skill that requires knowledge and experience, but it is not beyond the capabilities of a skilled layperson. In fact, many dedicated and knowledgeable horse enthusiasts have successfully trained their horses in hobbling with great success. While I understand your concern about the potential dangers involved in hobble training, it is important to note that with proper guidance, education, and a thorough understanding of horse behavior, a responsible and skilled layperson can effectively teach hobbling to their horse. It is crucial, of course, to ensure that the training is carried out gradually and with a deep understanding of the individual horse's temperament and responses. I acknowledge that there can be risks associated with hobble training, and it is essential for individuals to assess their own skills and experience level before attempting it. However, it is important not to underestimate the abilities of dedicated horse enthusiasts who have invested time and effort into expanding their horsemanship skills. I appreciate your concern for safety, and I always strive to emphasize the importance of proper education and caution in my videos. By providing information and guidance, I aim to empower viewers to make informed decisions about their horsemanship journey, including hobble training. Thank you again for sharing your perspective.

[@TheHare-rv3hj]

@@user-ez9gy5hd7n You don't know what it is that you don't know, so how can the lay person assess their own skill? You're going to get people and animals hurt.