Training Tip: First-Time Hobbling Struggles

Question: I recently put sideline hobbles on Tanzy, my 4-year-old mare. She freaked out. She ran backwards as best as she could, snatched her legs out from under herself, fell down, etc. I was scared she would break her legs. Is this normal behavior for a horse the first time they’re hobbled? I have been handling her from birth and training her using the Colt Starting Series. – butterbean

Clinton’s Answer: If you used sideline hobbles on your horse the first time you ever hobbled her, it’s not a surprise the experience went badly. What you did would be like taking a kid that’s never swam before and chucking him into the deep end of the pool and expecting him to not panic.

Horses are prey animals with an ingrained flight or fight response, which means they rely on their legs to escape danger and stay safe. In a horse’s mind, losing the ability to move his legs is the worst thing to happen to him. With that being said, all horses will struggle to some degree when you introduce hobbles to them. You can greatly decrease your horse’s chances of struggling by preparing her, making sure she’s using the thinking side of her brain and introducing hobbles to her in a safe setting.

I don’t even think about hobbling a horse until he can do all of the Fundamentals groundwork exercises to a B plus. At that point, I know that I have his respect, he trusts me and I can move his feet. When I do introduce hobbles to a horse, I don’t just go tie the horse’s legs together. I do it in a step-by-step fashion that allows the horse to build his confidence about having his feet taken away from him. I start by using a one-legged hobble that takes just one of the horse’s legs away from him. Then I use a sideline hobble that ties one front foot to his hind foot on the same side. When he’s comfortable with that, I add rope hobbles that tie his front legs together.

If you don’t have it already, I would strongly recommend reviewing my Hobbling and Leg Restraints video series. The series details me training two horses to accept hobbles and will walk you through the process so that you and your horse stay safe.

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