Proper Placement of Horse Hobbles

Horse hobbles are lengths of cotton, nylon or leather that attach to a horse's lower legs to prevent or limit its movement. They are used by campers, trail riders and other horse owners who need to control a problem animal or keep a roaming horse stationary. Proper placement of horse hobbles is necessary not only to their function but also to the safety of the animal.

  1. General Considerations

    • Hobbles should never be so tight that they restrict blood flow or chafe the horse's legs. Some people choose to place the hobbles on the cannon bone or above the fetlock, while others place them on the horse's pasterns. What you choose to do depends on your horse's reaction to regular hobbles. Neither placement area is inherently better than the other when front leg hobbles are being used. With certain types of hobbles it may be more advantageous to place the hobble below the fetlock.

    Standard Hobbles

    • Standard hobbles, also known as two-leg or straight hobbles, connect your horse's two front legs. They may be cinched around leg above or below the fetlock. Make sure that the hobbles do not chafe the horse or restrict blood flow through the leg.

    Scotch Hobbles

    • Scotch hobbles are best used on horses who kick. They are useful when such an animal needs to be groomed, tacked up or worked on by a vet. One end of the hobbles is tied around the horse's neck where the neck meets the shoulder. The other end is attached to the animal's hind pastern (below the fetlock). You can also suspend the horse's leg in the air by tightening the rope between the neck and leg. However, you should not suspend the leg more than 2 inches off the ground, and the animal should be given frequent breaks, according to Western Horseman magazine.

    Australian and Sideline Hobbles

    • Sideline hobbles can be placed above or below the fetlock. They control the horse by connecting same-side front and hind legs to each other. Australian hobbles differ in that they connect front and hind legs on opposite sides, forming an "X" between the legs. If the horse tries to kick while wearing these hobbles, he will bring himself to the ground.