Mounted search and rescue

["Sherry C. Hicks" <shicks@nwinc.net>]

I have to say about this hobble topic that I have learned a great deal. I
have only heard of hobbles being used to keep a mare from hurting a stallion
during breeding, or used to control a horse that is otherwise
uncontrollable. Because of that I have always seen them as a last resort,
though perhaps necessary under some circumstances. I have never heard of
them being used to keep a horse in a general area. In Tennessee you would be
hard pressed to find a place with nothing to tie to. In the parks we carry a
towel to protect the trees. I am a fan of the trail halter harness, where
the bit clips to a special halter. When we stop the horse already has a
halter on, I can drop the bit out and use my reins as a line. When we get
ready to go I just put his bit back in his mouth, clip it back on the halter
and we are off. 

I now have a much better understanding of how hobbles can be used and I want
to thank you all for that. I am now much more open minded about their use.

Sherry Hicks
Tennessee - START

-----Original Message-----
From: msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Una Smith
Sent: Friday, January 27, 2006 2:48 PM
To: Mounted search and rescue
Subject: Re: [MSAR] Hobbles

I don't use the saddle as a "ground tie" anchor;  if the horse
needs to be tied to anything, then I think it should be either
something the horse cannot break, or (if the horse is good at
being tied) an almost symbolic tie object that is no danger to
the horse.  Many ride-and-tie folks boast their horses can be
tied to nothing more than a hank of grass or a twig on a bush.
Staying tied is really easy to train if you convince the horse
that being tied is a rare opportunity to take a nap.  To teach
that, smart polo grooms tie and leave green horses precisely
when the horse is tired and desperately wants a nap.  In no
time at all, a conditioned response forms:  "She tied me and
now she is leaving.  Heh, heh, nap time!  <zonk>"

Now, if I needed to tie out my horse and there was absolutely
nothing to tie to, I would (1) wish I had packed a picket stake
and (2) probably use my saddle.

        Una Smith
        New Mexico
_______________________________________________
MSAR-Riders mailing list
MSAR-Riders@lists.ibiblio.org
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/msar-riders