Emmas0793
New User
Does anyone have any ideas on how to stop a horse from kicking whilst travelling? Would hobbling help? I am concerned my horse hurts herself. Any suggestions appreciated.
Hobbling
- Thread starter Emmas0793
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sandi_84
Well-Known Member
I don't think I would hobble during traveling (have no experience of hobbling) but would worry horse would fall over because it could not move to distribute weight and compensate for movement of the box.
Why does the horse kick when traveling? Is it a sustained violent thing or just a wee kick every now and then? I would say that if properly bandaged or booted the horse would be less likely to harm itself. Is traveling on a regular basis necessary for you?
I would be looking into the cause of the kicking and practicing boxing in slow gentle steps till the horse became comfortable with traveling if it were me and also looking into getting professional help if I felt unsure of how to progress.
FionaM12
Well-Known Member
I've no experience of hobbling either, but I agree with sandi that restricting the horse's natural ability to balance itself while travelling sounds very dangerous.
Echo Bravo
Well-Known Member
Hobbling is illegal
FionaM12
Well-Known Member
I rather thought it was, but wasn't sure. In fact I remember being told it was illegal a good 35 years ago, but I've never checked the accuracy of that. Is it still done, despite that?
Spring Feather
Well-Known Member
Since when? That must be a very recent ruling.
OP if you use hobbles you must teach the horse first, you can't just pop them on and away you go lol!
kassieg
Well-Known Member
Please don't
Horses need to spread their legs to balance when travelling & hobbling does not allow this
Plus if your horse is kicking they are probably panicking for some reason & hobbling would make things 10 times worse if this is this case
Lastly I think hobbles are vile pieces of equipment whether used correctly or not
You wouldn't want to be forced to stand up for a long period of time with your legs tied together without being able to move them .
Horses need to spread their legs to balance when travelling & hobbling does not allow this
Plus if your horse is kicking they are probably panicking for some reason & hobbling would make things 10 times worse if this is this case
Lastly I think hobbles are vile pieces of equipment whether used correctly or not
You wouldn't want to be forced to stand up for a long period of time with your legs tied together without being able to move them .
vickyb
Well-Known Member
Why does your horse kick? Does he only do it in one form of transport (in which case, I would check it to make sure there isn't a cause within the box/trailer), or does he always do it regardless? Is he the same whether or not he has got a travelling companion? Would it make a difference if you travelled him in a different position? Does he get upset, or is he doing it out of impatience? I would try and eliminate all possible causes first. Other than that, perhaps some rubber padding or sheeting on the wall (if it's your own vehicle) will dampen the noise/damage, and take the fun out of it for him.
weebarney
Well-Known Member
This question was asked a while ago and I remember a large proportion of members said to hobble. Personally it's something I would never use on my horse .
Prince33Sp4rkle
Well-Known Member
hobbling is not illegal!
Fig travels hobbled behind as otherwise he kicks seven shades out the lorry (has previously managed to kick through the rubber wall, marine ply and GRP in to the cab, smashing out the glass window in the process.
the hobbles have a good length in the middle so he can still spread his legs to balance but cannot kick. he's fine, no stressed at all.
Fig travels hobbled behind as otherwise he kicks seven shades out the lorry (has previously managed to kick through the rubber wall, marine ply and GRP in to the cab, smashing out the glass window in the process.
the hobbles have a good length in the middle so he can still spread his legs to balance but cannot kick. he's fine, no stressed at all.
nikkimariet
Well-Known Member
Really kassieg??? I felt a bit sick at what *could* have happened when I found Fig with both his back feet sticking through into the cab.
Hobbles = safer for him and safer for us.
He's not stressed, he's just an impatient doughnut.
ester
Not slacking multitasking
What???!!!!
OP plenty of people do hobble when travelling but I think you do need to do some hobble training with the horse first. I'm trying to remember who it was (maybe jencots) who posted an interesting post about the benefits of hobble training (teaching horse not to panic etc) done correctly.
Juni141
Well-Known Member
I would hobble without a doubt... Safer for the horse, you and your lorry/trailer! As mentioned, I would get your horse used to them before they travel.
This forum does make me laugh sometimes. Call me a traditionalist/out dated/cruel but I always think safety first. If you have ruled out your horse doing something out of pain or fear then likeliness is they are testing the boundaries and trying their luck. When this is the case, I would always go safety (both mine and horses) first... If that means hobbling/twitching/using chifney to be in control- so be it!!
This forum does make me laugh sometimes. Call me a traditionalist/out dated/cruel but I always think safety first. If you have ruled out your horse doing something out of pain or fear then likeliness is they are testing the boundaries and trying their luck. When this is the case, I would always go safety (both mine and horses) first... If that means hobbling/twitching/using chifney to be in control- so be it!!
Prince33Sp4rkle
Well-Known Member
ditto. and if more people worked on this basis there would be less spoilt,badly behaved, brutish, equines walking around or indeed walking all over the top of people!