hobbles usually fasten around a mare's hocks, pass between her front legs to a neck strap. They are used to protect a stallion from kicks. Casting hobbles are the same as the above, but with another rope or strap attached to the other hind foot. When these straps or ropes are pulled up together, the horse will fall. Cattle hobbles are a strong strap with a metal keeper in the middle and a buckle at the end. They are used on the hind legs for a short period when capturing feral cattle. Drovers’ or grazing hobbles have a buckle on a wide double redhide or chrome leather strap and a swivel and 5 ring chain connecting them. They are placed around the pasterns. Hind leg pull up strap passes from a neck strap and around a hind pastern to draw up a hind foot for shoeing or treatment. Hopples (sometimes called hobbles) are a piece of equipment used by Standardbred pacers to help the horse maintain its pacing gait. Humble or one leg hobble is a strap placed around the front pastern, and then the leg is lifted and the strap is wrapped around the upper leg and then buckled, leaving the horse with three legs to stand on. Mounting hobbles are knee hobbles that are made with a quick release, on a lead that passes to the rider. They are used to mount fractious horses and when mounted the rider can retrieve them. Picket hobble is a single hobble that is placed on a front pastern and then attached to a tether chain. Sideline hobbles may be made in the same manner as above, but with a longer chain to hobble a front and back leg. Rope may also replace the chain. They, too, are placed around the pasterns. This pattern may be useful on a persistent jumper or a horse that has mastered the art of travelling in front leg hobbles Three or four leg hobbles are made in a similar pattern to the above and hobble three or four legs. Used for securing legs for operations, etc. History Hobbles date at least as far back as Ancient Egypt. Two Egyptian hieroglyphs are believed to depict hobbles. See also Hobble skirt Legcuffs References — A detailed discussion of the various types of Western hobbles Animal equipment Horse tack Physical restraint