88 
A DESCRIPTION OF AN IMPROVED SET OF 
HOBBLES. 
.Bj/ Mr. Gloag, 10//j Royal Hussars. 
These differ from all that are in general use, in their not 
being Listened to the leg by straps and buckles, and that by the 
withdrawing of a screw the legs are not only loosed, but the 
hobbles simultaneously fall off, leaving the animal at perfect 
liberty. In their application it may easily be seen that there is 
a great saving of time, and consequent comparative safety to 
the animal and to the operator ; thus rendering them superior to 
any other description of hobble hitherto invented. The time 
which would be taken up in buckling one hobble on the fetlock 
in the old way is here fully sufficient to allow of the animal being 
thrown on the ground — the mere act of passing the rope or chain 
securing the hobble to the leg of the horse. In the set which I 
have in use I have two with straps and buckles at the back, to 
allow of any leg being released at pleasure for operations, &c. 
The same method of making every hobble with straps and 
buckles at the back would be useful in private practice, in as 
far as by that means they could be adapted to every sized animal, 
from a foal upwards. 
The hobbles are made of two pieces of leather, with an inside 
lining to protect the edge from galling the horse’s heel. At 
each end is a ring of iron, so shaped that the one may fit within 
and project through the other; and these rings are secured to 
the leather by means of iron straps. The rings run freely in 
their sockets, and consequently, from the elasticity of the leather, 
the hobble will fly open when released from the rope. I have 
shewn one hobble with a strap and buckle at the back, which 
allows the leg to be released without interfering with the rest. 
One of these hobbles has the iron ring at the end shaped like a 
D, a little longer than the rest, with the intention that this hob- 
ble shall be placed on the fore-leg which is intended to be up- 
permost when the horse is on the ground, and made a little 
larger, because it has to receive the last link of the chain, as well ' 
as to allow the free passage of the chain through it. I have 
about two yards and a half of chain attached to the end of the 
rope ; and the intention of having so much chain is, that there 
shall be no stoppage or obstruction when the rope is united to 
the chain. I have given a rough drawing of one hobble with- 
out a strap and buckle at the back, and one with it. 
