90 
IMPROVED HOBBLES. 
Fig. 5. Screw and small chain running 1 on a swivel like a dog-chain ; at 
the extremity of the small chain, is a hook, which secures the animal when 
down, by being* passed through the last link of the large chain. 
Fig. 6. The end of the hobble, to which the chain is affixed. 
Application of the Hobbles. 
The end of the chain is first passed through the hobble that 
has the longest D, and which is always placed on the fore-leg 
that is intended to be uppermost when the animal is on the 
ground. The chain is now passed quickly round through the 
other hobbles, and brought to that at which we commenced, 
and the last link secured to the long D by means of the screw 
and cottrel {fig- 4 and 5). The horse being now pulled down, 
the hook at the end of the small chain (fig. 5) is put through 
the nearest link, and the animal is then secured. Any leg can 
now be let at liberty at pleasure, by undoing the strap and 
buckle at the back of the hobble. When you wish to let the 
animal get up, it is only necessary to withdraw the screw, and 
the chain being released, all the hobbles fall off the legs, and 
the horse is at perfect liberty. 
To make these hobbles more generally useful, I here subjoin 
the size of the different component parts of those I have in use. 
My hobbles are adapted for a general sized horse, and their di- 
mensions are given in inches. 
Leather work in those without straps and buckles at the 
back — length 12, width If, thickness 
Inside leather lining 3 inches wide. 
Iron securing the D — width If, length 2^. 
Iron strap which secures the ring which receives the D when 
fastened to the leather — wide at the shoulder, 2-^ wide, 
length of the strap 2f. 
The iron rings which receive the D’s — length 2£, width 1^, 
in diameter. 
The D’s at the shoulder — 2 ^ wide, mean width 2, length 2, 
thickness T 3 ^, diameter of the larger D is 2 t 3 j long. 
Size of hobble with straps and buckles at the back — the length 
of leather work receiving the buckle 6^, length of the other 
strap 11 ; the buckle slightly curved, length 2f , width 2f, thick- 
ness t v 
Chain 2f yards long, the last link made to fit between the 
iron loop (fig. 4). 
The iron loop made just large enough to fit on the D and re- 
ceive the last link of the chain. 
The hook made round and sufficiently strong, so that, no mat- 
ter how the animal may struggle, it can never slip through 
the D. 
