Conference noted::equitation

    The endurance riders in my area use the electric fence tape with a
    battery operated fencer. They use the little fence posts with screw on
    western insulators to create a paddock around their trailers. Without a
    trailer, I don't know what you can do. No shelter from weather doesn't
    sound like fun at all. The portable pipe pens are very expensive and
    you need a truck to haul them. Is there no stabling available?
    Sandy

    
    Our horse are left outside all year arond... so two days w/ no
    shelter is just fine w/ them.  What do you think cowboys did meny
    years ago :-)
    
    I didn't relize the porable fencing was heavy.. it looks so easy
    to use and unfold in the pitchers.  and NO this horse does not tie.
    
    Louisa

    If your horses are kept in electric fences as it is all you need is
    some wire and T posts.  WE take a roll of electric wire and about 12 T
    posts.  All we do is tamp the posts in and run the wire around them. 
    The horses live in hot wire so we don't even have to make it hot for
    them to stay in.  We have done this on the road when we have to stop
    somewhere for repairs or a layover for the girls.
    
    Virginia

    Yeah; I think Virginia has the right idea.  Electric fence is easy to
    set up, light, portable.  But the base note mentions that electric
    isn't possible.  Why not?  Source of electricity isn't a problem, since
    there are battery-run units available, and *mush* cheaper than the
    portable fence sort of setup.  
    
    -ellie

    Have you ever thought of hobbles?  I have used them before and they
    seem to work.  You just have to make sure your horse is trained to wear
    them.  It only takes a few days to do this.  
    
    Virginia

    Virginia --
    
    I've always wondered about hobbles, and always heard people say not to
    use them unless your horse is trained to them.  But, how do you train
    them?  (I have pictures of cartoon horses falling on their noses
    running through my head right now.....8^} )  Do you know how?
    
    -ellie

    We have always used adjustable 3 legged hobbles.
    
    The best way to break to hobbles (and the way we always did it) is to
    get a large open space such as an arena or pasture.  Having someone
    help also.  We would let the horse look over the hobbles and run them
    over their legs and around the areas where they would be used.  Ours
    would come apart too so we could put them on without them being
    attached.  You can do this with just a wrap at first so they get used
    to having something around their legs.  Don't walk them with these on,
    the idea you want them to get is when these things are on they are to
    be still.
    
    The next thing to do is just put them on and stand back.  Give them
    quite a while to get used to them.  Some will freak and fall down a few
    times.  Once the get used to the idea they should be ok.  WE never
    really had a horse that didn't take to the hobbles after a few days of
    constant use.  The 3 legged hobbles were only used on the horses that
    we were sure weren't going to explode.  
    
    Now I use them when at shows to saddle or wash (I have a nylon set with
    fleece)or for doctoring.  They work well if you are out on trail and
    decide to take a nap or have a picknick.  Every horse is different and
    every horse will take his own time to lear but the cowboys were using
    hobbles long before hitchrails or picket strings were used.
    
    
    Virginia
    
    ps.  WE did have a stallion that could run in 3 legged hobbles.  He
    looked darn funny.
    
    

    re .-1
    
    Interesting.  Sounds handy.  Another thing that's handy is teaching a
    horse to "ground tie".  I think that's the "western" term for it, but
    there's another term, which I forget, but I forst came across the idea
    in a book named "The Problem Horse", which is a British book.  The idea
    is that if you are out hunting, it's often convenient to have your
    horse "virtually tied".  You train your horse that if the reins
    are pulled over his head (i.e. not around his neck) that he thinks he
    is tied.  I did this with my first horse, and it was *really*
    convenient.  She'd stand there forever, it seemed....
    
    Course, it wouldn't work for an overnight.....
    
    So, back to the regularly scheduled topic now.   
    
    -ellie

    Can a horse lie down and get back up in hobbles ? How restricted is
    their movement ?
    

    With the front hobbles they can lie down.  It all depends on how good
    the horse is with them.  If a horse panics when a rope or hose is
    draged over their legs, you should be very careful.  A horses legs and
    hooves are their primary defence, when restricted they panic.  I
    have never had a problem with them lieing down.  We did have a mare
    that got up rear first, we couldn't use hobbles on her.
    
    Virginia
    
    Ps.  Maybe you should contact a manufacturer and ask what they
    recommend.
    
    

    Thanks Virginia, I was just curious though, I don't have any plans to
    use them in the foreseeable future.....they do seem like they'd have
    their uses in the right circumstances though.
    
    -Linda