AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR HOBBLING HORSES AND Other ANIMALS
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I, HENRY THOMAS WARD ALLATT, Captain in Her Majesty's Duke of Cornwalls
Light Infty of the Royal Military College Farnborough Station, Hants, and of
the Naval & Military Club, Piccadilly, London do hereby declare the nature of
my invention for AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR HOBBLING HORSES AND Other
ANIMALS to be as follows:-
Suppose, for instance, the animal to be a horse, I fasten a Boot-Shackle round
the fore leg, above or below the fetlock joint, and a second-Boot-Shackle round the
hind leg on the same side of the horse, as shewn in Sketch V in the accompanying
drawing. Having secured one end of the rope to the saddle at the point e, or to
any other part of the saddlery, accoutrements or harness considered equally con-
venient, I pass the other end 1 (1) through the eye of the Bot-Shackle (/) on the
hind leg, (2) through the eye of the Boot Shackle (k) on the fore leg, (3) through
the loop formed at g in the rope itself, and finally, after having drawn the feet
towards each other as near as may be required I make the end fast to one of
the stirrups or to a loop on the girth, or to any other part of the saddlery,
accoutrements or harness that may be suitable.
If the feet are drawn close together it is impossible for the animal to progress,
as the hind leg cannot be brought more forward. If a short distance is allowed
between the feet the horse can move about slowly. He can also graze freely.
It will be observed that there is not necessarily any strain on the upper part of.
the rope between the end fand the loop g. By shortening this part of the rope a
strain may however be brought upon it.
When it is required to release the legs and to remount, the end 2 of the rope is
unfastened, and may be held in the band while the rider mounts. Having gained
the saddle the end is dropped from the hand and the legs are free. The rope
then seized between the end fand the loop g, and the end is thus pulled through
the shackle boots.
Thus the horse need not be liberated till the rider is in the saddle.
The Boot-Shackles shown in Figs I, II, III, IV are made of leather but they can
of course be made of any other suitable materials.
This method of Hobbling is likely to prove useful for mounted Troops in a
Campaign as it affords a ready and convenient means of securing horses.
During a temporary halt complete rest would be ensured for the men.
Dated this 26th day of April 1884

page_text: I, HENRY THOMAS WARD ALLATT, Captain in Her Majesty's Duke of Cornwalls
Light Infantry, of the Royal Military College, Farnborough, Hants, and of the
Naval and Military Club, Piccadilly, London, England do hereby declare the nature
of my Invention for HOBBLING HORSES AND OTHER ANIMALS and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
The Boot-Shackles are so constructed that they can be carried by a horse, or
olher animal, on all or any of the legs, either above or below the fetlock joint
without inconvenience or risk, both when the animal is stationary and when it is
moving at any pace. They in no way interfere with freedom of action. A horse
can walk, trot, canter, gallop or jump with them on.
They have the advantage of being available for knee haltering and for other
purposes for which ordinary shackles may be used.
Their construction is simple.
They are made of two distinct patterns as shewn in accompanying drawings.
This is necessary because, although, Figs III, III, IV and VI represent the simple
form, which is sufficient for the purposes for which they are intended it is incon-
venient, in the case of an animal that brushes, or cuts, to have a cutting-boot on
the same leg that also carries a Boot Shackle.
In the case therefore of an animal that brushes the Boot Shackle shewn in
Figs I and II is used. In these two Figs, as also in Fig VI, a central band of
leather, x !! 2, is folded into a strip about one inch and a half in width, the inside
surface being smooth and plane, to insure against galling and rubbing.
In Figs I and II another band of similar construction is attached at intervals by
sewing, rivetting, splicing, or in other convenient manner, on to the outside of the
central band, and thus the eyes, marked tu, are formed.
In Figs III and IV, the main band qurp is similar in construction to the
central band in Figs I, II & VI but it also forms the outer part of the eye tu,
which is completed by a single piece of leather m n, secured in its place in a
convenient manner.
The eye of the Boot Shackle may consist of a metal loop, or ring (which may
advantageously be covered with leather) as shewn in Fig VI.
In all the Boot Shackles metal rivets, marked c in the drawings are used, but
they are not essential.
The Boot Shackles are fastened round an animals legs by buckles, and may bo
tightened or loosened at will, as there are two or more holes for the tongue of the
buckle.
To secure a horse, or other animal, as shewn in Sketch V, a rope is necessary.
A continuous tanned manilla rope, about twelve feet long, is used being light,
strong and durable. It has a circumference of about one and a half inches, and is
available for picketting purposes in camp. The loop g may be formed of a single
turn in the main rope, tightly bound.
It is obvious that, should a rope of this nature not be available, a rope of any
material, or shorter ropes joined together, will answer the purpose, provided a loop
be formed to correspond in position with the loop g.
A double headed strap secures the loop f to the saddlery, harness or accoutrements
by one buckle, while the other buckle of the strap serves to carry the whole rope
when coiled up & not in use.

page_text: If a strap of this sort is not available any simple method of fastening may be
used instead.
It
is recommended that a small strap, marked a in Sketch V, be used to keep
the reins in position, and to prevent them from getting under the horses feet when
the animal grazes.
My Invention is likely to prove useful for mounted sportsmen, and for Mounted
Infantry and other troops on active service.
If adopted by Mounted Infantry in a Campaign it would enable almost all the
men to dismount and engage the enemy, as none would be required to act as
horseholders. It would prevent the risk of loss which attends the difficulty of
mounting restive or frightened horses in the presence of the enemy.
The following is the mode of using my Improved apparatus for hobbling horses
and other animals.
Suppose, for instance, tho animal to be a horse. I fasten a Boot-Shackle round
the fore leg, above or below the fetlock joint, and a second Boot-Shackle round the
bind leg on the saine side of the horse, as shewn in Sketch V in the accompanying
drawing. Having secured one end of the rope to the saddle at the point e, or to
any other part of the saddlery, accoutrements or harness considered equally
convenient; I pass the other end (1) through the eye of the Boot-Shacklo h on
the hind leg, (2) through the eye of the Boot-Shackle & on the fore leg, (3) through
the loop formed at g in the rope itself, and finally, after having drawn the feet
towards each other as near as may be required, I make the end 2 fast to one of the
stirrups or to a loop on the girth, or to any other part of the saddlery,
accoutrements or harness that may be suitable.
If the feet are drawn close together it is impossible for the animal to progress,
as the hind leg cannot be brought more forward. If a short distance is allowed
between the feet, the horse can move about slowly. He can also graze freely.
It will be observed that thero is not necessarily any strain on the upper part of
the rope between the end fand the loop g.
When it is required to release the horses legs and to remount, the end of the
rope is unfastened and may be held in the hand while the rider mounts. Having
gained the saddle, the end is dropped from the hand and the legs are free. The
rope is then scized between the end fand the loop g, and the end is thus pulled
through the Shackle-Boots. Thus the horse need not be liberated until the rider
is in the saddle.
The Boot-Shackles, shewn in Figs I, II, III, IV and VI are made of leather, as
already described, but they can of course be made of any other suitable materials.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is that
(1) My apparatus enables me to hobble a horse, or other animal, by means of a
single continuous rope running from the saddle, within reach of the rider, through
the Boot-Shackles which are on the animals legs, to the stirrup.
(2) That the method I adopt of unfastening the horse enables the rider to mount
before he finally releases the animals legs.
(3) That the Boot-Shackles are so constructed that they can be used as ordinary
shackles, and yet may remain on an animals legs while moving at any pace.
Dated this oath of Tau10OY
H. T. W. ALLATT, Capt.,
D. of C. Lt. Infty.,
Royal Military College,
Farnborough, Hants.