Old Leg Shackles

Dear Franklin,

please keep in mind, that these "hobbles" served as well as an anti theft device. In oriental areas for dromedars they had these devices also in Europe for horses. Horse theft was a big problem in the past, so one can find many of these devices. You could either lock your horse to a post or you coul lock forelegs together - this explains the worn thin chain links, when the animals wandered around. The legs were usually protected with cloth. Hobbles nowadays are made out of rope or leather - they need not to have a locking mechanism, as horse or dromedar theft isn´t a problem any more.

I hope this could help a bit further.

Rainer


<img src="http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af1 ... enhan<span class="link">http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af1 ... CN3331.jpg" alt="[linked image]"></span>

Hi Ranier:

The image you posted didn't come through. I'd like to see what you've got.

I've never owned a camel (and wouldn't want to) but growing up and living in Texas, I've been around horses a bit.

I have heard of using locking fetters to deter rustling, and once bought a puzzle lock type fetter of the type we've been discussing from a European dealer who listed them as such. However, if I was going to do it, I'd use a cap shackle fetter of this design, after lining the inside of the two shackles with leather padding:



The problem with using the puzzle lock type fetter as a horse lock is that the locking mechanism is so darned heavy. Unlike animals with a cloven hoof, horses' legs, knees and hooves are relatively delicate affairs. I recall a veterinarian once remarking that it was always a wonder to him that horses can even run without breaking something. By the time you pad out the leg at the hoof area sufficiently to prevent tissue and bone damage, the shackles are not big enough to fit. I actually tried to test this a few years ago with a coworker of mine who had both a horse and a sense of humor. As for the hoof area; forget it. We nearly got the **** kicked out of both of us. Horses are very fussy about their feet, but I suppose they could be trained to accept this. While we could tell the shackle, with padding, would fit above the knee, we didn't try it for fear of causing damage due to the shackle's lopsided weight.

Like people, European horses back then were smaller than the modern variety, so those old puzzle lock fetters could have fit the hoof area even with the additional padding.

In comparison to a puzzle lock fetter, a cap shackle fetter might very well work at knee level, but I've never tried it. In fact, you occasionally see old European cap shackles with what appears to be an original leather lining. While there is never any way to know for sure exactly how and where any of these old fetters were used, being lighter and more balanced in weight, cap shackles would seem to work equally well with people or horses and would be much easier to carry around in saddlebags. The puzzle types seem to be too clunky and heavy.

From what I've read, camels and horses have something in common: they like to sneak away and avoid letting you catch them. I recall reading an old account of a European traveler to the Middle East who, not knowing the nuances of securing your camel at night, hobbled the critter with rope at the knees as you'd do with a horse. Well, the camel chewed the rope in two and the fellow spent the next several days chasing it all over the desert trying to catch it.

Just in case you ever need to hobble a camel and all you have is rope, here's how you do it, placing the rope high enough on only one leg so the animal can't chew on it.



Unlike a horse, a camel has a paw, a great big one. And they have very tough hide as well as a sullen disposition from what I've read. So, using non-chewable metal shackles at the feet would work rather well, and would probably be more comfortable for the camel, like these:



In any event, whether used on the town drunkard, the mayor's horse or the caliph's camel, all of these old fetters are interesting.

Franklin

Dear Franklin,

please keep in mind, that these "hobbles" served as well as an anti theft device. In oriental areas for dromedars they had these devices also in Europe for horses. Horse theft was a big problem in the past, so one can find many of these devices. You could either lock your horse to a post or you coul lock forelegs together - this explains the worn thin chain links, when the animals wandered around. The legs were usually protected with cloth. Hobbles nowadays are made out of rope or leather - they need not to have a locking mechanism, as horse or dromedar theft isn´t a problem any more.

I hope this could help a bit further.

Rainer


<img src="http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af1 ... enhan<span class="link">http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af1 ... CN3331.jpg" alt="[linked image]"></span>

Click to expand...

Hi Franklin,

The fetter you have pictured in the one I have often associated with being a camel lock of sorts.

I have owned 3 over the years and have seen many others.

Too big for a human foot as it would easilly slip out.

Cheers, Steve

Dear Franklin,

please keep in mind, that these "hobbles" served as well as an anti theft device. In oriental areas for dromedars they had these devices also in Europe for horses. Horse theft was a big problem in the past, so one can find many of these devices. You could either lock your horse to a post or you coul lock forelegs together - this explains the worn thin chain links, when the animals wandered around. The legs were usually protected with cloth. Hobbles nowadays are made out of rope or leather - they need not to have a locking mechanism, as horse or dromedar theft isn´t a problem any more.

I hope this could help a bit further.

Rainer


<img src="http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af1 ... enhan<span class="link">http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af1 ... CN3331.jpg" alt="[linked image]"></span>

Click to expand...

Hi All:

I want to clarify something I mentioned in my previous post about horse shackles.

When my friend and I tried the experiment on his horse, we never had any intention of actually locking the horse up in the shackles. All we wanted to do was see if the shackles were of sufficient size to fit. We made no attempt to close the shackles into a locked position.

I apologize if I offended anyone.

Franklin