2yo Trotters with Hobbles

[dinkadoo]

Watching Q from Scioto and reminded of this past Saturday and seeing how many 2yo trotters already have hobbles.

Thoughts ? Should they be allowed ?

Thinking about it I probably could make an argument for either side.

For them - helps them get to the races faster - better for breeders

Against them - If the horse isn't balanced while still growing, let them grow into their gate - have trainers fine tune their horse

[Checked Up]

Shoe'en and balancing has become a lost art in the rigging of today's trotters. 90% of today's trotting trainers would be lost if they were to ban the use of trotting hopples!

[wisha roder]

Was shocked to see a Chris Beaver 2yr old trotter win at scioto saturday without hobbles.

[SeattleSlew]

While it is not "aesthetically" pleasing, I think with the higher % of trotting races these days it is necessary to keep the betting public from shunning trotting races completely, as many used to do because of the number of breakers.  Necessary commerical evil.

For me a nicely-gaited trotter, without hopples, striding out is beautiful to watch.

[SDST2009]

I actually think they've lost momentum. When they really took off, right after CR Kay Suzie, there seemed to be way more (like well over half the field in most races). Maybe my perception/memory is skewed, but I think there are less used today than say, 10 years ago.

They're clearly a shortcut, but I am not sure they could (or should) be banned.