Yep it does wonders.Leave them tied for hours and do it for several days.I've used the inner tube and hosed  colts with water hose/nozzel on full.Water pick them all over until they stand quiet.Heck of a way to sack one out.Gets them use to being touched all over.Some OLD horses need it also.LOL

I never had a horse that pulled back, thank goodness, but my horse did learn to be hobbled.  It is the single most wonderful thing he learned at horse boot camp.  It does indeed teach patience.  When he was younger he'd be fidgety when I was trying to saddle him or work with him... the I'd put the hobbles on and he almost goes into a trance.  He has never panicked or fought them, since his initial training.  I ride endurance and if he gets really wound up in his little roundpen at camp, I can hobble him and the nervous behaviour comes to a halt as does he :)  The guy who hobble trained him uses calm methods and has a big roudpen with deep sand footing; it had solid sides that were about 10' high.  That was a very safe place for him to learn.

I remember a neighbor's horse being a puller; they had him tied to their tree and he pulled back so hard the big branch he was tied to broke off.  He took off with the branch getting tossed everywhere including hitting the horse.  I don't remember how they caught him but he was sure cut and gashed up.  I also don't remember if that cured him but it was a sight you wouldn't want to see again.

You are correct; horses can tear up an anvil.  Thanks for the advice, but at this point we have decided to sell him which is a really hard decision.  My daughter needs a new horse for mounted drill team and I can't risk him freaking out while she is trying to saddle him.  I hope it can be cured and I hope he finds someone to teach him to stand tied.  He doesn't do it often, but I can't risk him hurting my daughter when he throws a fit. 

Good luck selling him.  I would appreciate any tips on selling.  I have an AQHA registered 7 yo gelding with no bad habits that I have been trying (hard) to sell for a year, with no takers at all.

I train all my horses to hobble.  It's just not that big of a deal. We turn them out in hobbles when we are trail riding/camping.

My horses can run faster in hobbles than I can run. So even hobbled I have to keep a close eye on them, or they will be back at the trailhead.

As long as their heads are down grazing, I'll leave them to graze, as soon as their heads are up and looking around, It's time to take the hobbles off and highline them.

Tom Tom good luck with whatever you decide.  it's a tough decision but if you've worked w/ this gelding for 4 yrs and still aren't getting the results you want it may be time to sell him.   but with the economy the way it is you might have to practically give him away. 

 Just a thought-  it might be easier to teach a horse to hobble than teach a confirmed puller not to pull.  at this point your gelding dosn't have any expierence being hobbled.  so there are no bad habits to break.   A local trainer worked w/ my 5 yr old  only 1 time- she  put sheepskin wrapped hobbles that had about 4" of chain in between  on his front feet and let him go in the round pen.  I was scared to death to watch but after bumbling around an hr or so he was fine.  I"ve used them on him here since then w/ no problems.   BUT he can run fast in them- fast enough to get away from me when I chased him all over the front yard. 

  I don't know if hobbleing would make a horse stand tied any better tho.   the best way I know of to teach a horse to stand tied is to tie them to something immovable w/ a good rope halter and leave them there ovrnite.   it makes them very humble the next day.   It always amazes me at the dressage shows how many owners won't tie their horses.  same at clinics and barns where I trailer to for lessons.    my horses get excited sometimes tied to the trailer but at least I know they'll stand there no matter what. 

The old school trainer who trained my horse used leather hobbles... they looke like a thick belt;  about 1.5 inches tall and had the thickness of 2 leather belts.  I bought a pair after I got him home and still use them on occasion, when I need to and make sure he doesn't forget how to use them :)  I don't think I would ever use nylon or the hobbles with the chain links.  These have always seemed safe.  I had horses for 30 years and did not ever think I'd have a horse that was hobble trained, but the trainer I took my new horse to insisted this was the first thing they had to learn, so I went along with it knowing he'd be patient, kind and firm.  It has been the single most important thing my horse learned, after whoa. 

Leather or Nylon hobbles work fine. 1 1/2 to 2" wide.

I often hang mine from the rear cinch loop on my saddle, then I always have them when I stop for lunch.

A friend put his around the horses neck like a collar.  When they get to lunch or camp, the pull it off and hobble the horse.

The Utah hobbles are basically a leather strap that does a figure 8 around the horses pasterns.  You can buy a 2" wide nylon for $10 or the 1 1/2" leather for $20.00.  Just google Utah Hobbles or Davis Tent & Awning.