"A Hobbled White House Energizes Talk Radio..." 

The term " Hobbled" used here refers to a sense of hindrance of a sort, brought about by the resignation and the indictment of Scooter Libby, a key white house advisor to President Bush and the chief of staff to Vice President Cheney.

The loss of such prominent policy player is portrayed as if the White House is being restrained in advancing its agenda, hence the special use of the term: hobbled. 

Mind you, this riddle has nothing to do with politics. I am only using the title of this article as an inspiration for our fourth episode. 

So what is "Hobble",  which incidentally is the topic of our  fourth riddle?

Here are some clues which might help you solving this riddle.

IMPORTANT  CLUES:

Hobble is essentially a rope used in horse cultures around the world. Hobble restraints applied to the hind legs are often referred to as a hind leg hobble, while those in front are called front leg hobbles. The historical use of hobbles with a trained or "broke" horse was, and remains, primarily to slow him from wandering too far, too quickly. 

The hobble was often around a leg, twisted several times in between and then tied around the other leg. 

To impede by a hopple or hobble; is to tie the feet of (a horse or a cow) loosely together; to hamper; to hobble; as, to hopple an unruly or straying horse. [1913 Webster]

Hopple \Hop"ple\, n. A fetter for horses, or cattle, when turned out to graze; -- chiefly used in the plural. [1913 Webster] 
 

This term, as the previously mentioned riddles of shackle, rein, and dressage, is borrowed straight from the Classical Arabic.
 

Can you guess which is this original Classical Arabic  cognate term for "Hobble"?

Make no mistake, the similarity is uncanny, therein lies the answer, staring at you, hidden in the eye of the sun.
 

THE CORRECT ANSWER:
 

The source of "Hobble" originated from Classical Arabic: Habl (for  the various definitions pertaining to "HBL" , see below.)