Restraints
What is Restraint used for and its goals?
- May be needed for vet care, shoeing, clipping, etc.
- Goal = cooperation not dominance
- Diverts horse's attention/distracts them
- Release endorphins
-Physical and Chemical Restraint options
What is a Skin Twitch and how do you use it?
- With hand on neck or muzzle
- Short Term
- Pinching of the skin relaxes endorphins, similar to acupuncture points
- Firmly grab a handful of loose skin on the shoulder or neck, roll and hold
- Grab upper lip firmly in a similar fashion to the neck twitch hold
How do you apply chain over nose?
- Slide end of the chain through metal hoops of halter and over bridge of horses nose, clip to other side of the halter or top loop of halter (depending on length of chain)
What should you do before using chemical restraint?
- Always listen to the horses heart, check pulse and mucous membrane color to make sure cardiovascular system is healthy and take the horse's temp.
- Double check horse is not on any other medications
- Remember that similar horses in the same circumstances may react very differently
*Always be careful as the horse can still bite, kick, strike, etc.
What are the 3 rules for Physical Restraint?
1. Always use a halter and lead rope
2. Horse's should always be in a halter/lead rope prior to applying any other form of restraint
3. Handler should always stand on SAME SIDE as whoever is working on the horse
What is a Mechanical Twitch and how do you use it?
- Upper Lip/Nose Twitch
- Wooden handle with rope (or chain) loop at the end; the longer the handle the more leverage
- Metal plier-like clamp that closes over the lip, similar to the action of a nutcracker (commonly called "humane twitch")
- 3-5 mins to release endorphins and produce sedative affects
- Working the twitch (pulsing or massaging movement) may assist with distraction and/or sedative
How do you apply a lip/gum chain?
What are the 6 different types of Physical Restraint?
1. Skin Twitch
2. Mechanical Twitch
3. Upper Lip Wooden Twitch
4. Metal Clamp Style Twitch
5. Chain over nose
6. Lip/Gum Chain
What is Chemical Restraint?
- Sedation -> used under the direction of a vet
- Administered IV, IM, or Oral
- Sedative and Analgesic (pain relief) effect
How do you apply an Upper Lip Wooden Twitch?
- Slip band through the rope loop of the twitch
- Standing on left side of the haltered horse, run your left hand down the bridge of the horse's nose, grab the upper lip firmly and slide the rope over your hand onto lip
How do you apply a Metal Clamp Style Twitch?
- Standing on left side of haltered horse, run your left hand down the bridge of the horse's nose, grab the upper lip firmly and slide the metal clamp over your hand and onto the lip
- Close the handle to grasp the lip
- Handle should be held in one or both hands with the lead rope for most secure leverage and control
What are some other methods of restraint?
- Picking up a leg
- Stocks
- Hobbles
- Ear Twitch (Should never be used)