I saw this question in a quiz, and would like to know the answer:

A horse that has a twitch applied to its lip may react by avioding people's hands after the experience. What can you do to help the horse overcomet this reaction?

a. Scratch its neck
b. Divert its attention by making a lot of noise (I don't think that's it)
c. Rub the horse's nose vigorously to relieve the discomfort after the twitch is removed.
d. None of the above.

Thanks!
(If you could, please e-mail your answer to the email in my profile instead of answering here. My notifications aren't working.) Thanks!

I hope that whoever can answer this question will post the reply here as well as e-mailing Sarah51 as she requested.

We'd all like to know the answer!

Not being a horse person, would someone kindly explain to me what a horse twitch is? Is that how they got Mr. Ed to lip synch?

I think its a type of bit They have several different names such as snaffles pelhams and gags www.horsebit.com/choosing.htm
The other possibility is a kind of prod used instead of spurs? But a Horsey person will know Tried several Tack shop and Saddlery sites but they are using Plain English to sell things Need a Specialist shop...

It's a loop of rope on the end of a short pole. It is put around the lips of the horse and pulled tight, so the animal's lip then looks a like a balloon with whiskers. Not surprisingly , the mouth area of a horse being very sensitive , under this procedure the animal gives up struggling .

There are what are called 'humane' twitches. This always seems something of a euphemism if not a downright oxymoron.

No wonder, you may think, there is a quiz question about how to deal with an animal that has taken fright after being subjected to this treatment.

You may also not be surprised that I, a racehorse owner and resident of Britain's headquarters of horseracing, don't know the answer, it being happily beyond my ken.

I am surprised that there is anyone out there who still uses a twitch, but then some Americans do other things to animals that we are unfamiliar with, such as cropping dogs' ears and declawing cats, so perhaps it's a cultural matter. In Australia, for example, the handlers who load horses into racing stalls used to be allowed a twitch, but that was outlawed some years ago.

Thanks, Fred, though now I'm sorry I asked.

Hello Sarah,

In my many years of experience with handling horses, I’ve never seen a horse become leery of being touched upon the use or removal of this restraint unless the said restraint was applied incorrectly or used way, way too frequently. There is a right and a wrong way to apply the tool as well as a right and a wrong reason for using it.

My answer would be A. Scratch its neck ....... Rubbing or scratching is quite soothing and tells the animal that all is well between you and the horse. Making a lot of noise or yelling would cause the animal to be cautious and feel that there is something wrong and that it should be fearful. Handling the nose upon immediate removal of the restraint would re-enforce the idea that the restraint was worse than it really was.

The twitch is used for restraining an unruly horse thus making it safe to administer medical attention, hoof trimming and so on... and be over and done with it. It is physically impossible to out muscle a half ton horse and downright dangerous to try to treat an injury or change bandages on a horse that is combative . There are products over the counter that are supposed to work as a sedative so to speak, but these don’t always provide the desired effect. Even after a licenced veterinarian has administered a stronger sedative, a horse can still be quite combative thus requiring a secondary form of restraint.

There are different versions of the tool. The correct usage of the noose type whether it is the rope version or the chain version is to place it over the end of the horse’s upper muzzle and twist it until it just pinches the lip, or a little bit more if necessary. You do not want to get it so tight that your horse resents the restraint. There is one version that simply clamps into place and one that just pinches like a pair of pliers.

The reason the tool is called humane is that when used correctly, the animal experiences virtually little or no discomfort due to endorphins being released in the body enabling one to get the job done quickly elsewhere on the animal and be done with it. Some horses relax so much when twitched that they appear to have fallen asleep.

For Professor....
to get the horse that played Mr. Ed to wiggle its muzzle, I read someplace that the initial technique was to use peanut butter underneath the upper lip. The horse wiggled its nose in an attempt to remove the peanut butter from its location. The cue was later changed, but I did not learn what the latter cue was.

For those who would like to see what the tool looks like click on the link below, there are two types shown.


http://www.arcaros.com/twitch.htm

piggins, thanks for a very informative posting.

Hi,

I just finished taking a course that covered the proper methods for twitching and we were always told to rub the horse's muzzle before and after putting the twitch. Rubbing it before twitching helps the horse relax and not be as upset when you grab it to put the twitch on. Rubbing it after again reinforces that relaxation and stimulates bloodflow back into the area, which is why twitches should never be left on for more than 30 minutes, 15 if it's a chain twitch, as it cuts off bloodflow more. I hope that can help you out.

The main aspect of the twitch isn't to cause pain. The physical aspect of a twitch is to stimulate the body to release endorphins. This is kinda like giving the horse opium (gets them stoned). It is a powerful relaxant and ocurs naturally. Lot of predators use this to their benefit. When lions grab a zebra, one usually latches onto the nose. That isn't to shut off the air (that's done by the one at the throat), but to release endorphins. It is a natural preparation for death. The animal relaxes. I know...it's sick...but true.

I have one mare that actually likes to get twitched. Show her the thing and she will stick her nose in it. I don't believe in the chain twitches or even the 'humane' ones (really only pinches, doesn't twitch), mine is rope. Problem is that most people DON'T how to twitch properly, and DO cause pain. Done right, there is NO pain, the twitch doesn't even have to be held tightly, and the horse will get the most dreamy look in their eyes.

Done properly, twitching can defuse what could be a dangerous situation (like when a vet sticks his arm up a mare's rectum) as the horse is relaxed and no drugs or stocks (which can kill if the horse freaks) are needed.

Thanks for you post Sherrii and welcome to AP!

the answer is to rub the horses nose as it gets the blood flow back to the horses nose and relaxes it again