How to Apply & Use a Rope Twitch on a Horse

[@coffeehugger]

I hope I never have to do that, but in an emergency, is good to know how to restrain my horse. Just hope wrong person doesnt watch it. :/

[@dottthemovie]

The effect the nose twitch has in the horse is twofold, they act as a distraction and also cause the horse to produce natural endorphines that help it relax in a stressful situation, somewhat similar to acupuncture or acupressure. Some horses once the twitch is correctly applied become relaxed and almost "floppy" about their ears and nose as though doped up with medication.

[@edwarddrage9980]

as someone who has to twitch their horse to clip them , i can assure you a horse is in no pain when they are twitched at the nose. it may look painful or uncomfortable but it is most definitely not “abuse”

[@lmarislmarislmaris4271]

@Crocoshark The horse's body language. Note the hind leg is cocked, which is a relaxed position. If he was in pain he'd have been tense all over. A twitch, properly applied and held, is no more than a distraction of attention, which makes it possible to perform other procedures without danger to horse or human.

[@yolandathomas-going8609]

Also note how sad the eyes look, how the horse JERKS AWAY

[@filibustamusic]

@@yolandathomas-going8609 "sad eyes" is an example of anthropomorphism

[@haleylahaie3740]

Yea, I've read some studies on twitching. While twitching the ear can cause permanent physical and psychological damage and should be considered abuse, lip twitching does cause a horse to relax rather than freeze in fear and pain. Although a lip twitch shouldn't be held for more than a few minutes at a time as it can start to cause problems if left on for(and I may be misremembering the time) more than 8 minutes at a time.

[@masonheipel]

@@filibustamusic horses can't have sad eyes?

[@dottthemovie]

THIS IS NOT ABUSE! YOU UNEDUCATED PEOPLE IN THE COMMENTS!!! The effect the nose twitch has in the horse is twofold, they act as a distraction and also cause the horse to produce natural endorphines that help it relax in a stressful situation, somewhat similar to acupuncture or acupressure. Some horses once the twitch is correctly applied become relaxed and almost "floppy" about their ears and nose as though doped up with medication. Sometimes it takes longer to kick in!!!

[@blueninety]

>its not abuse >activates stress response mechanisms flawless

[@kaskouris]

surly there is a better way to to this

[@lmarislmarislmaris4271]

THis is the best way to calm and restrain a horse without using drugs which can mask problems and cause others.

[@lucyhaigh5407]

there is... if your horse is nervous or scared it is much less mentally painful for a horse to stop the activity or desensitize the horse

[@freddyaltina2737]

Lucy Haigh You can desensitize a horse to high heaven, but there are still most likely situations where that horse may still need to be twitched; primarily for veterinary visits and emergencies.

[@dottthemovie]

@@lucyhaigh5407 The effect the nose twitch has in the horse is twofold, they act as a distraction and also cause the horse to produce natural endorphines that help it relax in a stressful situation, somewhat similar to acupuncture or acupressure. Some horses once the twitch is correctly applied become relaxed and almost "floppy" about their ears and nose as though doped up with medication.

[@unequaledequines232]

This is disgusting. Poor horse is all I can say

[@lmarislmarislmaris4271]

you obviously know nothing about equines if you believe that.

[@yolandathomas-going8609]

Everyone says it doesnt hurt but look at its eyes, and the way it jerks to get away from the pain.

[@tejasnkhokle2480]

It releases endorphins aka pleasure hormones once this method is done , typical animal husbandry

[@dottthemovie]

The effect the nose twitch has in the horse is twofold, they act as a distraction and also cause the horse to produce natural endorphines that help it relax in a stressful situation, somewhat similar to acupuncture or acupressure. Some horses once the twitch is correctly applied become relaxed and almost "floppy" about their ears and nose as though doped up with medication. You know nothing. Fake Equestrian.

[@michaelmonroe2002]

Can't see anything

[@carietrinityfamilyfarm8183]

what the heck! that looks so painful and just awful 100% abuse and unfair to the horse

[@haleylahaie3740]

According to a scientific study lip twitching for a short period of time is not abuse and can be used to force a horse into a relaxed state. Left on for longer than 8 minutes however it can cause issues. Ear twitching is the real issue. It causes a horse to freeze in fear and pain and can cause temporary or permanent psychological and physical damage. I don't suggest using a lip twitch for training or anything but being able to apply one to give a horse quick medical treatment isn't bad. I do not remember the name of the study but if you do a google search you can likely find it quickly.

[@dottthemovie]

The effect the nose twitch has in the horse is twofold, they act as a distraction and also cause the horse to produce natural endorphines that help it relax in a stressful situation, somewhat similar to acupuncture or acupressure. Some horses once the twitch is correctly applied become relaxed and almost "floppy" about their ears and nose as though doped up with medication.

[@KoriHarlan]

This is unfair to the horse

[@laurenelizabeth7593]

Kori Harlan it calms them down

[@yolandathomas-going8609]

@@laurenelizabeth7593 How?

[@aspndoh2931]

Yolanda Thomas-Going it realised endorphins to the area causing the horse to calm down still it’s really in humane and I would never do this to any horse

[@SobrietyandSolace]

@@aspndoh2931 I'm doing horse care apprenticeship and was asked to hold onto the twitch today, the first time I've ever actually seen/used one in 15 years of working with them. I felt bad for the horse as it was being used whilst something unpleasant (for them) was happening (mane pulling) but can see where this would be useful to know in case of an emergency, especially if trying to give medical treatment or stop a horse from hurting themselves. I self harm when overloaded with stress with pinching/biting/cutting/hitting and can se how it works as a redirection or energy and attention, endorphin release etc.

[@aspndoh2931]

Little Wolf Taima yeah I mean if I was u I would of said something politely like I would like to pass on this I don’t feel comfortable doing that or something like that and ye I get if the vets over and has to do something on the horse it will need restraining but there are honestly so many other ways of restraining your horse that wouldn’t hurt it

[@kaitlynmoore4673]

Omg!think of it would u like this being done to u this is 100% abuse

[@laurenelizabeth7593]

Kaitlyn Moore no it’s a way to calm them done

[@laurenelizabeth7593]

Down

[@lmarislmarislmaris4271]

Not abuse. Most of us who have horses have tried similar on ourselves and understand it startos off as a mild distraction so both horse and human remain safe during necessary medical and other procedures. It then causes endorphins to be released to calm the horse.

[@SobrietyandSolace]

@@lmarislmarislmaris4271 Not going to lie, I can sort of equate this to my own self harm (cutting, hitting/slapping myself etc) and the ensuing distracting endorphin rush, so I have mixed feelings about it, but it can sometimes be the lesser of two evils....

[@dottthemovie]

The effect the nose twitch has in the horse is twofold, they act as a distraction and also cause the horse to produce natural endorphines that help it relax in a stressful situation, somewhat similar to acupuncture or acupressure. Some horses once the twitch is correctly applied become relaxed and almost "floppy" about their ears and nose as though doped up with medication.

[@annahalvarsson5828]

I'll try this at My horse. I'll do so hard i can.

[@annahalvarsson5828]

I'll do so thight i can (spell)