Equine Restraint Techniques

Safety

– There is no circumstance for which a human

injury is justified

– The individual restraining the horse is responsible for the safety of all present

Safety

-If the horse doesn’t feel safe, the handler is not safe.

-A horse can not learn while frightened.

-The installation of fear is not an appropriate training technique.

Pay Attention

• This is Smarty Jones.

• He won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness in 2004.

• He is valued at over 34 million dollars as a breeding stallion.

Must be a pretty important phone call, huh?

The Basics

• Horses are traditionally handled from the left side.

Halter

• Do not reach your arm over the horse’s poll to pull on halter.– If the horse jerks his head

up while your arm is over his neck you will meet a nice orthopedic surgeon who will repair your dislocated shoulder.

• With your arm under the horse’s jaw ‘flip’ the strap over the poll.

Lead Shank

• NEVER, NEVER, NEVER EVER ‘tie’ yourself to an animal, particularly one that weighs ten times more than you do.

Lead Shank

• NEVER, NEVER, NEVER leave a shank on the ground while it is attached to a horse.

• If you must release the shank, drape it over the horse’s withers.

Tying

• Quick Release Knot

OR• Quick Release Snap

• Always tie at head level; avoid excessive slack

Bad!

Bad!

Note: Individual restraining the horse should always stand on the

same side as the individual performing the procedure

Lead Shank

• Chain may be passed through halter ring on the near side and clipped to ring on off side.

• This affords greater control only when pressure is applied to the shank.

Lip Chain

Provides restraint – gets horses attention under difficult situations.

Can cause bleeding gums.

May promote head shyness in horses.

Twitch

• Causes release of endorphins and effectively ‘tranquilizes’ the horse for a period of up to 15 minutes.

• Skill and reliability of handler is critical.

‘One –Man’ or ‘Humane’ Twitch

• OK, so what’s REALLY wrong with this picture?

Skin Twitch

• Provides minimal restraint by distracting the horse.

• Often useful for administering injections to ‘needle-shy’ horses.

Hand Twitch/ Ear Hold

• Grasping the nose and/or ear can effectively immobilize the horse.

• As horse complies, pressure can be released

Blindfold

• Relieves anxiety• Increase verbal cues

when using a blindfold

Blindfold

• Better used on the patient.

Manipulate Center of Gravity

• Recognize where the horse’s center of gravity is and where it must be shifted for the horse to:– Rear

– Kick

– Strike

– Move away

Equine Stocks

• Used by many veterinarians in reproductive practice– Rectal palpations

– Ultrasound

– Embryo Transfer

– Artificial Insemination

– Standing surgeries

Equine Stocks

• Safety risk for individuals treating horse

• There should still always be a handler at the horse’s head

Breeding Hobbles

• Permits mare to walk, but prevents her from kicking the stallion

Tail Tie

• Anesthesia recovery• Neurologic cases

Tail Tie

Sling

• Anesthesia recovery• Neurologic cases• Starvation• Rescue

– Horse must tolerate sling

– May require chemical restraint until adapted to sling apparatus

Sling--Rescue