How to Clip a Horse : How to Twitch & Body Clipping a Horse

[roxygirl2310]

when a horse is twitched, it apparently releases endorphin's. But a horse only releases these when under intense pain. Is it really worth inflicting such intense pain just to make a horse stand still? I don't know about you but i wouldn't find my lip being twisted tightly very relaxing! Look from the horses point of view!

[hualchowdown1]

I really think that if you use a twitch at the tight time , properly and on the right horse it is fine. If you think about it, spurs and a whip can be used just a poorly as a twitch. I've only ever had one horse that I've ver had to twitch and it was only because he had thrown off a back muscle and wouldn't stop rearing and attacking anyone who went near him. Even with his stallion chain, the vet couldn't even get close enough to even give him any pain medication. In a circumstance like that, a

[cheeka127]

While I don't believe twitching is inhumane per-say, I think its only human when used correctly. That girl was obviously just showing us how to use it properly (even though it didn't work and sliped off of the poor horses lip) but when you have a crazy 1100 pound horse going after you, i think it should definietly be used. The only thing I don't like about this video is that the girl looks kind of inexperianced and the horse didn't look like it needed a twitch at ALL.

[ellenah11]

I have had a vet use a twitch on my horse , never thought it cruel till i saw this .

[poopietim]

cunt

[thecowgirlandherhors]

animal cruelty !

[alyandponies1]

Hello. I am a horse clipping expert and i have been clipping horses body face and legs for a while now. I don't feet Twitching is needed. It is painful for the horses and i dont recomend it. To calm your horse down, don't force him/her talk to the horse and pet him/her and tell him/her that they are alright and there is nothing to be spooked about. After talking to them for a while and patting them then talk and pet the horse wall you are clipping the face and it will keep them relaxed and calm

[JadedSketches]

I don't like twitching, but I don't believe it's inhumane to use it. Horses have very sensitive but sturdy skin and muscles, and their lip is basically just a muscle. It sends a tingle through his face when you use it, and it distracts them from what you're trying to do that might spook them. Twitches should be used as a training device only, not something you use day to day.

[Horsepassion4life]

I don't really like to twitch a horse.. I just do not like using the twit... (feel like i'm hurting him)...

[redneck9508]

Its not cruel when you horse trys to paw you every time you try to give him meds

[jayna15]

Although for clipping there are other ways to release endorphines. Exercise was mentioned. Also, If you teach your horse to lower it's head with pressure on the poll the horse is easier to control. If a horse has it's head lower than it's withers the brain releases a calming hormone. if the head is higher than withers than it has the opposite effect This is what I taught my horse. doesn't take long. when you see your horse practice with him giving to pressure on his poll works miracles

[jayna15]

I agree Twitching has it's uses. I know an equine chiropracter/massage therapist and some of the horses brought to her are in so much pain they won't allow her to touch them. She twitches properly and fixes the problem and the horse is better for it later and once the horse realizes she is helping when they can move after the treatment then she doesn't have to twitch as much

[romo476]

They are good in emergency situations AKA your horse gets cut and is bleeding to death, and won't let you clog the wound. I hate using them, but my horse was bleeding to death before my eyes. A, evil twitch is the only reason she's alive. She had ground manners but getting cut caused her to panic.

[horseysoar]

My boy would be livid if you put one of those things on him. I would never allow it, because you have to work him through it. It's like the easiest route to go. Like beating the horse into submission. I've seen it done before and it's just being lazy. You have to be patient and work with the horse for the horse to trust you and to be able to allow you to do the thing that you're doing to it. When the horse truly trusts and respects you, it's amazing what you can get out of it.

[MegF142857]

Better method is to use clicker training to teach horse to accept clipping the ears, plus get quiet small clippers for the special areas.

OR... even better is to not clip the ears because the hairs are there for a reason to keep out dirt and bugs.

It's good to know how to use a twitch, but better if you don't need to do so.

[oxjamminjennaox]

if you have any horsemanship at all, you would TRAIN your horse. a twitch is just for lazy people that have horses they dont know how to handle. yeah the horse lives, and its ok, but that horse is going to remember that horrible pain and not want to be on the crossties again. patience. train your horse!! a twitch is NOT humane. end of story.

[caohorse]

0:00

[Hen9207]

haaaaaah major fail! First of all that twitch is not modern and humane... and then you didnt even use it properly and it fell off. Poor horse

[Lonaart]

personally, i wouldn't allow my horse to be twitched I think you need patience, and that every experience they go through needs to be an adventure. Twitching seems to take the fun out of any horse learning to get used to activity. but there are a few exceptions, of coarse you can't tell someone to put their life on the line just so you can be nice to a horse who probably wouldn't think twice about running you over if he had the mind to.

[Pro3110]

I thank God for twitches every time my husband gets called out to shoe a half-broken pain in the butt horse! If the freaking owners would pay more attention to TRAINING their little precious beasts, then twitching wouldn't be necessary for the safety of the handlers.

Twitches can be used cruelly, but so can any number of items, yet when used correctly, they prevent injury to both horse and handler.

[rebliz22]

@Pro3110 I agree With YOU!!!! My horse would kill us without one :)

[TheJadeReptile]

@Pro3110 Little Precious Beasts? Now that is uncalled for! Humans are more beast than any other animal. It is not always an untrained horse that isn't very good at shoeing. I had a horse I was told was beat with a 2 by 4 every time his former owner tried to shoe him. Obviously he was terrified! Don't blame the horse, blame the owner.

[Pro3110]

@TheJadeReptile

You are speaking about a particular horse. Just this past weekend, I advised against the twitching of a mare who's stable manager wanted twitched in order to bridle her. She clearly is in need of having her teeth floated, and twitching and bridling would have been quite cruel to her.

There's nothing uncalled about referring to them as little precious beasts, as many of them are just that. I, also, clearly blamed the owner(s) in my previous statement.

[CaraJewel]

No twitch will EVER come within 10 feet of my horse! I HATE them, they are quick fixes and do not solve the problem. Your horse does not trust you if you have to twitch him for everyday things. That metal twitch looks like torture, and don't even get me started on ear twitching!

[cavalierroyale]

sorry now but she should not have said @(0.10) 'when clipping' instead of 'when twitching' to use a twitch???maybe I am wrong!

[moridusu]

I agree that twitching is cruel but sometimes you need to do it not just with clipping but with heaps off other things that some horses don't like. for the farrier, if your horse is dangerous while they are being shod then clipping or sadation will make the process a lot safer for the handlers as well as the horse.

[LadyKaliska]

Twitching is incredibly cruel in the wrong hands. It's not very nice in good hands either. First of all, that thing looks like a torture device to start. Real horseman don't twitch their horses. I watched Kitty Lauman take a wild mustang in a 100 day makeover, and had him saddled and trained to shoot off horseback w/o that kind of shit. So you know what, if someone can take a purely wild mustang and teach them how to trust and accept these things w/o doing that... then what does that say about

[LadyKaliska]

you as a real equistrian. I'll damn say it isn't good. That's not a real partnership if you have to cause pain to get what you want. No one's perfect. But If a horse trusts you as the leader, a body clip is really nothing. I know people have different opinions on this, but when I see that crap, it really doesn't say much about a person as a true equestrian who tries to understand the animal on his/her level. I'm sorry but you are not a real horsewoman. End of story. Take the expert tag off.

[melissazc]

That chain twitch must hurt like hell!!! Especially when it is literally pintching the horses muzzle because she hasn't applied it correctly...hence why it fell off!

[horseluv4life]

Wow that is stupid!!

[eravulgaris9449]

I know that twitching is a common practice, but I do not agree with it in one bit. First off, pain does release endorphins, but it takes a while. Also, there are better ways to release endorphins (i.e. exercise). Second off, pain is not going to make a horse act better. Maybe short term out of fear, but in the long run, it only does harm. And lastly, if you are a good horse person, you should be able to make your horse stand quietly without using pain.

[crazyponies1294]

I think she should have worked the horse first. He would have been somewhat calmer and would have stood better to be clipped along with producing endorphins

[sasassases]

twitching is soo cruell :( it hurts them and makes there lips go blue:(

i hate it!!

[meehorse]

I hate these so-called "expert" methods. Not ideal for any horse owner, especially beginners! A twitch is only making the horse submissive without gaining trust. Train your horse to stand for clipping, and there is no need. These people should be banned from posting vids.

[sammac451]

The reason that twitching releases endorphins is a response to PAIN. If it didn't hurt no release of endorphins.

You need to train your horse to stand quietly. So it takes a little longer. Work on it

[LiveToRidex12]

@sammac451 um... no. the word 'humane' means it doesnt affect them. yes, it does cause pain but its not abuse.

[nuttyally]

this is bloody mean! my horse had his ears twitched my his old owner! and can now not stand having his ears tocuhed! his even broke sum 1s nose tryin! just bloody leave them with fur if there gonna b too much hassle! or sedated them! or even blind fold them theres loads of options that are much kinder!

[crazyponies1294]

Its not mean. Some horses dont mind it and they get used to it. There not always chain either, we use a rope twitch. U have to use a twitch on my horses or theres no way u could pull his mane. We have to use a twitch and three CC's of ace. They twitch ears at the track, my horse had his ears twitched and ive been working with him and he will let you get near them...

[hinata56934343]

this is very cruel... i dont think that people would like this done to them... u dont have to hurt a horse to make it do something...

[barebackrider1234]

ive never used a twitch and i hope i never will because it looks very cruel i mean how would u like it if someone did that to you

[Arrouiz]

That's twitching an easy horse, it's rare to get that lucky. Most horses will flair their heads, spin in circles, etc. That stick turns into a club on the end of a horse's powerful neck if you lose your grip on it (learned fron experience) so watch out! Also, you want to try to get it good and solid the first time because after you lose it once alot of time you don't get a second chance.

[khopkins07]

Here are some twitch tips to keep you and your horse safe:

-The National Ag Safety Database recommends never using a nose twitch for more than 15 mins because extended use of the device can cause nerve damage in the lip.

-Never use a twitch as a form of punishment against the horse or in association with rough handling or shouting.

-Remember that the horse's lips are one of the most sensitive areas of his body.

[khopkins07]

-Don't use a twitch to replace solid training and good horsemanship. The twitch is your last resort and a tool to keep you and your horse safe.

-Never move a horse using a nose twitch.

-Don't twitch a tied or cross-tied horse.

You also forgot to mention that it takes 3 to five minutes for the endorphins to be released and that once the horses head drops the twitch should be removed.

You need to be informing people about all the dangers and proper techniques.