Chapter 3 Physical Restraint of Horses Restraint is the term used to imply control of an animal and may be necessary for medical and nonmedical procedures. The two types of animal restraint are physical restraint and chemical restraint. Sometimes both must be used to accomplish a procedure. Physical restraint refers to methods that are applied to the animal with or without use of special equipment. Chemical restraint refers to the use of pharmaceuticals to alter the animal's mental or physical abilities. Restraint is more of an art than it is science. Skilled restrainers know the behavior and nature of the species they work with. This level of savvy takes time to acquire and is often best learned by watching experienced personnel. Good restraint involves understanding the natural instincts of the horse, being able to read an individual's temperament, and recognizing the extent of handling and training that an individual has (or has not) had. Several key points must be made regarding restraint of horses. • Each animal is an individual, and each has a different background. A method of restraint that is totally effective for one horse may be completely ineffective for another. Avoid a cookie-cutter approach where all animals are treated similarly. • Be flexible. When the selected method of restraint is not working, go to “plan B.” Realize that you cannot force restraint on an animal that is intent on not accepting it, especially when the animal outweighs and outmuscles you many times over. • In the world of nature animals are either predators or prey, and much of their behavior relates to this fact. Horses are prey. Their natural instinct when placed in a fearful situation is to run away. Sometimes this instinct is so strong that they will injure themselves in their effort to flee. Very few horses become aggressive in a fearful situation, but this does occur. Precautions must be taken with these individuals. • Another strong natural instinct to remember is that horses are herd animals and often resist attempts to separate them from others in their group. Sometimes a buddy system approach—taking a second horse along—is helpful if the horse needs to be taken away from the group. • Horses are naturally suspicious and respond best to a calm, deliberate approach. Using the voice and touch in a calm manner helps to gain their trust. Good horsemen typically maintain vocal and physical contact with the animals they are handling. Approaches are usually best made from the front end of the horse rather than from behind, and initial hand contact with the neck or withers makes a good introduction before moving on to other areas of the horse's body. • Be careful when working in the horse's visual blind spots. Because of the location of their eyes, horses cannot see directly behind their hindquarters, directly in front of the tip of their nose, directly between the eyes in the forehead area, and directly above the head between the ears. If you must work in these areas, avoid unannounced or rapid movements. • Use the least amount of restraint necessary to do the job safely and do not apply it any longer than necessary. • Horses are traditionally handled primarily from their left side (also called the near side). Unless the horse has not been handled, it will most likely be accustomed to a left-sided approach. • The horse's head should always be attended. Control of the head usually enables control of the horse. For most procedures, the person “on the head” stands on the same side as the person performing the procedure and has the greatest responsibility for restraint of the animal and the safety of his or her coworker. • Never stand directly in front or directly behind a horse during a procedure, unless protected by a barrier or mechanical device. Horses may strike with the front legs or kick with the hind legs in response to pain or fear. Horses may also throw their heads violently, causing injury. Even a normally “good horse” may display these responses when in pain or fear. Assume that all horses are capable of these responses when placed in certain situations. • Take good care of your personal safety. Avoid getting into a position that you cannot leave quickly, such as stall corners or between the horse and a fence or wall. Also, do not be afraid to speak up if you are uncomfortable with a given situation or not up to the task. Your safety is of the utmost importance. • The horse should be protected from dangers like sharp objects, hooks, buckets, loose boards, and light fixtures in case it rears, kicks, or throws its head or body. There is little point in risking serious lacerations or fractures from restraint for an otherwise simple procedure. Survey the area for potential hazards before beginning a procedure. The best prevention is to take the horse to an area without potential hazards or remove the hazards where possible. • Patience is a virtue, and your virtue will be tested. Some procedures simply cannot be done safely on certain individuals in certain situations. Be sure to plan ahead for the procedure. Few things are more frustrating than struggling to get a horse properly restrained, only to realize that a piece of equipment is out of reach or not working properly. Another consideration is the possibility of professional liability lawsuits. The veterinarian is recognized legally as an expert and is responsible for anticipating the responses of his or her patients to veterinary procedures. Sometimes the veterinarian's choices of restraint may be influenced by this consideration and may even lead to refusal to perform certain procedures. The safety of the horse and the safety of the people handling the horse must be not only legal but ethical responsibilities. Finally, realize that any form of restraint can become abusive. Applying a restraint method improperly or for too long can cross the line of humane restraint. METHODS OF PHYSICAL RESTRAINT HALTER AND LEAD ROPE One of the most basic acts of horsemanship is placing a halter and lead rope (also called a lead shank) on a horse. It is also the first step in gaining control of a horse's head, which is the key to controlling the horse. The horse should be approached from its left side; avoid standing directly in front of the horse. Usually, the halter is placed first, and then the lead rope is attached to the halter. Some horses need to have the lead rope placed around the neck first for initial control while the halter is being placed (Fig. 3-1, A). The halter has a small loop, which is placed around the nose, and a larger loop, which is placed over and behind the ears. Buckles or snaps are used to open and close the loops. As a courtesy to the horse, try not to drag the halter over the eyes and ears. Rather, spread the halter apart to avoid the eyes and lift or unbuckle the halter to avoid the ears. Once the halter is positioned and the buckles/snaps secured, the lead rope is attached (Fig. 3-1, B and C). Once placed, the halter and lead rope may be used to lead the horse. The horse should not be led by grasping the halter; if the horse moves its head up or away, the operator may lose his or her grip, and if the horse bolts or runs, there is a risk of being dragged and seriously hurt (Fig. 3-2, A). Use the lead rope to lead the horse (Fig. 3-2, B). Hold the lead away from any buckles or chains, and never coil the lead around the fingers, hand, or arm (Fig. 3-2, C and D). If the horse bolts or runs, coiled rope may tighten around body parts; serious injury and death have resulted from this practice. Another practice to avoid is letting the lead rope drag on the ground; the horse may step on the rope, or the handler may become tangled in the rope, also resulting in injury. To lead the horse, walk purposefully in the intended direction and do not look back at the horse. Some horses resent being held tightly by the lead rope, and giving it some slack may encourage it to follow the handler. Most horses respond best when the handler walks to the side of the head or neck. Fig. 3-1 Placing a halter and lead rope. A, Lead rope placed around the neck to get initial control of the horse. B, Attachment of the lead rope to the halter. C, Alternate attachment of lead rope to halter. Fig. 3-2 Leading the horse using the halter and lead rope. A, Fingers should not be placed through the buckles or snaps of the halter. B, Proper hold of the lead rope. C, Improper coiling of lead rope around the arm. D, Improper coiling of lead rope around the hand. Avoid walking far in front of the horse, where control of the horse is minimal. When controlling the head for a procedure, the person on the head should realize that his or her first responsibility is his/her coworker's safety. If the horse becomes fractious, it is usually best to move the horse's hindquarters away from the clinician. This is done not by moving the hind end of the horse directly but by moving the head; the hindquarters usually move opposite to head movement. In other words, turning the head to the left usually results in the hindquarters moving to the right, and vice versa.