Behavior and Restraint Flashcards
Behavior
Spooky
Part of Flight Instinct
* shy away from strange objects or noises
Approaching a Horse
- Approach at shoulder on left side
- Speak calmly
- Pet at shoulder/neck area
- Pay attention to body language
Approaching a Horse in Pasture
- Walk slowly
- Carry halter on shoulder
- Face horse head-on with eye contact
Leading a Horse
- Always lead on horse’s left side
- Hold rope close to halter
- Never wrap rope around hand
- Coil excess rope; grasp with other hand
Ear Position
Alert and Interested
* ear openings pointed forward
Ear Position
Angry and Aggressive
* ears pinned flat against neck
Ear Position
Relaxed, Bored, Unwell
* ears flopped out laterally
* openings facing down
Ear Position
Sleepy, Submissive, Unwell
* ears angled backwards
* openings directed caudally
Capturing a Foal
- Naturally follow mom - lead mom and you’ll lead the foal
- Once in desired area, approach slowly from side
- Touch on neck / withers
- May not like touch - contact and restraint should be quick
Restraining a Foal
Standing
- One arm around foal’s shoulders or base of neck
- Other arm around hindquarters or holding base of tail with hand
- Avoid oversupporting foal’s weight - may tend to sag towards ground
Restraining a Foal
Lateral
- Sedate first, unless unable to
- Once on ground, use of multiple people to restrain
- Pressure on neck to prevent getting up
- Hold both front legs individually above carpus
- Hold both back legs individually above tarsus
- To get to stand, run fingers briskly up spine, from tail to head
Twitches
- Restraint techniques to help “distract” while performing certain procedures
- Natural vs Mechanical
- Never to be used on foals
Types of Twitches
- Manual / Hand
- Humane
- Rope / Chain
Shoulder Twitch
- Natural twitch
- Applied to skin over lateral aspect of neck
- Loose skin able to be grasped or pinched
- Mild effect; easily loses effectiveness
- Long holds may result in swelling / welts
Ear Twitch
- Natural twitch
- Do not directly grab ear
- Place hand on neck and slide up to base of ear
- Squeeze and rotate ear
- Very effective for some; others may resist
- Loses effectiveness after short period
- Can result in broken cartilage; release if needed
Lip Twitch
- Upper lip used for restraint
- Can be done with hand, rope/chain, or humane
Lip Twitch
Rope / Chain
- Place hand into loop
- Grasp lip, slid loop over hand and onto lip
- Rotate handle to twist loop; roll up towards ears, not downward
- Avoid occluding nostrils - horse will panic
Lip Twitch
Humane Twitch
- Two handles like a scissor-like clamp
- Can be self-restraining and not need to be held (clip to halter)
- Short handles limit usefulness
- Can loosen when self-restrained
- Not as effective and can be dangerous / harmful
Chemical Restraint
Acepromazine
- Will not work if already excited
- Avoid in stallions - penile paralysis
- Cheap and long lasting
- Causes hypotension and lowers seizure threshold
- Give IM, IV, PO
Chemical Restraint
Butorphanol
- Pain control
- Combine with others
- Extends length of sedation
- Give IM or IV
Chemical Restraint
Xylazine
- Most common
- Combine with Torb
- Causes ataxia; panting if feverish
- Short acting and less money
- Can be used as premeds with KetVal
- Give IM or IV
Chemical Restraint
Detomidine
- Expensive
- Long lasting
- Can be combined with Torb
- Causes ataxia, aggression, sweating, decreased HR / RR, colic
- Give IM, IV, PO
Chemical Restraint
Romifidine (Sedivet)
- Used to immobilize for procedures (rads, eye exam, ultrasound)
- Causes less ataxia
- Does not cause head to lower
- Give IV
Chemical Restraint
Banamine
- Only give IV
- If given IM, may cause Gangrenous Myositis
