In equine handling class we learned the various restraint methods that can be used. There is physical, chemical and a combination of the two. We got through the different types of physical restraint: lifting the limbs, shoulder twitch and lip twitch.
Dr. Kerns made the remark "if you have an athletic horse and pick up 3 of the 4 legs they will still manage to kick you with the fourth." The remark came along with the explanation on how to work on limbs and holding which leg to keep the injured leg still. If you are working on the front leg then you lift the opposite forelimb. However, when you are working on the hind limb pick up the front leg on the same side.
Then we talked about endorphins when using a twitch. Endorphins are what are released and can cause a "runners high." Runners high is when after running for so long you then feel as if you could run forever. Dr. Kerns said that his cousin is a marathon runner and always says that after running for 4-5 miles he feels like he could keep running all day. In response, Dr. Kerns says he doesn't have endorphins. He doesn't have endorphins because if he ran 4-5 miles then he would probably be dead. The whole class burst into laughter along with Dr. Kerns.
When we got into the various types of lip twitches Dr. Kerns said his favorite was his hand because the chain twitch could be a 1/4 mile back in his truck and his hand is right there next to the horse.
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