Basic Horse Handling for the Veterinary Technician

Summary

In this video, Kendra the Vet Tech provides a comprehensive guide on equine basics, focusing on haltering, leading, and safety during physical exams. She explains different types of halters, including rope and buckle halters, demonstrating how to safely catch, halter, and lead a horse. Emphasis is placed on lead rope safety and the correct way to approach a horse to avoid blind spots. Kendra also covers important safety tips for restraining a horse during an exam, ensuring proper positioning for both the handler and examiner. The video concludes with a preview of upcoming content on physical exams for horses.

Takeaways

• 😀 Always approach a horse from the shoulder, not directly from the front or back, to avoid their blind spots and minimize risk.
• 😀 When approaching a horse, make sure they know you're coming by calling their name or using soft sounds, like a cluck or a kiss.
• 😀 Never encourage a horse to run away from you. If they do, stop your feet and avoid reinforcing this behavior.
• 😀 Always tie a rope halter correctly by running the tail through the back side to ensure safety in case of a pull, avoiding eye injuries and knot tightness.
• 😀 When leading a horse, avoid looping the lead rope around your hands or body. Instead, layer it safely in your hand to prevent injury.
• 😀 Horses should always be led from the left side, as they are trained to work from that side for safety and control.
• 😀 With a buckle halter, ensure it fits snugly and securely on the horse's face, and always use proper lead rope safety by avoiding draping it over your body.
• 😀 Do not place fingers through any metal rings on a halter, as this can cause severe injury if the horse reacts suddenly.
• 😀 When restraining a horse for a physical exam, always stand on the same side as the examiner to ensure you can control and safely move the horse if necessary.
• 😀 During a physical exam, keep a close grip on the lead rope to control the horse's head and maintain visibility of the horse's body language for safety.

Q & A

What are the two blind spots of a horse that should be avoided when approaching them?

A horse has two blind spots: directly in front of their face and directly behind them. It is important to avoid approaching a horse from either of these spots without them knowing you are coming.

Why is it important to approach a horse from their shoulder rather than their hip or rear?

Approaching a horse from the shoulder is safest because the hip and rear are considered kicking zones. Approaching from the shoulder ensures the horse is more aware of your presence and reduces the risk of being kicked.

How do you properly tie a rope halter on a horse?

When tying a rope halter, you should run the string behind and then up, ensuring that the loop is outside of the knot. This allows you to loosen it if the horse pulls and prevents the tail from running into the horse's eye.

What should you avoid when leading a horse with a lead rope?

You should never loop the lead rope around your hand, body, or any other body part. Instead, you should layer the rope in your hand to ensure it can safely pull away if the horse decides to pull.

What is the correct way to use a lead rope when leading a horse?

The correct way to use a lead rope is to layer it in your hand, ensuring that if the horse pulls, the rope will safely pull out of your hand without causing harm.

Why is it important to adjust the buckle halter to fit the horse properly?

It is important to adjust the buckle halter to ensure it fits snugly on the horse's face. A loose halter can compromise your control over the horse, while a properly fitted halter ensures better control and safety.

What should you avoid when using a buckle halter, especially concerning the metal rings?

You should never put your fingers through the metal rings on a buckle halter, as doing so can cause serious injury if the horse pulls away. Instead, control the horse's head by using the chin strap while keeping fingers clear of the rings.

What is a key safety consideration when restraining a horse for a physical exam?

When restraining a horse for a physical exam, it is important to stand on the same side as the examiner. This allows you to pull the horse away from the examiner if needed and maintain better control over the situation.

Why is it important to stay on the same side as the examiner during a physical exam of a horse?

Staying on the same side as the examiner ensures that if the horse starts to fidget or kick, you can pull the horse away from the examiner, keeping both the examiner and yourself safe.

What should you do if a horse is fidgety during a physical exam?

If a horse is fidgety during a physical exam, you can place your hands in the chin strap of the halter for better control, but always avoid getting your fingers caught in the rings of the halter.