Nose twitch
identifier
ID 865
morphology
morphology
craft
craft
craft
holotype
MOT V 83.0483 L=34cm WD=4,2cm WT=210gr
alias
twitch (syn.) (SELLENS: 502)
alias
barnacle(s) (syn.)
alias
cavesson (syn.)
description
The nose twitch consists of a wooden stick - sometimes made of plastic - of about 50 cm with a hole at one end through which a loop of rope (exceptionally a chain) protrudes. The tool is used as a means of coercion to divert the attention of a horse during disturbing (eg eye care) or painful procedures and to induce a calming and sedative effect (cf. humane twitch). With the left hand, the loop is brought over the upper lip of the animal, with the right, the loop is tightened.
The same implement is used on cattle, but on an ear (1). [MOT]
(1) BERTHELON: 13.
