BLINDS AND TWITCHES. 



applied to the upper or lower lip, or to the ear. They produce most 

 effect on well-bred horses. The simplest and most frequently used twitch 

 is formed of a strong cord, threaded through the upper end of a stout rod. 



Fig. 2. — Operating cap or hood. Fig. 3. — The twitch. Fig. 4. — " The bulldogs." 



The end of the rod furthest from the loop is provided with a cord, by 

 which the twitch, when applied, may be attached to the cheek-strap of 

 the bridle. This obviates the necessity for a man holding it. The rod 

 must never be fixed on that side of the face on which the animal will 

 fall when cast, and on which it may then continue 

 to lie for some time. When dealing with very 

 troublesome horses, the twitch stick may pre- 

 ferably be much longer, say six feet, and of pro- 

 portionate thickness. It is then held by a man, 

 who thus gains a considerable le\'erage over the 

 horse, and is better able to control it. Neither 

 iron "bulldogs" (Fig. 4) nor the loop twitch 

 (Fig. 5) are to be recommended. The loop twitch 

 not infrequently causes tearing of the angles of the 

 mouth, and may so bruise the sides of the cheek 

 that pieces slough away. A ver}^ much better 

 twitch is formed by passing the loop under the "--»— -^ 



1 , 1- ' .r . -. 1- i_ it. Fig. S- — The leg-twitch. 



horse s upper lip, so that it lies above the upper -^ '' 



incisors. This controls the animal almost as effectually, and is not 

 likely to produce a blemish. 



The leg twitch is shown in Fig. 5. A stout piece of rope, about 

 twenty inches long, is formed into a loop, through the open ends of 



