do you think twitching horses is cruel?

Yes, I have nose twitched in the past, only for emergencies though. My mum's old horse seemed to spend as much time as possible injuring herself and then was a nightmare to let you get anywhere near said injury. We'd twitch to be able to check/ treat the injury or to let the vet sedate her if ever we had to get them out.

I'd never ear twitch though, and wouldn't twitch for clipping/ farrier unless absolutely necessary (ie horse has bruised sole and farrier needs to get better look).

Like everything, it should only be used when really necessary and by someone who knows how to use it.
 
I had a mare that was ticklish between her front legs and would squirm about when clipped there, often flinching into the blades. So instead she was twitched for 2 minutes whilst it was done, then stood stock still for the rest of it. Better that than having to have a easily prevented wound in a ticklish spot!
 
Sometimes you have to do things to them that you can't train for. My mare recently choked badly and the vet was reluctant to sedate as she already had a lot salavia in her lungs and sedating her would increase the risk of further aspiration. She needed tubed so we tried twitching her to start with. It worked for a while and then she got to a point where she couldn't cope and fought us. She did end up needing sedated but she can be difficult that way sometimes.
You can't train a horse to accept being tubed or any of the many other things that may need done due to an emergency situation and there are times when sedation is too risky. In the normal course of things I wouldn't twitch and I don't like it but it is a necessary tool in controlling a big and dangerous animal when necessary for certain situations. I have to say I'd never, ever ear twitch a horse, I've had a severely head shy horse who became that way due to ear twitching
 
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i have nose and neck twitched...never seen a problem in it...but only in emergences when everything hasnt worked and the horse is in danger of hurting us or its self.....would NEVER do it for clipping. i have found a neck twitch on a foal is very very effective and would most definatly use this in the future if an emergency occured

but i have a horse that was ear twiched....and will no longer have his ears touched willingly...so will never ear twitch...!
 
In addition to the possibility of making a horse headshy, ear twitching risks long-term physical damage e.g. tearing muscles (of which there are 10 or so involved in moving the ear).
 
I have no problem twitching a horse. I have twitched many in my last job and twitch my own frequently to pull his mane. It has no adverse effects and it means I don't get decked and my horse doesn't kick off. Win win.
 
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