What in the world? (Name that mystery object)

The middle one next to the egg looks like a knife sharpener to me.

quote:

---

It's called a 'praam' in Dutch, I don't know the English word for it. It's for doing something nasty to a horse.

---

Yes, but What nasty thing does it do, and why would you do it?

quote:

---

Being a horse person myself, I know what it's used for. But won't I be spoiling the fun for non-horse people if I tell it?

---

Ah, OK, I see.

quote:

---

To make geldings?

---

Er, no.That is done with a scalpel.

No, not for delivery. If you need to pull on a foal during delivery you use ropes or chains around the pasterns (ankles) on the legs.Although it is used to grab and hold something.

It is for the upper lip, but not for leading around.It is called a "twitch" in the US and UK, and it is used as a method of restraint for a very long time.You clamp it down over the horse's upper muzzle (not too tight). It used to be thought that it was just a distraction but later research indicated that there is an interesting calming response that is induced from the stimulation of the nerves in this area.Twitches used to be simply a short loop of rope or chain attached to the end of a short pole, but those were mostly replaced by the clamp-type.