What is a common method for restraining a horse's head and preventing it from biting?

A horse lip twitch is a common method used for restraining a horse's head and preventing it from biting. This technique involves applying pressure to the upper lip, which can calm the horse and make it less likely to react aggressively. By using the twitch, the handler can gain better control over the horse during procedures such as veterinary examinations, grooming, or other activities that may cause anxiety or stress.

The effectiveness of the lip twitch comes from its ability to distract the horse and create a calming effect due to the release of endorphins from the pressure applied. It is crucial for handlers to use this technique appropriately and ethically, ensuring that it is not used excessively or inappropriately, as this can cause distress to the animal.

Other methods listed, such as a horse cradle and a horse blindfold, may serve different purposes — the cradle is typically used to limit movement of the head rather than directly preventing biting, while blindfolds can minimize visual stimuli but do not provide physical control. Hobbles are used to restrict leg movement and are not directly applicable to controlling a horse's head or preventing biting.