worming

Been lurking here for several months, great site. I am not new to horses but new to horse ownership. We have purchased a 2 year old gelding that is some kind of guy. He had resonable care but not complete. All the vacines are now current and starting a worming program. I have a fair grasp on all the needs but having a little trouble with the mechanics. I have wormed twice now but this guy is some kind of talented with his mouth. He will let me hold his jaw, thumb across the bar pretty much as long as I want to. He doesn't have a problem with the applicator in his mouth. So I give him the dose, hold his jaw for a few more seconds and let go..........then he gives the wormer back. This second time I was expecting this and caught it.

Heres my question, the wormer says mouth clear of feed but can I put the dose on a small part of his feed. I had to do it with this dose as it was not going to get in there any other way. I have seen the wormer "applicators". I also am aware of the "feed through" types but there is a cost and I am not seeing a multitude of active ingredients to keep a rotation up. Thanks for the insights. Jim.

Spitting back part of the wormer is normal and not a worry. You can also give him a "treat" afterwards like an alfalfa cube (that's what I use) if you kinda give it/shove it in quickly they will not spit as much out. I have also just squirted the wormer on the grain for those hard to worm ones and they do fine. (Mostly if they are new to me and haven't been worked with much until I got them.)

I'm not going to take credit 4 this one but someone (on another post) suggested getting an empty syring and fill with apple sauce & practice with your horse couple times a week with the apple sauce in the syring. It teaches the horse to "learn" to take the womer with out "fearing" it. My horse doesn't like taking wormer too, we eventually get there but it takes long! I have plans to try this method for her. Best of luck!

After I put the dose of the wormer in their mouth, I always put my hand on his chin and lift up slightly...makes it really really hard for them to spit out (then follow with a cookie, of course :) )

Yeah I do that as well. Worked well with my Arab. My TB not so much! LOL.

Thanks for the help. Jim.

I always put the tip of the syringe as far into their mouth as I can, and deposit the nasty on the back of their tongues, so they can't spit it out lol. Most of mine are pretty ok with it, if im doing it, but others they like to be trouble makers, lol.

You can also put the wormer on a piece of bread and feed the bread to said horse... if its the taste is doesnt like then after you have given the wormer then left the horses head up Works a treat