[specialdelivery]

So I have had my horse for 2 months now and today was deworming day. I have never done this before and thought, just stick it in his mouth and squirt, right. Well it took me over an hour to get it done. First I tried tying him to a post but he got so worked up and nearly broke his halter again. Then i just tried holding onto his halter. I got it done this way, but in the process he rammed my head in between the fence and himself, nearly breaking my hand and riping my arm out of the socket. I have never had a headache this bad. Are lots of horses hard to deworm??? Is there an easier way???? or do I just need a helper. Normally he is very respectful of my space, but he was all over me and pushing me into the fence. I did feel bad for him because after it was all done he put his head on the ground with his butt in the air pushing his head along the snow, like some dogs do after a bath. Any tips on making this any easier would be great.

 

[jiblethead]

Exactly how Havana acts. There is a deworming halter that ypu can buy that has a bit that the wormer goes through. I bought it and, Havana not being trained right, it was just more of a hassle. But if your horse will take a bit I would suggest buying it. Or maybe using a pelleted dewormer.

 

[SmoothTrails]

I would say it sounds like she needs some practice. You can use a syringe and some applesauce to get her used to it. Then, you are giving her a treat and getting her used to it. I would also suggest a helper.

 

[specialdelivery]

He wouldnt take any treats, carrots, alpha chunks, his really tasty hay he loves, apples, nothing. He just fights and rubs his mouth on everything. And he is 6, and wormed every 3 months so he should be used to it, right.

 

[jiblethead]

Havana is progresivily getting better. Now she will accept it with just a halter, and no fighting. I'm guessing maybe the old owner either didn't worm him or did it differently. Or maybe your horse is still ajusting. Try the applesause thing it helped me (forfot to add it last time) just do it like once a day or week. It should help a lot.

 

[justsambam08]

I have to say, I've never had that problem before with Ice. I thought I would, because he hates his muzzle being messed with sometimes, but I can hold his halter with one hand, and he actually opens his mouth, in the syringe goes, and we're done.

Of course, he's also an OTTB, he was on the track for eight years before he came to me....he's pretty much a pro at most things.

 

[SmoothTrails]

In that case I would say just keep working on playing with his mouth. Some horses just don't like it one bit and never will. You may just have to convince him that it will just be easier to let you do it without a fight.

 

[FGRanch]

He just needs training, probably someone was rough with him and now he doesn't like it done.

Use a syringe full of Apple sauce.

 

[charlicata]

I had that problem with the saddlebred I used to own. He would eat around it if mixed in his feed, spit out if I could actually get the syringe in his mouth, and if you weren't careful...and were holding his lead, he would jerk you off the ground like a ragdoll. I finally went to the grocery store and bought a small jar of plain applesauce. It actually took mixing it with the whole jar before he would eat it. But, I no longer had to worry about the fight; or him spitting it out.

I'm so glad my Rosie will just stand and take it. I keep the applesauce there, but she gets a couple of tablespoons for a treat after she gets the wormer down.

 

[Kayty]

Certainly wouldn't be typing a horse or holding directly onto their halter when you're worming them unless you know the horse extremely well and that they are good to worm. You can wind up with a horse with a brokwn neck, you with a broken hand/dislocated should etc.

As others have said, make worming a pleasurable experience for him. I definately don't think it is valid to jump to the conclusion that he wasn't handled right previously, thats crazy, so many horses play up with worming... come on, as kids, who willingly took their medicine when it tasted terrible??? Of course the horse is going to put up a fight, some horses dont mind it so much, others can't stand it.

I use either applesauce, or watered down custard powder. Something sweet will do the job!! Fill and old worming syringe with whatever you chose to use, and 'worm' your horse daily with it. They'll figure out that it actually tastes pretty good and will end up wanting more. Of course when you worm them properly again they're going to be disgusted, but just keep on with the yummy stuff every few days and they'll learn to live with it.

ALWAYS hold onto a lead rope though when you worm!!!!!! Very important! Also, don't swing off his head, as tempting as it is when they throw they're head up and run backwards, don't pull down on the halter, they want to run backwards, so you run at him and force him backwards until he doesn't want to go back anymore, then back him some more. THEN try the wormer again. He goes backwards, same drill.
It's the same as all training, if they react in a negative manner, make it uncomfortable, if they react in a positive manner, make it comfortable. No dramas

 

[gypsygirl]

what i do that works really well [my horses can both be given dewormer with no halter or anything on] is hold their lead rope in one hand but pretty short & the tube in the other. hold the tube up against the side of their mouth & keep it there until they hold still/calm down. once they are holding still you will be able to put it in their mouth. if might take a few tries & lots of patients, but it does work. i would also do a tube of applesauce frequently for awhile so he learns that it doesnt always taste nasty

 

[specialdelivery]

Thanks, I'll definatley try the suringe with yummy stuff so he gets used to it, and learnes to love it. I definately dont think he was mistreated while being wormed in the past. This was the first time i handled his mouth, so I'll have to practise with that. He hasnt had a bit in for nearly a year so it has gone unhandled for a while. I guess this will all take time.

 

[CecilliaB]

They also have apple flavored paste. I got some of that for my filly and she was an angel to worm.

 

[Alwaysbehind]

I say why fight with them?

I put the dewormer into some soaked beet pulp with some molasses added.

Feed it with their meal. It is gobbled up.

 

[SmoothTrails]

They also have apple flavored paste. I got some of that for my filly and she was an angel to worm.

I had a pony that only got a half a syringe full...we set it down on a table near the fence and let him loose...next thing we know he's running around the pasture tearing it to shreds to get at the apple flavor...lol

 

[Cowgirl140ty]

what i do that works really well [my horses can both be given dewormer with no halter or anything on] is hold their lead rope in one hand but pretty short & the tube in the other. hold the tube up against the side of their mouth & keep it there until they hold still/calm down. once they are holding still you will be able to put it in their mouth. if might take a few tries & lots of patients, but it does work. i would also do a tube of applesauce frequently for awhile so he learns that it doesnt always taste nasty

This is how I have taught everyone of mine to worm. And I to.. can worm without halter or leadrope. I walk right up.. put it in the mouth squirt and we are done. Then I love and pet on them. And even my 2 horses that are under 2 yrs old have no problems.

But the applesause in a syringe sounds like a really good idea. So he doesnt always associate a syringe full of nast stuff. Ha... I have got some in my mouth while worming a friends horse... and let me tell you... it is nasty.
I would however stear you away from the bit wormer... as one of my friends tried this with a horse who always took the bit. And it did make worming a breeze for her... until the horse started associating every bit with wormer.

 

[gypsygirl]

I say why fight with them?

I put the dewormer into some soaked beet pulp with some molasses added.

Feed it with their meal. It is gobbled up.

that seems like an okay option, but what if you need to bute them ? or what if they start acting up just to touch their mouth, what are you going to do then, just not fight them ? getting their mouth touched & having something put in their mouth is just a skill that all horses have to learn, so why make an exception with dewormer.

 

[Alwaysbehind]

that seems like an okay option, but what if you need to bute them ? or what if they start acting up just to touch their mouth, what are you going to do then, just not fight them ? getting their mouth touched & having something put in their mouth is just a skill that all horses have to learn, so why make an exception with dewormer.

Well one of my horses will eat bute pills out of my hand. The other will eat bute pills (or any other meds that she has required so far) crushed and given the way I give dewormer. So buting is not really an issue.

I honestly have no issues touching or dealing with either of their mouths. I can reach in and grab a tongue and stick my arm in if I need to, etc.

I just hate the hassle of the paste and it gets places, makes a mess and it is just a pain. So I do not do it that way.

I do understand your point and it is a valid one.

 

[Jessabel]

I used to put a stud chain on my big guy every time. He was horrible. Now I just sneak up on him and do it really fast. You have to be assertive.

 

[thunderhooves]

apple flavered wormer?