Happy Worming! Easy Steps for a Stress-Free Experience

In This video I show you how to make worming a much less stressful experience with a “cunning plan” to get Blondie used to the worming syringe. You’ll see how I initially let her sniff it and even seemingly lick it a bit. It’s all about letting her investigate and get familiar with it.

We also have a bit of a chat about using food as a reward in training. I’d heard of people using applesauce to make the syringe more appealing, but as you’ll see, Blondie didn’t seem too keen! But in the end, I manage to worm Blondie successfully, and then I give her a nice apple afterwards to finish on a positive note.

Key Takeaways:

• Taking a gradual approach and letting your horse get used to the worming syringe can really help them accept the whole process more easily. It’s all about desensitising them to something that can be a bit scary.
• Horses can be quite fussy about what they like! What works for one might not work for another. Even things we think they’ll love, like applesauce, might not go down well.
• Finishing any kind of interaction or procedure with a positive experience, like a yummy treat, can really help your horse have a better association with it next time. Positive reinforcement is key!