Advice needed...Getting syringe into horses' mouth

You can sort this in 5 minutes flat using advance and retreat -
Figure out where you can touch the horse with the syringe without him having a major reaction (may be as far back as his shoulder)
Rub him with the syringe for a couple of seconds and take it away.
Repeat, gradually getting closer to the mouth, if you get a big reaction you've gone too far too fast for him.
When you've got to the mouth (without reaction), just touch the syringe to the mouth a few times & take it away each time as a reward. Then poke the nozzle through the lips and take away a few times. Then it is a cinch to squirt and hold chin up without any hassle.

The next time you might have to start from a similar place but the horse will accept it much quicker.

Works great on big throw-you-around-the-box horses because you're not trying to physically restrain them, literally in under 5 mins.

This is why I end up worming everyone's difficult horses . . . nice to see them accept it though.
 
The other day I had a battle with horsey failing to worm him so this is realy useful. I couldnt even get the wormer near his face.
Eamoremincepies - I dont suppose you could come around and worm him could you ??!

Have wondered about the towel over eyes idea but too scared! Will put it in his feed for now but will also try the "worming" with mint cordial idea, that is ace!
 
just want to say, that grabbing the horse's tongue is a really bad idea, you can damage the hyoid bone/apparatus (i'm not sure of the correct term, sorry).
there's no need either... if you just empty the syringe onto the back of the horse's tongue and then push his chin up for about 5-10 secs until he swallows, he won't spit the wormer out. works for mine. nobody here to video how I do it unforch, but there's a knack that's pretty easy really...

good info on how the hyoid works

http://esiforum.mywowbb.com/forum1/670.html
 
Top