IN ASSOCIATION WITH BLITZING BAD BEHAVIOUR
Mel Beale discovers how to make syringing struggles a thing of the past
WORMING
WORMING IS AN essential aspect of horse care, but it isn’t necessarily an occasion to be enjoyed, as some horses find having a syringe placed in their mouth an incredibly stressful experience that prompts head tossing and even rearing. Even if an owner uses faecal egg counts, many will still worm their horse at least once a year, and while this is infrequent, it is still important that the horse will safely tolerate the practice of being syringed.
Equine behaviourist Emma Lethbridge breaks down what every horse owner needs to consider when worming their horse.
Where to begin
“If you know where a behaviour comes from, it is easier to deal with,” says Emma. She adds that there are four broad reasons why a horse might not tolerate being wormed…
“If behaviour changes in a horse it is worth getting him assessed for pain,” says Emma. “Check that there’s nothing going on with his teeth, with the mechanics of his jaw, and that he doesn’t have soreness in his mouth, or issues with his temporomandibular joint (TMJ).”
“The issue might not be specifically related to a wormer or syringe. It could be anything to do with his head or mouth,” explains Emma. “Have a think back and see if you can recall any experience that could have triggered the behaviour.”
The horse might be accustomed to a certain procedure in terms of worming, and he doesn’t like any changes. This is tricky to know if the horse in question is a new purchase, as the previous worming protocol may not have been discussed between both parties. However, it is something to consider with a horse who has been owned for a while.
“Are you trying to worm him in a different environment — perhaps the stable instead of the field? A different handler can influence behaviour, too. Some horses are handler-specific and will alter their behaviour with different people,” says Emma. “It could even come down to the brand of wormer you are using. What did you use last time? It could have been particularly bad tasting.”
This may be seen in horses who haven’t been wormed before.
“Some horses have a fear of anything new and so will take longer to accept syringes,” says Emma.
Three training techniques to try
“Any training will be mitigated by pain, so it’s important that this is ruled out before you begin addressing the behaviour,” recommends Emma. “Then, unless the horse is really terrified, it shouldn’t take more than a few weeks to get your horse to accept being wormed.”
There are three key training methods that owners can try.
