Re: [RC] Aversion to syringes, worming, and I'm sure electrolytes - Susan BothernI can sure sympathize with you and your horse. Been there and done that. Here's the method I use and have had wonderful results. Worming Technique & Training Take a clean, empty worming syringe (make sure it's 100% clean, take the little plastic cap off plunger and clean it), get all paper off the tube. Place in feed bucket at mealtime. Your horse will learn to eat around it or take it gingerly out of bucket and bury in shavings. You want your horse to get so familiar at the sight that it becomes old hat. Do this for one week. While doing this, every day you must handle your horses face. First touch, then hold, slowly work your way to playing with their lips and gently touching their tongue. Slip your fingers in and rub around gums. Insert into bars of mouth and touch tongue. After a few days when you are comfy with this and your horse is ho-hum, fill a wormer with applesauce, corn syrup, molasses (watch out my mare tried to eat the syringe). Gently rub muzzle and lips with syringe, let a little good stuff ooze out, let horse sniff and taste. Do not insert in mouth. Do a few times that day or for next couple of days. Finally work up to inserting in mouth (I prefer to face forward like I do when I bridle horse with hand gently over noseband of halter) and squeeze a little bit out. My mare does not like applesauce. Work up to being able to approach with worming syringe and "worm" with good stuff. Then when the day arrives, worm the horse and afterwards "worm" with treat. My mares are happiest if I offer then a bite of apple first. Give them time to thoroughly chew and swallow. Most folks like to hold their horse's head up after worming for a few seconds so no devious horse can splat you with wormer. Good idea. :-) I have the ultimate cow when it comes to worming. The first time she literally picked me up off the ground and . . . This method works. A little time consuming but I've found it's worth it. Best wishes, Susan --- [This E-mail scanned for viruses by Cape Lookout Mail Server] =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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