Wormers, and other oral “nasties”

Oh joy, you think to yourself, time to paste-worm your horse. Or is it paste-bute this time? Regardless, visions of broken cross-ties and spat-out medicine float by. Or, you brace yourself for a battle of wills with that 17H joker who’s figured out all he has to do is raise his head out of your reach.

Truly, your horse is not hell-bent to make life difficult for you. The simple fact is, you’re violating his space, as well as insulting his intelligence, by presuming to stick a foreign object with a nasty taste into his mouth. The first time you did this, he was naïve and trusting, and the everything went off without a hitch. As the same unpleasant experience is repeated every other month (as can be with rotational worming), you must credit the equine’s excellent memory for recognizing that white tube in your hand.

People don’t like surprises either; especially if it involves some invasive medical procedure. A skilled physician/nurse can elicit a patient’s cooperation by taking the time to explain the procedure and to prepare the patient mentally for what is to happen. This approach respects the patient’s feelings, intelligence and personal space.

Why, then, don’t we treat horses with the same respect? It would certainly make life easier. Can it be any easier than when the horse offers it’s full cooperation, no strings attached? Check this out ...