Many horse owners find them selves frustrated when it comes time to deworm their horses. A level headed, quiet horse suddenly become as obnoxious as an unhandled yearling. That is not an experience anyone would like to take part in. It is as aggravating for the horse as it is for the handler. There are several ways to deal with this without upsetting the horse, and all it takes is time and patience.

The easiest way out of this problem is to feed daily dewormer through feed or supplement, although this can get very expensive very quickly. Another way to avoid this problem is to have someone else deworm the horse. This can be the more expensive way though, if you call the vet every few months just to deworm your animals. If you have a family member who is more experience with horses, or is involved with a veterinary practice, ask if they could help, especially if you are younger or if this is your first horse.

If you have time and are willing to work with the horse a little bit each day, paste or tube deworming (or “worming” as some call it), can be a quick and easy part of their routine care. The first thing the handler should do is determine whether the horse is mouth-shy or not. Many people have heard of head-shy horses, and while not as serious being mouth-shy can be an inconvenience as well. Does the horse throw their head up, stomp, back up or act agitated if the handler touches the horse’s lips or places a finger in the side of their mouth? If the horse avoids having someone around its mouth, it will take more work to get the horse used to being dewormed.

If the handler begins with a mouth-shy horse, they should spend the first day getting the horse used to having its muzzle handled. Use a soft cloth to wipe out its nostrils and use a soft brush to dust off its face. Always return to behaviors the horse already knows. After working around its face, go back to grooming the rest of its body, or leading it around. This can give the handler more time to work on basic ground manners as well. Reinforcing ground training when introducing a new concept can help to calm the horse and the handler.

After the horse allows its face to be touched (assuming the horse is not entirely head-shy to begin with), the handler should move on to the actual mouth of the horse. This can be done two ways: by introducing the concept with treats, or without. Some handlers prefer not to use treats when training horses, and prefer verbal praise and a scratch or a pet on the neck. If you choose to use treats, you should give them to the horse after they have done the correct behavior. If you choose not to use the treats, give praise as soon as the horse has done the correct behavior.

Remember, you are looking for any sign of the correct behavior, even if it is small. Don’t hold out on praising your horse if he accepts your fingers in the side of his mouth for a moment and then backs up. Try again and praise the horse before he begins to back up.

Stand next to the horse, holding the leadrope in the hand nearest the horse. Give it some slack and don’t hold it right next to the horse’s head. You don’t want to restrain the horse, or he will assume he has to be restrained in order for this to work. This is where the patience comes in. Pet the horse’s face and work your way to its mouth. Take your index finger and push it between the lips on the side of the horse’s mouth, where the bit would normally go. Rub the gums and the tongue of the horse lets you. As soon as they back away or shake their head, pull your finger out of its mouth and praise him. Try it four or five times, praising the horse by speaking softly to it and petting it as soon as you pull your finger out of its mouth. Try to pull your finger out just before he gets agitated, so he knows you aren’t doing this to upset him.

This exercise should be done every day when you groom your horse, or even when he is being led out to the pasture, or into his stall. If you work on it two or three times every day, your horse will quickly accept the fact that you putting your fingers in the side of his mouth isn’t a bad thing.

If you want to use treats, push carrots or small apple slices in the side of his mouth where your finger (or dewormer) would go. He will associate this new behavior with praise and treats.

You can go a step further and fill a syringe (they can be bought at a local pharmacy or supermarket) with flavored yogurt, water, thinned peanut butter or syrup and use it like you would a deworming syringe, after your horse allows his mouth to be handles. If you are using syrup or peanut butter, be careful not to use too much. Don’t overload your horse on sweets and treats.

When it comes time to actually deworm your horse, go through the exercise as you normally would, once or twice, then use the dewormer just as you would a treat, and then go through the exercise with your fingers again. Don’t get excited or scared, or try to give your horse a chance to sniff the deworming tube. If the handler acts like using a dewormer is just like the regular exercises, then the whole experience will more than likely carry out like a regular exercise. Dispose of the dewormer tube in a garbage can (don’t leave it lying around the pasture or barn), and continue using the exercise a few times a week.

Once your horse accepts that you are allowed to touch its mouth, you will find that not only is deworming easier, but so will be floating, visits with the vet, and bridling if you use a bit. A horse should allow the handler to touch it wherever they need to, in order to keep the horse healthy and check on it. Handlers should be careful though not to let the horse push back. Just because you can handle its mouth and its head does not mean they should use their head to push you around, or get nippy. If your horse gets nippy after having its mouth handle, push its head away by pushing on its cheek, and use a stern command (a quick “stop” or “quit” will work). Try to separate the good behavior from the bad. Praise the horse standing still and allowing its mouth to be handled, even if it flicks its tail or stomps, but do reprimand a horse that pushes back forcefully or nips at fingers.