THE WORMING DILEMMA

Lisa Trowse said WORMING DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A HISTORY Jack had mouth issues. Severe pain and had to have lots of dentistry when I got him. Result is that You don’t get near his mouth easily. Worming is one of the last taboos in Jacks stable. We don’t mention it. When the time comes round I dread it. I usually end up with injuries. I always wear a hat. And I Never do it alone. It is ugly, it is undignified and it ends with a fight with a scare half ton animal. It damages our trust and it takes days to get him to look at me again and instead of a neigh, he hides his head in the corner when he sees me.

REMEDY. As all Jacks other bad behaviours have been fixed, I have been left with the last but most difficult. It was time to make things right and stop avoiding and take the time it takes. Over the last few months I introduced a syringe and mouth play. It has taken a while. Lots of approach and retreat for him just to accept the syringe filled with molasses. First of all I just had to leave it on the side in the stable. Even that was enough to make him right brain. Then I held it in my hand away from him, and let him see me squirt molasses into my other hand. Stretch my arm away whilst he licked my hand. Slowly getting closer until I could put the syringe in my hand and let the molasses be licked off the end. You get the idea, until I could insert it into his mouth. This has taken months, but he has looking forward to the syringe which has been making an bi weekly appearance and he eagerly opens his mouth……….

THE REAL THING …..well guys all I can see is that if you have an extreme behaviour just remember Rome wasn’t built in a day! But with the work you will build an empire! HE KNEW!!! I don’t know how but he knew!! THAT I didn’t expect! I was too damned arrogant and thought I could just put the wormer in the syringe sandwiched between molasses, I would wander up as normal, pop it in his mouth and job done!! Typical predator thoughts. I sauntered up smiling, talked in my usual singsong voice, and didn’t even get to the stable door, when the hindquarters swung to the door with the hind foot in it’s defensive come in here and I will boot you, and he hid his head in the corner. My breathing, my heart rate, or something in my body language gave it away. My hopes fell into my boots.

Extreme RBI. I hate it. I don’t see it often. But this is how I hate to see Jack and why I hate worming so much. Reminiscent of his past when he was so so scared and I bring it back and it damages us (ooo getting a bit emotional writing this). How dare they damage such a beautiful creature so he is so scared. Anyway I digress. I put the syringe round the corner,and just waited by the door. And waited. Minutes ticked past. Finally the head lifted slightly and his ear twitched at me. Cue to talk to him and smile. Got a look, then he hid again More minutes. More looks. Feet starting shifting and he came round to the door. Picked the halter as I figured it was going to be needed. Hindquarters swung round. Another ten minutes for him to allow me to put it on. Forty minutes to get back in the stable. Picked up the syringe put it on the side. Gave lots of scratches and did lots of porcupine head down. Picked up the syringe. Head came up, retreated with it, porcupine head down. Closer and closer, with molasses all over my hands. Take a lick. Retreat. Head down. Finally syringe in the mouth corner. Retreat. In and out. In and out. Taste that strange concoction. Lots of faces pulled. Head down. In and out. Then it was time and I plunged the wormer in. Head came up, so I pushed it up. Made sure it went in, then let go. RBE time. Off his feet went. Round and round and round and round in circles, whilst I remained neutral in the centre as he moved his feet. When he came to rest he made me cry as he put his head right into my body and just came to rest there whilst I stroked him. We stood there for a few minutes and then when he moved away I retreated from the stable. The amazing thing was he had his head over the door, business as usual. It took just over an hour. It was really difficult. But Jack maintained his dignity. And we maintained our relationship, and next time it will be easier as he trusted me and i took that trust and held it tight so it didn’t break.