How to Train Your Horse to Stand for Injections Using Positive Reinforcement (R+)

By popular request following my recent injection training post, I’m sharing a video below of a live demonstration showing how I use positive reinforcement to teach a horse to stand cooperatively for injections.

I often perform both IM and IV injections on my own horses without a halter or lead — so yes, this really does work.

In this clip, I’m demonstrating IM only. IV is simply a small variation on the same thoughtful process.

Please forgive the camera angle — it isn’t ideal — but what you can clearly see is a simple and brilliant protocol (credit to Dr. Lore Haug, DVM).

The horse in this video is owned by Dr. Jessica Loyd, DVM.

I reinforce him through three distinct steps:

1️⃣ Hand on neck
(You’ll hear me say both “neck” and “hand” in the video — that was my error. I was definitely nervous in front of the crowd. Choose one cue and stay consistent.)

2️⃣ Pinch the skin

3️⃣ Poke

At first, “poke” is barely a touch — sometimes not even that. Over time, it becomes more realistic, eventually including the needle itself and insertion.

When we reach that stage, I prefer the horse to already have a mouthful of reinforcer to chew during the injection.

Each step must begin at the horse’s comfort level. That may mean starting 10 feet away, depending on the individual.

You may also need to condition:

• The sight of the syringe
• The motion of lifting it toward the neck
• The procedure being done by a veterinarian or person other than yourself

before combining those elements with the three-step sequence.

With preparation and positive reinforcement, injections can become just another peaceful part of your routine together.

Context matters.

This horse is working in a genuinely stimulating environment — an expo with noise, novelty, and activity all around him.

I also have a secondary reinforcer freely available to reduce pressure and support his overall comfort, so cooperation never feels like the only way to feel okay.

That matters. 💛

If you’d like support implementing cooperative care behaviors like this with your own horse — whether for injections, oral medication, or everyday handling — I offer online coaching designed to guide you step by step through the process.

You don’t have to figure it out alone.

With care,

Melissa Spell Deal
Cooperative Care & R+ Training Coach
Compassionate Horse Click

Photo credit: Shayla Anderson
Event: Celebration of the Horse-Human Relationship Expo (CHHR) 2025