Spring often brings an increase in veterinary visits — vaccines, Coggins, routine care. For many horses, injections are something we brace for. But with cooperative care and positive reinforcement, injections can become calm and predictable.

Most horses can be trained to stand without restraint for injections.

Yes — really.

Zoo animals routinely stand at liberty and present body parts for blood draws and vaccines. Horses can learn to do the same.

Spring often means more vet visits — vaccines, Coggins, de-wormers, dentals, routine care. And for many horses (and humans), injections are something we brace for.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

✨ Cooperative Care for Injections

Teaching your horse to choose to stand calmly is one of the most empowering gifts we can offer them.

Using cooperative care +R techniques, we can:

🟡 Reduce fear and stress
🟡 Build trust through clear communication
🟡 Create safer, smoother experiences
🟡 Help horses feel confident and respected

“It’s a horse eating monster!” our giant size chestnut Trakehner had to be thinking (or something similar) by the looks of it. He’s snorting and blowing loudly at the sight of a side-by-side topped by a very large blow-up pool. The pool was strapped on the roof and the whole menagerie was heading across his paddock, with his blue heeler friend riding shotgun. 

Meanwhile, a 13.1 hand Chincoteague pony gelding is having an entirely different reaction as he peeks out of a nearby run-in shed, ears pricked, looking very curious. (More on this story in a second.)

Happy Horses are more resilient, less likely to spook or overreact, more tolerant of human mistakes and when they do encounter trauma, tend to recover faster. How do we create horse happiness?

- Play,

- Physical comfort (including staying cool in summer heat),

 - Feelings of safety and care,

 - Friends,

 - Good nutrition,

 - Choice and autonomy when it comes to husbandry and healthcare procedures and

 - The ability to enga...

SHORT SWEET FREQUENT SESSIONS ARE BEST FOR SUCCESS!