• Mix the drug into a fresh feed – some medicines have coatings and as soon as they come in contact with damp feed they can break down and become bitter. Horses, by instinct, won’t eat bitter foods, so prepare things near to feeding time rather than in advance.

• Consider the type of feed – a damp feed makes it easier to mix a powdered drug and disguise it. Most horses will happily consume a bowl of soaked sugar beet, maybe with some molassed chaff or alfalfa added to it. The key is to make the feed large enough to taste sweet and cover the medicine, but not so large your horse becomes full and won’t finish it.

•  Add the drugs to highly appetising food. You may need to try several different additives but things like molasses, grated carrot, grated apples, apple sauce or juice can all work well as tasty disguises! Be aware that molasses and sugary feeds are not suitable for laminitic horses. In this case other flavours like mint could help. 

•  Mix a paste - A horse that still refuses to eat a ‘treat’ laden feed may need dosing by mixing the medicine into a paste. Thick ‘carriers’ work well and allow you to suck up the medicine mix into a dosing syringe (like a wormer syringe) and administer it in the same way. It may be useful to have an experienced handler to help you do the job effectively and safely,

• Use the right equipment - If you are feeding a competitively banned substance, then you need to consider contamination to other horses. Use a specific bucket and feed stirrer for your horse that is labelled so others on your yard know what it is being used for. Prepare your medicines away from other feeds and try to use a bucket that is new and has a smooth surface, so that powders or granules are easy for your horse to consume and clean away afterwards.

As with any equine health issue, make sure you always take your vet’s guidance and keep a clear record of what you have fed and when.