Callers for strong cobs?

[frankieman]

I have a very strong, 6yo cob gelding, and I've been invited to go to the beach with someone from our yard. The only thing is that even just in a field he will bolt off (even in a gag) and Theres no chance of stopping him. And so I didn't know whether there was a calmer of some kind that I could give him, so he'd be more relaxed and less likely to bolt off? Last year a friend suggested 'rigcalm' but I got my new robinsons catalogue today (y) and have seen there are so many! I only need something that will calm him down for a few hours or so.. Any ideas? Many thanks

 

[spike123]

to be honest I doubt you will find anything that will work on calming him sufficiently for a few hours that won't cause him to become drowsy and would make him unsafe to ride. It may be a better idea to work on his schooling and brakes before taking him to the beach. Try riding him in a bit with a different action and see if that helps as some horses will just run through any bit regardless of strength. It sounds more an issue of working on his obedience to your aids. If he is already perfect in the school then work on schooling him in an open field and the first time you go to the beach work in a small area just schooling him and getting him to listen rather than just allowing him to go to the beach for a blast.

 

[Turtul]

You are right, the sheer amount of calmers on the market is mind boggling! I am currently working with a Tbx who didn't respond to any amount of schooling or work on his manners until I started him on a calmer.

Basically from what I have learnt (through what seems like endless research!) is that most calmers contain a variety of herbs etc. which are reported to have a calmative effect, although there are lots of different opinions on whether these herbs and blends have a significant affect. There is however lots of evidence that some horses which can be nervous or excessively excitable may suffer from a magnesium deficiency and so magnesium oxide is the active ingredient in most calmers.

You could look at feeding a 'calming' feed, such as Molichaff Calmer, or supplementing his diet with a Mg based calmer (there are so many on the market!) or by adding pharmaceutical grade Mg Oxide to his feed (delicate and messy). But this will take a couple of weeks to take effect and if you're looking for a short term fix then probably isn't what you're looking for!

I haven't tried them myself as my boy's issue is definitely more long term but when I was doing my research online and by chatting to other horse owners lots of people seemed to recommend NAF Magic Instant Calmer which comes in a syringe (like a wormer) and you give about an hour before you want it to take effect. The owner of my local tackshop who shows and breeds absolutely swears by it for her stressy filly when she takes her anywhere stressful. There are quite a few other 'instant' syringe shot calmers but the NAF one was definately the one everyone seemed to recommend.

I do agree with Spike123 that perhaps it might be a good idea to do a bit of work on his manners and schooling so you address the problem rather than the symptom if that makes sense. Don't mean to be patronising as it might all be things you've considered but it might be worth having a think about how you're asking him to steady up; if you're pulling back on the reins he may just stick his head up and pull against your contact it may be worth taking and giving the reins to ask him to slow, it gives him less of an opportunity to just blast off. Another suggestion would be to try turning him in a circle when he begins to run off, he will find it difficult to blast forwards if you are asking him to turn. Just some thoughts from my own experience.

Another thought would be to check what he's currently fed on, so many horses in the UK are massively overfed for their workload, a brief chat to a feed helpline can sometimes help massively lower your feed costs and make your horse happier and less fizzy. Feeding a diet high in fibre, low in sugar and starch and cutting out any mollasses can help hugely improving your horses temperament (and health!). The Pure Feed Company has a lot of information on this kind of diet and is well worth a look if he is on any hard feed.

Hope any of that helps, apologies for the huge reply I just wish I'd have had some pointers to consider when I was trying to find this sort of stuff out!

Tx

 

[Lintel]

My boy would bolt off in anything- but a grackle nose band does the trick for him.
What noseband is your boy ridden in?

Mine bolts with his mouth open wide, hence the reason grackle and flash's both help.
(I have a highland!)

And if all else fails... just get out there, go on the ride and hang on for dear life!
Perhaps put him in a full cheek so you have *steering* so to speak

HAVE FUN

Obviously just a quick fix, some major schooling and ground manners too need to be done.
And I agree with the above the calmer I doubt would do much good and has the possibility of drowsiness.