Calmer or Not?

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Shoei

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Hi Guys,

As some of you may know, my new fella has had some settling in issues resulting in him now living out after dammaging the stable!

He is currently living out and on min feed and being exercised most eve in the school. I had planned to hack out for the 1st time Sat but due to the wind walked him down the track towards the farm yard (could not get on due to spinning) and he was like a coiled spring despite my singing to calm him down (you've got a friendin me incase anyone wondered how loopy I was)

He is a very genuine chap and looks to me for reasurance but sometimes it is not enough and he turns into a spinning, snorting dragon, that is absoltly terrified.

The plan had been to bring him down to the farm yard to let him see all the sights and smells and have a haynet a few times before next weekend when the farrier comes. However, with the wind forecast this week it looks like Tuesday is my only day and for the 1st time ever I am considering a calmer!

This is because I am concerned he will get in this blind panic and injure either himself, me or the farrier.

Now I was looking at just getting a syringe but now thinking maybe I should get him something to pop in his feed just to take the edge of all these new, scary experiences.

What does everyone think, I have never used any before but he is having a good workload and only on min feed. I know he is green (6 years old and only broken 6 months ago) and needs time to settle but I don't want him to be completly paniced and have a bad experience.
 
Unless the calmer has valerian in it (which if you are competing any time soon is a banned substance) there is no guarantee it will work.

Most calmers are B Vitamin, Magnesium or Vitamin E based. They will only have an effect on your horse if he is deficient in those substances, in which case you might want to reassess what you are feeding him to address whatever is lacking in his diet.

Chamomile may work but also note, if you are competing it is also prohibited as it contains Bisoprolol/Bisaprolol (not sure on spelling) which is a beta blocker.

Good luck.
 
Thanks for that NaeNae, I'm not planning on any comps in the near future so will see what is available to have as an emergency.
 
I used a magnesium based calmer [Feedmark] for all my ponies I was breaking, as they were also changing feed and so on, however it got expensive when I went barefoot and I had a reactive horse: I changed the diet from cereals to fibre based, so I bought the Magnesium Oxide as a straight to add to the other minerals.

However it just sounds to me as though he is just big, strong, and green, so I would handle him in a control halter [or a bridle if bringing him in] and long lead rein or padded lunge rein, carry a school whip, wear a hat and gloves, and make sure he understands your space is not to be invaded.
I tend to ignore bad behaviour, as any nervous "please don't do that" sort of attitude by the handler is counter productive.

I would not hack out on a windy day, better to spend time on control halter training in a sheltered area, or some pole-work in an arena.
I would also find an experienced instructor to guide you through these early days, what he learns now will set the pattern for his future.
 
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It's worth trying adding magnesium oxide to his food every day to see if it helps one of mine was definatly calmer on mag ox .
valerian in liquid form is very effective for some if you need a calmer on the day effect.
Your vet may be able to give something to help its worth a call , I have worked on with youngsters where sedaline was used to take the edge off them.
 
Hello

Such stressful times, I completely know how you are feeling. I have tried lots of different calming products, but only found success with calmer cookies. I was given a sample from friend and cant remember the name, sorry. Something may come up if you searched.

Good luck
 
Hi Guys,

Thanks for all your advice. I thought I would give an update.

I managed to hack him out in the week and he was as good as gold. Looked at things but was good. Brought him into the farm yard, looked at flapping haylage wrap but not bothered buy the cows, chickens or all the machinery even stood next toi big load haul. Yesterday brought him down for the farrier in his bridle and he was good but got impatient waiting for farrier to arrive do resorted to a syringe of Magicalm. Kept walking him around and then making him stand for a bit. Lots of naughty snorting and inpatient behaviour. Unfortunately the magicalm had not taken effect by the time farrier came but it still was glaringly obvious the 'good to shoe' horse that I have been sold was probably in his first set of shoes. Luckily I have a brill farrier and as his feet are so hard we have decided to take his shoes of whilst he cont' with schooling and re-educate him to the farrier process. He wasn't malicious just a bit evasive. He really does seem like a 4 year old but the plus point is he is already looking to me for reassurance and will follow my lead. This is really nice as my last mare I had at the same stage of her education (all be it as a 4 year old) always new better!

I have been working him in the evenings on the ground and he is very voice responsive.
 
Hun sounds very simular to one horse which i had!!!! try equistro equilizer, thinksits viovet or animed which is the cheapest!!!! amazing stuff highly recommended by vets!! i wouldnt get on him if he is like this in hand, my horse was a nightmare since feeding this product i have a fab horse good luck hun xx
 
Hi hun, equistro forte is liquid which you get a quicker affect, equistro equilizer is a powder double dose for 10days to get it in the system you should see massive difference in 10 days!!! both will work its upto you to choose which one!! you do need to feed it everyday, what are you feeding him on?? try and stay away from cereal feeds, alfa beet soaked with a good none malassed chaff like happy hoof and a dash corn oil which you can buy from supermarket £2 this is all none fizzy food which should help you!! if you can get him on the product and then start quitely lunging him over a few days and then give him a good work out on lunge and then get on him, please let me know how you get on hun xx
 
You could try using a calmer that is liquid or powder based that could be added into daily feed as eventually he will get it into his system and it will take effect. We used either NAF Magic, or Global Herbs super calm and we also had great results with the Magic Calmer Shots as well. One of my 5 year olds is highly strung, I wouldn't say we noticed a huge difference in her behaviour, but at the time it just made her more relaxed and happy in herself and more manageable! Good luck :)
 
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