Calmer supplements - do they actually work?

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_Acolyte_

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I have a 15.2hh 9 year old TB, Bob, whose favourite word is 'tension'
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He is usually lovely to handle on the ground, but he gets uptight very easily and is also very very tense when being ridden.

I am having regular physio visits etc to sort out his muscular problems, but just wondered whether calmers actually work? I just want him to chill out, be happy and enjoy life a bit more - so I am looking for an equine version of Prozac I suppose
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my horse is on the Global Herbs SuperCalm- it's fantastic stuff!

he's stopped being really tense when ridden, box walking and flipping at the slightest thing to a horse who can stand patiently, doesn't get wound up in his box, and best of all- he isn't so anxious out hacking, so doesn't jog!

i really rate it!!
 
Mine is on Gold Label EquiKalm - won't be buying another tub.

I tried her on it as she was on box rest, just starting to be ridden again and si on Day 4 of turn out.....hoped it would calm her down a little - if it stopped her injurying herself again it would be worth it, but shes exactly the same as she always is.
 
I used Top Spec calmer on a spooky TB and def worked.
Took about three weeks to see a difference but when it did horse was very different, in fact i had to reduce dosage as he went too chilled!
 
Hmmm I just googled the Global Herbs one and I must admit I have been put off by the price
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I suppose it is a balancing thing - do the results justify the expenditure etc etc
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I have a 16.2 TB with a splash of Irish. He's as calm and docile as you like on the ground, will happily get his head stuck under his leadrope and stand looking dozy waiting for someone to rescue him rather than panic. On board however its a different game. He's spooky and nervous and has a cold back. I had him on Equine America's So Kalm Plus which worked brilliantly, just taking the edge off without making him a plod. I'd tried Nupacalm but that changed him into a plod which I didn't want. When Mollipchop Calmer came out I tried it and within two weeks was able to cut out the expensive EA calming supplement. He loves it and it chills him out again without losing his edge. Its cheap as chips in comparison to all the calming supplements so give it a go before you get hooked on the expensive stuff
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Our Hann x TB was very sharp & we tried a calmer, we used 'Magic'. What a waste of time that was, it didn't do a thing. We eventually sorted out the sharp behaviour by schooling, schooling & more schooling. He is not well behaved, does a really good Dressage test (70+%), jumps Newsomers & is qualified for Blue Chip in various classes.

In short, many behavioural problems will be sorted by spending time schooling your horse. The answer does not always come in a packet or tub.
 
My tb x wb is on feed mark steedy up. It really helps her "think", she really is a different horse now she has time to engage brain. Panics and spooks very little now. she enjoys life now instead of stressing about EVERYTHING. i only give her the minimum dosage now she has had time to learn only tigers eat you.
 
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In short, many behavioural problems will be sorted by spending time schooling your horse. The answer does not always come in a packet or tub.

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LOL - I was waiting for someone to say this to me
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Rest assured that any supplement would be used alongside physio treatment, correct veterinary and farrier care, and correct schooling at all times
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I used Science formula calming on one of my lads works a treat on him but didnt do anything for my other lad, who only seems to respond to Tempermend by Hilton Herbs
 
A friend has her pony on Magic and it seems to have made a difference. He was very nervy tense when mounted and ridden and is definitely much much better since being on the Magic. However, he also had a location change too so without taking him off the Magic to see if theres a difference we'll not know for sure..
 
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I used Equistro Equiliser with some success, but you have to remember that it will make the horse less nervous and stressed, won't stop it from being naughty
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Bob isnt naughty - well, apart from spooking so badly last night that I nearly fell off
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He is such a sweetie, I just want him to relax and enjoy life a bit more like I do
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I didn't mean to suggest he is
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it was supposed to be a general comment
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No thats fine, I was only joking
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He has his moments, but then what horse doesnt really
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, and I just laugh at him so he gets over it quite quickly
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i use TopSpec calmer and i do feel it takes the edge off him. I've gone from using it every day to using half dose every day and now i just use it the day before and the morning of a show as he still finds things quite exciting and gets tense. He gets a bit extra before hunting as he finds that v exciting!
 
Yes I think they do work. I trialled a few on a gelding I used to own who was very spooky and tense (due to being treated very badly before I got him). Schooling helped a lot but the supplements were influnetial as well. I ended up using epsom salts which are a form of magnesium. I gave him a 50ml measure once a day, and he was a 17.2hh TB cross. The good thing with epsom salts is that they are very very cheap!! You can buy a HUGE sack on ebay for about £15 - and a handfull in your own bathwater is good for sore muscles as well!!

They are quite an olf fashioned remedy. Someone might well come on and mention that they aren't the best form of magnesium but they worked on my Horse. I aslo checked with my vet re using them and the dosage and he said it was absolutely fine.

Oh - another cheap one I have heard of is chamomile tea. Make it up and use to dampen feed. You'll get 30 teabags for about a £1. Never tried this myself but I know a couple of people who use this and reckon it works. Valerian is very good but don't use it if you are competing as it's a banned substance. We used to use Lincoln valerian cordial on the carriage Horses if we were doing a very stressfull job (ie through big city traffic) and it did work. Quite cheap as well.

I do think trial and error is best though. What works on one Horse might not work on another.
 
Didnt make a difference to either of mine tbh. I have 2 Tb's, both have 'tense' moments but I found that changing their diets to something no sugar, no cereal, low starch made a bigger difference all round. Now I havnt felt the need to feed a calmer in over a year even though they have been sj,xc and hunting, they stay relaxed and rideable.

I had an ISH who got worse on a calmer, some of them don't like the 'dopey' feeling I guess...
 
I tried Valerian cordial on my Tb mare (you know the one!) years ago.
It made no difference to her at all, but it did cause my working pupils of the time to threaten to strike if I didn't stop feeding it.
It smells like sulphur/rotting cabbages.
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S
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QR. epsom salts act as a laxative and arent a long term solution just FYI
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I think they can help-if other diet has been ruled out as the cause ie molasses/starch/alfalfa. I used magnesium on mine ot no effect but found that Bluechip Karma definitely helped mine so maybe it was the tryptophan in it. he's now grown up a bit and is no longer on it but it did help with the 5 year old stage!
 
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