Calmers for TB

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KateCampbell1

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I have a 4 year old TB (ex-flat race horse) who moved yards about 5 weeks ago and although he is slowly adjusting to the new, busier yard and improving all the time he still lacks the ability to stay calm in new scenarios. He tends to go from dope on a rope to stuck to the ceiling in a heart beat, no in between.
I'm thinking off trying him on a calmer to see if it just helps him deal with things better. He was very poor when i got him and he may still be lacking the magnesium he needs......
Does anyone recommend a specific type of calmer as there are so many out there.
 
That sounds just like Henry.

In fact that sounds exactly like Henry!

Haven’t even considered a calmer as he’s so good the rest of time, he is very stressy about moving though, he’s been turned out a few times in fields a short lorry ride away and every time he comes back he’s a stress head, getting better though. He seems to be fine if turned out though, we think there may be some sort of claustrophobia going on. He is much better in a quiet barn stables though than on the main yard.

Let me know how you get on if you do try a calmer
 
Boo loves being out and is just as happy being in, loves other horse company (just wants to be friends with everyone). Its when there is alot going on that he can't cope and that is getting better, but when he does flip, there is nothing i can do to calm him he doesn't even register my presence. I'm sure a lot of it will improve with age and routine, but it does make things difficult at times...
Just interested to see if a calmer might reduce the severity of reaction.
 
Mine can be a bit like that. He is usually completely laid back but if he does have a moment it comes out of nowhere though with him it vanishes as quickly.
However when I had to bring him back into work after box rest the moments were bigger and more frequent and didn't go away so I put him on Maxacalm by Maxavita which seemed to help.
Now he is getting turnout I don't use it anymore.

The other thing I found is at that time I was attempting to walk him in hand daily in a busy yard. When he started jumping around we tried putting him away to calm down but in the end I found what worked was working him harder. In hand I flexed his neck to me and pushed him to walk faster and he calmed down and settled much quicker.

I think the problem with calmers is what works for one doesn't for another and it's trial and error to see what does work for yours.
 
I know! I know! (sticks hand up). Our ginger loon Irish TB has been out of work since March and getting more and more difficult to handle (in work he's a pussycat). Tried Magic and made no difference AT ALL (if anything he got worse). BUT went to a national hunt yard recently (he was nat hunt racer) and they recommended Nupafeed. It has made a HUGE difference. You have to order it online though, or buy from one of their trade stands at shows. Cannot recommend it highly enough. He's back to being his laid-back self.
 
I've tried various calmers for my slightly mad Arab X... Majic did nothing, neither did pure Magnesium Oxide, tried a couple of 'herbal' ones, which had some effect, but not much, and one herbal one that turned her into a complete zombie!

Now got her on Top Spec calmer- brilliant! She's still forward going and fun, but doesn't launch into orbit at everything that moves!
 
Thanks, there are so many out there and it definitely seems to be a case, of "What works for one might not work for another".
I'll give on of the above a go and see what happens!
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Hiya jus thought i'd post a note while we are on the subject,

i have an Arab mare who sounds just like your boy,
i decided to try her on a calmer - global herbs - supercalm..
i started it on saturday last week.. its says 2 - 3 days and an improvement should be noticable. . . lol im still waiting !
im really hoping it will kick in soon !
 
I've had a couple of you recommend Nupafeed on this post, having never heard of it before i have just read through their site and their testimonials and it sounds like a lot of people with difficult ex-racehorses/TB's have had fab results with it.

So thanks everyone, I shall give this one a go.
Its quite exciting to think that this might help me with Boo and get him more focused and calm. Fingers crossed.
I'll let you all know how i get on!
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We use Naf Magic for our 6yr old TB...he moved to a new home but was still getting spooked by the silliest of things...this has helped to really calm him down so I'd recommend this one but am interested in how the Nupafeed goes so do fill us in
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