Calmers??

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Dizzle

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My lovely tb is just that, lovely, he is perfectly behaved (IMO) but really spooky. He’s currently fed Cool, Calm and Collected calmer but I’m thinking of phasing that out and something else in. But I have no idea what.

NAF Magic has no effect on him. We use Pro-Kalm which is amazing but I’d like to save this for actual exciting events, not hacking past some pheasants :D

Any ideas? (He’s already on a no sugar, no cereal, no fun diet and grass doesn’t seem to make a difference, he’s also spooky with or without me, so although some of it might be my influence, he’s just generally lacking confidence). I am working on schooling him brave (fab book called The Fearless Horse) but I feel until we’ve read the book we need a little help!
 
My girl has always been spooky but I think she has been better this year. I have used Naf Magic - didn't see any difference at all. Last year I tried Nupafeed, she has been fed this for about 8months and it does work but its very expensive. A few months ago I ordered some (Heavy) Magnesium Oxide - it is 99.2% pure and only £12.00. I have found this to be just as effective if not a little more than the Nupafeed.
 
First of all, a magnesium calmer only works if the horse is deficient in magnesium, which is why mag calmers work for some and not others. In the spring and at times when grass is growing rapidly it can be low in magnesium which is why some get silly on spring grass.

So, if a mag. calmer doesn't work it might be worth looking into calmers that don't rely on magnesium. Global Herbs do one specifically aimed at tbs so it might be worth giving that a try? Unfortunately the spook/flight instinct is very strong in tbs, which is why they are good at racing, but it does have its drawbacks!

Calm and Condition (feed) worked well on my tb mare.
 
I can't feed calm and condition as it contains mostly speedibeet, he gets a high fibre low fun diet I'm afraid.

I wouldn’t say that he has a strong flight response for a tb, much the opposite in fact, he’s a very well behaved little horse on the whole, he’s just quite a spooky one!

I’ve bought some mag-ox to add to his feeds, it’s good for his hooves and cheap so worth a try.

I’ve also bought a herbal mix of valerian, vervain and chamomile, not FEI approved of course but again it wasn’t very expensive!

I don’t want to change his nature, he’s super safe and fun to ride, I just want him not to jump out of his skin at everything, he spooked at me walking out of the barn last week! :D
 
Dizzle said:
I can't feed calm and condition as it contains mostly speedibeet, he gets a high fibre low fun diet I'm afraid.
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C & C contains unmollassed sugar beet, which is fibre with the sugars taken out so it should fit the high fibre low fun diet requirement.

I probably didn't explain the flight thing very well, the spook is what comes before the flight, but in most well mannered horses they don't follow up the spook with a flight. It's a bit like someone creeping up on you unexpectedly , it makes you jump, you just can't help it!
 
I have just started using Magnitude on my stressy mare, but did lots of research about it and it seems alot of horses respond to it more than anything else. its around £20 but lasts for 6 months as the scoop is very small!
 
helbe said:
I have just started using Magnitude on my stressy mare, but did lots of research about it and it seems alot of horses respond to it more than anything else. its around £20 but lasts for 6 months as the scoop is very small!
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ditto this, best one I have found and worked on my gelding who would run up and down the mares fence line to be with them, after a week or two on that i had a different horse, i have recently moved and he is not even interested in the mares now, it also chills him out in the stable and being tied up as he was a bit stressy in them areas too :D
 
i have tried a few different calmers, and the one that i found most effective was the equine america so kalm plus, it just calmed my mares bbrain down and got her concentrating more on what i was asking that what else was going on,(as she was noosy too!):)
 
I haven't yet found any calmer that works! Magnitude, magic and equine america ones have all made no difference....still trying to find a suitable one!
 
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