Calmers?!

[JessicaH]

So i have a TB mare, 15.2, 12 years. Shes sweet and not agressive, but can get very stressed and seems to get worked up by the smallest of situations from time to time, mostly suffering from separation anxiety. This can be different from day, somedays absolutely fine, others seems to be a constant issue. I would love to feed her something to take the edge of but have always been hesitant about calmers, not really sure if i believe the effects as i have so far only seen them work on horses i consider to already be quite calm. She is on a total fibre diet as this is what suits her and i would typically ride 6 days a week for an hour or so. Was just wondering what other peoples experiences were with calmers in a similar situation?

 

[onemoretime]

I use Global Herbs Supercalm on my TB mare and find it really helps. Vervain (herb) is also very good and best fed as I tea (spoonful in a cup then put boiling water on a leave to soak and go cold then mix in feed. If you do a search on here you will find loads of different calmers but what works for one horse does not necessarily work for another, its all rather trial and error.

You sound as though you have the feeding correct all fibre, do you give her plenty of turnout, that helps with relieving stress usually. You have to be careful with calmers if you are competing under rules though so just make sure what you use is competition legal.

Good luck with your mare and let us know how you get on.

 

[JessicaH]

Thanks,

Turn out pretty much everyday, weather dependant, as she'd much rather be in than out in the rain (can pace in field). Turn out where i am is all strip grazing and individual but with others in fenced off patches next to her in the same field. I would love to turn her out in a big group together, but do worry that she may start to get attached. Have tried herbal supplements before such as stroppymare, found it hard to see many results but may well be worth trying again. I used to just feed it as it came, so may work better if i tried it the way you suggest.