Calming cookies/supplements

PSD

PSD

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So off the back of another recent thread I wanted to ask some advice.

I’m going to be travelling my horse for the first time in a week (first time of me towing horses, not him travelling) and I’m trying to limit the stress as much as I can. He can be difficult to load - usually likes to protest by rearing once or twice and then walks on sweetly. However once he’s on he’s usually fine although when we arrive to unload he can get quite antsy and keen to get off the trailer. I will be travelling my youngster with him, I don’t want to get her into any bad habits of being stressed whilst loading/travelling, or rushing off the trailer as she’s usually quite placid and I’d like to keep it that way.

I’ve thought about calming cookies just to take the edge off a little and help him relax, it will also help keep my nerves at bay knowing he’s a bit more happier about the situation. Do they actually work? If so which ones have you had good results with? I’ve also seen some supplement types that can have immediate effect. I’ve also looked into adding a calmer into his feeds over the next week too. I’m just unsure which route to go down for the best outcome for both of us.

I do plan on doing plenty of practising with him once I’m able to, so that is the plan going forward. But at the moment time isn’t in my side to get him settled enough to prepare for this first outing.
 
My youngster is on box rest and we use calming cookies if she’s in on her own. I ll check the make when I’m on the yard later as I just can’t recall it right now. They do work on her.
 
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I bought some Be Cool Calmer Cookies (Ashwaganda and B vits based) from Amazon on a whim for my horse who went through a stage of being unsettled in the stable, they aren't expensive and did seem to help her.
I also use as a daily Freestep Liquid Composure- not so much for calming, but it has good things in it for gut health
 
skint1 said:
I bought some Be Cool Calmer Cookies (Ashwaganda and B vits based) from Amazon on a whim for my horse who went through a stage of being unsettled in the stable, they aren't expensive and did seem to help her.
I also use as a daily Freestep Liquid Composure- not so much for calming, but it has good things in it for gut health
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I’ve had a look at the free step stuff. I like the sound of the re-laxed, I just want him to be settled more than anything so not to stress out more than I already will be!
 
I’ve used that Instant Magic syringes before. I noticed more of a difference with it than the calming cookies I used.
 
Peglo said:
I’ve used that Instant Magic syringes before. I noticed more of a difference with it than the calming cookies I used.
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Unfortunately syringes won’t work for him. He’s a nightmare to worm or have anything in his mouth 🫣 so I fear it will just make him even more stressed
 
PSD said:
Unfortunately syringes won’t work for him. He’s a nightmare to worm or have anything in his mouth 🫣 so I fear it will just make him even more stressed
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I stuck it in my lasses feed. I assumed she wouldn’t eat it but she did 😂
 
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I have used Animalife Vetrocalm growing (aimed at young horses) and Animalife Healthy (aimed at standard horses) as a calmer when needed. Both are peppermint flavoured and my fussy horses eat it with no problems x It takes 2 or 3 days to work if you are planning on using short term, or you can double the dosage for short term solutions x They also do a senior version, depending on your horses age x
 
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Don't bother with premier performance calming cookies - they have molasses in and do the opposite, basically just cause a sugar rush. I find topspec calmer great, just start adding to feed a few days beforehand. However, nothing of that sort will make a big difference unless you use a vet prescribed sedation. The best thing you can do is open up your trailer and do a few sessions of loading practice with both sides open, walking straight through then gradually learning to stop and shut up the doors. This will prove far more effective than any calmer.
 
Also wouldn’t go for the cookies in this situation. I’ve found they can be a little helpful for providing more thinking power but no use in situations that are stressful/exciting. I used to use the magic calmer syringes and they worked well. May be worth trying the feed supplement?
 
Barklands said:
Don't bother with premier performance calming cookies - they have molasses in and do the opposite, basically just cause a sugar rush. I find topspec calmer great, just start adding to feed a few days beforehand. However, nothing of that sort will make a big difference unless you use a vet prescribed sedation. The best thing you can do is open up your trailer and do a few sessions of loading practice with both sides open, walking straight through then gradually learning to stop and shut up the doors. This will prove far more effective than any calmer.
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I have heard they can do the opposite.

Plan going forward is to practise plenty but I don’t have the time to do that before I take him out for the first time unfortunately. I don’t want to sedate him either, just want to take the edge off a little.
 
SpotsandBays said:
Also wouldn’t go for the cookies in this situation. I’ve found they can be a little helpful for providing more thinking power but no use in situations that are stressful/exciting. I used to use the magic calmer syringes and they worked well. May be worth trying the feed supplement?
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Trouble is he doesn’t take syringes well. Worming is a major task so I think anything syringed into his mouth will just work him up even more.

There are so many feed supplements on the market it’s hard to decide which is going to work
 
PSD said:
I have heard they can do the opposite.

Plan going forward is to practise plenty but I don’t have the time to do that before I take him out for the first time unfortunately. I don’t want to sedate him either, just want to take the edge off a little.
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If that is the case I would avoid taking your youngster, if you don't have the time to put the training in beforehand with the other one. A bad experience for your youngster caused by a bad traveler may put her off too.
 
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