Calming Supplements, I need one that works!

[equibabe20]

Hi everybody,
I'm just wondering if any of you know of a calming supplement that actually works?? Ive tried nearly all the herbal ones and they don't do anthing

i've also tried the Steady-Up one from Feedmark So-Kalm plus from Equine America!
The problem is my boy has a split personality! One minute he is fine really relaxed then the next he seems to flip and goes crazy, he gets himself very over excited about things especially jumping. I would like something that will just take the edge of him and get him to relax and listen a bit more!

thanks for your help xx

 

[H's mum]

What breed is he? What is his routine? and what do you feed him?
For instance - my mare goes scatty if she has sugar or starch in her diet - anything like sugarbeet also makes her spooky and silly - High fibre, low starch really calms her lots!

Kate x

 

[miamibear]

Topspec calmer is very good and worth a try but i would also look at feed first, low sugar and starch like H's mum said is the way to go

 

[sally2008]

Like you I'd tried most of the readily available ones with little effect. I now use Equilizer which I find helps my spooky, tense boy to relax and concentrate without taking the edge off his performance. I can't remember who makes it but let me know if you want details and I'll look at the tub tonight.

 

[juliehannah58]

Not many people know of it but D&h Placid always worked wonders on my old jumping pony, she used to get so stressed out, especially at shows. She wouldn't eat or anything before or after, but this really seemed to work well and she always ate it fine in her feed (she was very fussy).

Good luck

 

[AmyMay]

I absolutely second the Top Spec calmer. I have always been very scepticle of calmers - but this one does work.

 

[Sparklet]

Top Spec if one of the magnesium based calmers. I found this to be very effective. I have actually cut costs now and get cow magnesium and it has exactly the same effect and a fraction of the cost.

 

[evsj]

What brand is the cow magnesium and can you get it from an agricultural cupplier?

 

[Sparklet]

I'll have to find out because my friend gets it via work - she works in an agricultural company. She generall decants it off into a tub for me so it doesnt come with a label.

Calmag seems to be a popular one though and yes you can get it from a feed merchants or agricultural supplier. My local one orders it in.

 

[Nari]

I find the Feel Good 30 Science Formula Calmer works really well on my lad, in fact a lot of the time I only need to give him a half dose.

He sounds a bit like your's - not a nutter the whole time but with a tendancy to flip if things get too exciting or stressful. The calmer increases what he can cope with before he flips & also seems to keep him sane enough that he'll still remember me even if he does start to lose it. Before he had days when he was too hair-trigger to be safe & if he lost it he seemed to lose all awareness of anyone & anything except what had upset him.

I'd also agree with H's mum about routine & diet. Jim copes far better with a set routine & I now know never to feed him barley even in very small amounts. Sugar beet also isn't helpful although the reaction is far less extreme. Oddly enough oats are fine, as is alfalfa so they form the basis of his hard feed.

 

[equibabe20]

Hi,

he'a arab X whelsh. he is on 24hr t/o and only gets a tiny feed of alfa lite and speedi beet as he is laminitic so he has no sugar or starch if i can help it! He has a very strict routine as he is very prone to colic also (has had it twice in 10 months

) so i'm very careful to keepeverything the same as he can get very stressed.
The top spec calmer sounds quite good i might give that one a go. Its just very frustrating as when he's sane hes a fantastic jumper but when he flips he just forgets everything he knows and just goes fast everywhere

 

[Nari]

Equibabe alfa lite still has molasses or sugar syrup in it so may not be ideal for what you want. Can you get Creature Comforts or Simple System feeds near you as these both do unmollassed alfalfa. Some people find alfalfa can cause silliness & personally I've had problems with sugar beet!

If he's on poor turnout & getting very little hard feed it may be he's generally lacking vits or mins & this is making him edgy. It could be worth trying a general vit & min supplement (Equivite, NAF or nearly all the feed manufacturers make one) or a balancer (Baileys Lo-Cal, Top Spec etc) first & seeing if that makes a difference. From experience I've found hungry horses can get very sharp so have a look to see if he's getting enough fibre.

Arab x welsh can be fun horses but are a little prone to being excitable or whizzy - think little sports cars!

 

[equibabe20]

Oh the person at the feed merchant said alfa lite is fine to feed to laminitics

grr. well speedi beet is the unmollassed version and has no sugar and i asked the vet and they recommened it as it is contains lots of fibre. He is on good grazing although does wear a muzzle during the day time. When he is in he get HorseHage blue (laminitic version). He also is fed Formula4Feet which is a laminitic supplement that contains all vits & mins so I think he gets the neceassay stuff. I don't think he is hungry but then again he's a pony so he'll tell everyone he is! He's not naughty all the time only occasionally. He's definatly a little sports car! Wouldn't change him forthe wor;d tho even despite his probs!

 

[equibabe20]

Whats Coligone? Never heard of that one before!

 

[whatawizard]

i agree about feed balancers, top spec were very helpful when I rang and spoke to them about my flighty TB, had him on Nupafeed all last season which worked well but expensive, changed to Top Spec balancer and Top Spec calmer and just feed alfa a oil and it works a treat, sane, non spooky horse at last. Balancer good for feet too.

 

[Caritas]

The trouble is that no calmer will change his personality, I do recommend Equicalm from the vets, it is quite expensive though, good luck!!

 

[sillygillyhorse]

Nari no suprise at all about oats. Oats are very high in fibre.

 

[clip_clop]

Ive got a laminitic cob who can be quite barmy at times. Last winter he had Horsehage Timothy (the purple one) and he was fine on that and a jug of HiFi Lite with the Feel Good 30 Everyday Vitamin and Mineral Supplement with Dodson and Horrells Placid. He still has everything the same now apart from the Placid which ive changed to Clop Liquid Calmer, its valerian in linseed oil and my pony is so chilled out, its took the edge off him completely and its cheaper than Placid too!

 

[Dotilas]

[ QUOTE ]
Whats Coligone? Never heard of that one before!

[/ QUOTE ]

www.coligone.co.uk

 

[Nic]

NAF Magic Calm- absolutely fantastic!

 

[equibabe20]

Im trying him on Naf magic calm now but the problem is he refuses to eat it :-( so i don't think that one'll work!