Do calmers actually work, and which ones??

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popeyesno1fan

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I have a 20 year old 12.2hh pony, that thinks she's 3, and her favourite speed is 100 miles an hour. She's a fantastic pony, very honest, and loves jumping and x-country, it's just the speed at which she approaches fences that's the problem. She's like a child after eating a bag of skittles, and has a serious seperation anxiety issue too. She belongs to a friend of mine, so If the worst comes to the worst can go back to a 5 star retirement home. It would be a shame, as she loves jumping, and my son has fallen completely in love with her. She responds well to voice, loves when you are talking/singing to her when ridden. Would a calmer help her?? She doesnt buck, rear and is great in traffic, it's only the speed. As much as I have fallen for her, I dont want to put my son in the line of fire. We are only hacking and a little arena work, at the moment. Any advice is greatly appreciated. thanks. xx
 
Well my vet recommended valerian he said it does work but it's banned for certain comps you'll have to check it out. I'm moving my filly at wkend and tried her on some but for once she refused to eat her dinner!

Going to start a new thread on feeding valerian now!
 
I don't know if it's recommended for long term use though...it's good for taking the edge off spooky stressy horse such as for a yard move etc. A friend swears by top spec calmer though!
 
What is she being fed? Might be worth looking at that. I find things like competition mix and AlfaA send my horses loopy.

On the subject of calmers.. I've had good results with straight magnesium oxide. Also Topspec calmer is pretty good.
 
TBH, I do think its a 'placebo effect' mostly - but that's absolutely fine.

If getting on thinking 'great, he's had a calmer' will make you more confident then horse will be calmer by default.

Nothing wrong with that, same goes with my friend who is a horse communicator and 'tells my horse to be good' LOL, still has a really positive effect on me mentally.
 
My mare fell asleep in super solvitex ( I think that's how you spell it) camomile calmer. She had two weeks off and was always speedi and stressy. Put her on that and she wouldn't canter she was so laid back!

I had to give her a 13hh dose when she is 14:3!
I took her off it because it is oil based and kept her weight on but it did allow her to lean a few things that have stayed with her.
 
Hey,

I am fully aware of the placebo affect and do think it maybe the case to some degree in many cases.. however..

I have had fantastic results with my event horse on Topspec calmer! It's not so much that he becomes less energetic or quiet it just takes away slight tension in the dressage phase and increases his concentration levels! He got tense and excitable at home as well as competitions and have seen this effect on the flat at home as well and therefore makes me believe that it works even more!

We also had fab results on it with our show horse, making him less spooky in the ring as it just took the edge of him too!

x
 
Topspec. My mare was an absolute nightmare at first. It took the edge off the moving for her and helped her to settle.
Some things I think are the placebo effect but this wasn't. Other liveries at the yard I was at all commented on how much calmer she was and how much more relaxed she'd become. Only one of them knew that I was putting her on it!
 
Hi there,

I've not read all of the replys to your post so apologies if I'm just repeating what's been said. My 17.2 TB was majorly made loopy by the feed! 3 weeks after cutting out sugar/starch and haulage my boy has turned int a different horse!! He was getting so fast and fizzy that he was burning off everything I was putting in. I asked lots of questions and decided to use "Magnitude" by a company I think is called equine America (can't remember off the top off my head)...google magnitude horse calmer if you can't find it. It's made SUCH a difference..he's happy and so am I! It costs £20 for 60 days supply. Good luck x
 
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