Does anyone feed Magnesium?

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Stenners

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I only found out yesterday that quite a few people on our yard feed Magnesium as apparently our grazing lacks it. Does anyone else feed this? any better brands than others?
 
The cheapest way to feed magnesium is to buy calmag in a 25kg bag from an agricultural merchant. The last bag I bought cost £15. Most horses will eat it. I fed just under the amount that turned their wee cloudy. For mine that was a 15ml scoop. Others feed a lot more.
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Is it OK to feed if its already in your balancer? I assume whats in the balancer may not be enough if the grazing already lacks it.
 
Stenners said:
Oh really? I thought it had the opposite effect! He's already an anxious/nervy horse so someone said this should help too!
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Magnesium and calcium should be in balance, it's a ratio so if either is too high/low it can cause spookiness.

Most grazing (and hay) in the UK is too high in calcium and low in magnesium which is why a lot of people have success feeding magnesium but there will be exceptions where the other side applies.

Your balancer may have both calcium and magnesium in it so isn't balancing things out

Also Alfalfa and sugarbeet are both high in calcium.

I use magox, I didn't have any success with getting them to eat calmag which was given to me by someone whose horse wouldn't eat it.

I get mine from Intralabs, it's reasonably pure for a good price.
 
Stenners said:
Is it OK to feed if its already in your balancer? I assume whats in the balancer may not be enough if the grazing already lacks it.
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As I posted on your other thread, mine get Mag Ox in their regular year round balancer (Pro Earth Pro Balance+) but they always need extra Mag Ox at this time of year to cope with the spring sillies. It’s due to the flushing grass. I can tell immediately by their behaviour if I’ve run out of Mag Ox, as the sillies start again.

ETA I get mine from Intralabs.
 
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I’ve tried various types over the years and still persevere a bit with the one I have now which has been the best so far but still not great.
Mine just won’t eat it.
 
criso said:
Have you tried magnesium glycinate from progressive earth, much more expensive but more palatabe
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I’m wondering if that’s what i have. It’s either from Pro earth or Forage Plus. I can’t think off the top of my head, it’s in a white bag and a more coarse powder than most
 
Ok so I just ran out and checked. I have Progressive Earth Magnesium Oxide.
I can get a small amount into the horse I wanted to give it too, more than any brand so far but still not the proper dose
 
poiuytrewq said:
Ok so I just ran out and checked. I have Progressive Earth Magnesium Oxide.
I can get a small amount into the horse I wanted to give it too, more than any brand so far but still not the proper dose
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This stuff

It's quite expensive but so is throwing out entire feeds because you're trying to 'poison' them.

I think it's the same stuff in the nettex calmer which looks cheaper but may include a filler.

progressive-earth.com

Progressive Earth Magnesium Glycinate Organic Source of Magnesium

Progressive Earth Organic Magnesium Glycinate: A highly absorbable chelated source of Magnesium for Horses.
progressive-earth.com progressive-earth.com
 
criso said:
This stuff

It's quite expensive but so is throwing out entire feeds because you're trying to 'poison' them.

I think it's the same stuff in the nettex calmer which looks cheaper but may include a filler.

progressive-earth.com

Progressive Earth Magnesium Glycinate Organic Source of Magnesium

Progressive Earth Organic Magnesium Glycinate: A highly absorbable chelated source of Magnesium for Horses.
progressive-earth.com progressive-earth.com
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Just seen the Nettex one is: Magnesium amino acid chelate
 
SEL said:
Yup. One of mine needs a decent amount at this time of year or her crest goes solid
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That’s partly why I buy it, I have a little pony who gets really cresty and I wanted to see if it would help him but he has such a tiny amount of food he won’t eat it either.
I may try the Nettex liquid form if that’s the same stuff.
 
criso said:
I've not tried the nettex liquid (I think that has other things in it as well) but the calmer maintenance powder however it was more palpable than the magox.
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No I did just have a look and figured the powder was best to try.
I have also however just emailed Pro Earth and asked if it was at all possible to buy a small amount to taste test!
I’d rather spend a little more on pure form from a company I use often anyway. 🤞
 
SEL said:
Yup. One of mine needs a decent amount at this time of year or her crest goes solid
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Ooh I have a dartmoor who permanently has a cresty neck - her owners have never got to the bottom of why. Never had Lami, been testing for EMS and cushings etc and is a really good weight - maybe this would help?
 
criso said:
This stuff

It's quite expensive but so is throwing out entire feeds because you're trying to 'poison' them.

I think it's the same stuff in the nettex calmer which looks cheaper but may include a filler.

progressive-earth.com

Progressive Earth Magnesium Glycinate Organic Source of Magnesium

Progressive Earth Organic Magnesium Glycinate: A highly absorbable chelated source of Magnesium for Horses.
progressive-earth.com progressive-earth.com
Click to expand...
This was what I was recommended on here by a poster to try with Lari for potential PSSM
 
Be very careful adding magnesium. I was advised to do so and finished up with a broken shoulder and hand. It made my very hot boy, almost unrideable. Having spoken with my vet and running tests he didn't need any extra magnesium. I am now so careful on what i feed.
 
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