Horse calmers?

[Kafairia]

Hi,

Just curious what people think work. I'm looking for a long term calmer rather than an "instant syringe" calmer, eg NAF Magic.

My TB is a stresser from his racing days. He's an absolute gentleman and a sweetie but only when he's in a regular situation (stable not included). I've concluded he will never want to be stabled when he cannot choose to go out when he wants, which isn't an option at my yard. However he is comfortable just being rugged and is fine in the stable while I'm in there with him with the door open.

That's not the reason I'm looking for a calmer however. I'm planning on supplementing magnesium oxide to see if this helps, as I'm clueless on if my grass is deficient. My pony has responded well to a magnesium calmer in the past (he was a real fruit loop at one point).
So I think supplementing it (however I plan on saving some cash on it and buying it online pure will be the best option) can't hurt. Anyway, a while back I gave him (the TB )a shot of the NAF instant Magic the night before a sponsored ride, and on the day. He still panicked and played up and fly bucked and I only just managed to get him off the venue alive. It's a wonder I managed honestly. I believe the calmer didn't have an effect at all, and I think the instant magic calmer from NAF doesn't work, however I've used the powder and that had a great effect on the said pony earlier.

This is getting a bit long winded I'm sorry, and I've probably missed out valuable information or details, but I was wondering what non-magnesium based calmers that don't cost the earth you'd recommend? It broke me when I had to buy tubs and tubs of that NAF Magic powder!

I've heard so many different contradicting reviews. I'm open to things that I may have to speak to my vet to acquire. I've even heard of people using rescue remedy from boots!

Just want something that I can maybe use a smaller dose on some days to relax him a little while schooling, and something I'm able to up the dose on for more stressful atmospheres where he is prone to overreacting, getting tense and panicking.

Also, de stress tips welcome! I appreciate some things he will just have to learn. Thank you

Also- I used the D&H Placid on the pony before, had no effect. :-/

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

I have never found a calmer that has worked. Ever. Sorry!

 

[Regandal]

Maybe you need to subtract rather than add. What is he fed?

 

[skint1]

Naf magic has magnesium in it but you could try buying straight mag ox online. I believe it's helpful in other ways to horses in any case.

You could also look for calmers containing tryptophan or l-tryptophan, but personally I'd first look at what he's fed and how much work he's in.

 

[Equi]

Ground work could help if you find the right instructor. when you have a good base at home, go elsewhere and do some ground work etc

 

[Whatatodo16]

The top spec one is very good

 

[Kafairia]

Hi, thank you all so much for your replies

I've not really given his diet much thought - I spent ages looking into each component of hid diet - making sure it was non-heating when I chose it. But it's a possibility, so he is fed:

Dinner-
1 and a half cups of a sugar beet (Speedi soak because I don't like the idea of the 24hr soaking stuff because of the summer environment and bacteria)
1 medium scoop (about half the size of those round bowl shape scoops if that helps) of Pegasus cubes / nuts.
1 medium scoop of Spillers Conditioning Fibre.
1/4 of a cup of Sunflower oil
1 scoop of garlic.

Breakfast-
1 medium to half a medium scoop of Pegasus nuts
1 medium to half a medium scoop of Spillers conditioning fibre.
1/4 cup of sunflower oil
1 scoop of garlic.

He's looks in good condition, he's excercised 3-5 times a week at the moment.

I heard magnesium oxide is good also for their hooves, which must be a good thing, however his hooves are pretty good and he isn't a victim of your typical TB feet, he never throws shoes touch wood!

I did some ground work for an hour the other day prior to a ride. I think it did help him relax a little more, but I think this was mostly because I was trying to help his fear of the blue barrels I have in my field which he was petrified of.

 

[Regandal]

I would try stopping the nuts definitely, for a couple of weeks. Not sure what's in the fibre stuff. I wouldn't give garlic either, it disturbs the gut flora.
If he loses condition, I would look at an oil based feed like coolstance copra.

 

[turnbuckle]

They're all so utterly different. For example, mine gets grumpy and revved up on any sort fibre beet or fast fibre....

I have him on valerian which is cheap and non-comp legal, so that must mean it's doing something. Found mag had no effect whatever.

Good luck, just remember that most changes take time to take effect -though mine did respond to the valerian almost immediately.

 

[scats]

I can't feed my 7/8 TB any sort of conditioning cubes/nuts or anything with alfalfa in as it absolutely blows his brain.

No calmer has ever touched him (believe me, I've tried them all).
He's most rideable on Mollichaff calmer (one of the only chaffs without Alfalfa in) and a small amount of lo-cal balancer. Then just adlib hay.

Even valerian doesn't touch mine.

 

[skint1]

The top spec one is very good

I use that one.

 

[Kafairia]

Thanks again for your replies.

I'm reducing his feed down. I've only been giving him breakfast because he is expecting it, and I always feel guilty if he doesn't get his 'brekkie'. But the reality is he's a OK to good doer and I have no idea how he got so thin with his old owners (actually, the owners were horrified, it was the loaners that let him get thin, and I think it's because his teeth were awful and he couldn't bite grass properly). I might just put hay in his bucket, do you think he'd be able to realise that his hay was in the wrong place? Just kidding. I'll just give him hay in the morning as he's looking fat.

I've decided to halve his chaff and nuts in his dinner, I have a special quarter size scoop to use. I'm planning on keeping him on the chaff and nuts for a while, but I'm hoping reducing the quantity will get rid of his excess fizz for now.. He will also only get 1 cup of beet now.

However he really threw a spanner in the works for me today. I brought him in and thought "Cr*p he's going to be an absolute arse today", pacing, neighing and nearly barging me down nearly going through the gate (don't worry, he was appropriately told off and we went back through the gate to reinforce that he can't do that). To be fair I was late, as I thought (this is another story... I got the wrong dates!!) my farrier was coming at 1:00 so thought I might get away coming up an hour or so late so I didn't have to be up and down to the yard.

However he shocked me. I rode the pony first, who was an absolute loon because I've only really hacked him lately and only managed to warm up the other day when it started to thunderstorm, needless to say I took cover with the pony. It's fine though, I know him inside out as I broke him myself and we've been through some dark times together, so I fully trust him even when he is absolutely tanking about.

Usually I do the TB first, but with his bolshy behaviour I couldn't be arsed to mess around with his shenanigans so I popped him in a small grazing patch right next to our stables so he could still be involved. However, I did decide to groom him and make him feel nice anyway because he did look very muddy. He was pretty chill so I tacked him up. He was an absolute dream, it was strange... He didn't feel quite so buzzy and over reactive, maybe a little empty or lazy in that I actually had to use my legs properly (usually a light press on his side is enough to have him trying to hop into the next gait). And even more crazy, I didn't realise but is left my spurs on which he absolutely has detested before. He felt fab and it was really annoying that I only got 15-20 mins as I had time commitments elsewhere and had to be off. The only thing I did differently was only give him pony nuts this morning and no chaff.

I'm very interested in the Mollichaff Calmer, it looks good but a quick search had some contradicting reviews on regards of the sugar levels? Not sure.

I also looked into the Coolstance range and the copra. I wasn't keen on the idea of giving them coconut feed? I appreciate that competition mixes, cereals, alfalfa isn't probably very natural but to me coconut whites seem to just be a complete different category. :/

Reviewing his feeds once more I've found them to be primarily alfalfa based (apart from the beet obviously) which for a TB this doesn't seem ideal.

Today I managed to find some time looking into calmers. I was kind of shocked. I looked into the key ingredients and found most either had just magnesium, magnesium and trytophan (with the exception of the Equifeast one which was Calcium and trytophan if my memory is correct) and most were tipped off with some vitamins aswell. The Top spec one seems to be the best one to start with however the Global Herbs SuperCalm seemed to stand out. A complete natural blend of herbs and things like rose hips, basil, mango etc. I think if it was effective then that would be also a good one. I've used there GH Alphabute with great results when he had a muscle strain and whatever it did it helped him significantly with comfort.

When I next do something scary or stressful, I think I'd like to try the top spec one and maybe use the GH Instant Calm sachets as I heard good things about that. I don't think I'd worry about him loosing his "sparkle" as it would only be until he is comfortable with the atmosphere. I might keep some valerian on hand to try or have as a back up.

I also came across Zylkene. This seems to be in a whole different thing to any other calmers, from what I roughly understood it's made from a milk protein. It sounds crazy in a way but also makes sense. I'd love to hear about it if anyone has used it or understands it better than myself!

Thank you

 

[Regandal]

Most horses love copra, the ones I've given it to would rip your arm off for it after a while. Can i ask why he needs all this feed if he's a good doer?
The other thing you could do is omit one thing per week, see if that shows anything.

 

[Kafairia]

That's interesting. Do they require feed balancers with that or is it already quite balanced out?

Our grazing is a bit naff at the minute and I'm not prepared to use the winter ones yet and I'm saving some hay until my order is delivered next month I think? It's in the calendar. He's also doing quite a bit at the moment and I don't really want him thin.

 

[Slightlyconfused]

Our tb went hyper on alfa a and magnesium.
I was told be a few people that tbs don't absorb magnesium well and some.of them it makes them more fizzy.

He was just happy on grass and hay and if he needed more he had halleys chop, ers pellets and speedi beat.

 

[Regandal]

I use the Pro earth supplement. Mine get speedibeet and copra, the amount depends on their condition. Grass/hay too obviously. Both look great, feet are fab.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

Most calmers don't work, the magnesium passes through the body before they can absorbe it & make any difference in their demeanour. The magnesium you buy at the farm shops does very little also. Naf Magic, Supercalm etc all a waste of money. I've found that there is only one that works & it is very expensive however it does last for a long time. You double dose them for a week to get it in their system & then give them one shot in their feed daily. It's made the world of difference to one of ours.

The product is 'Nupafeed'....expensive but does work.

 

[benz]

I have had success with:
Mag ox and valerian from natural horse supplies (valerian not competition legal)
Top spec calmer for a cob who goes fizzy on mag ox

However these horses get about 200g of non molassed chaff a day just as a reward for coming in and making my life easier if yours is already calming down on less feed then sounds like you have sussed it?