Information on feeding Magnesium?

Okay so I've been feeding magnesium for a week, I went for a long hack today and I don't know if it's just a blip but my god, she was good! She was still her usual forward going self but she didn't look at every single strand of grass, leaf, pile of poo at all! We actually had a lovely relaxed canter without swerving all over the place! Couldn't believe it. Looking forward to riding again tomorrow to confirm if it may be working! :D
 
That sounds promising! Fingers crossed it wasnt a one off! Haven't started on mine yet, we are about to make an unplanned yard move before our final move to the new house (delayed, again), so am planning on starting him on it as soon as we move.
 
LHIS said:
That sounds promising! Fingers crossed it wasnt a one off! Haven't started on mine yet, we are about to make an unplanned yard move before our final move to the new house (delayed, again), so am planning on starting him on it as soon as we move.
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TBH I would think if that is his problem magox might very well help him cope with the move. I would be starting it straight away, move or no move
 
Sounds promising. Magnesium does have an affect on their nervous system so if they are low in it they will be inclined to be nervy, getting the right supplement makes all the difference x
 
LHIS said:
Ok, first dose given. Happily scoffed it with a bit of honeychop.
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That's good! I hope it works for you!
I never quite got my mind around how having low magnesium intake made them nervy but still. Agree with starting yours now too as if it doesn't work, you may need something else for when you move but fingers crossed it does!
We went on our hack today and still going pretty good! We had company today so she was her usual self. Spooked a couple of times but they are much slower reactions now and at things that were generally spooky, not just a butterfly! And it doesn't stop there, she was actually walking on a long rein when heading home! Had some lovely canters, had a good burn and jumped a lot of handmade jumps out in the woods without stopping to look first! She was still enjoying herself and being forward as normal but her reactions were much more sensible. I wonder if she feels the difference too and enjoys being calmer? Either way, I'm proud of my little snugglemuffin!
 
Excellent! It's certainly sounding promising. It will be interesting to see if it works for us. My lad is so jumpy at the moment that even doing simple things is an effort. I don't think he ever 100% settled where he is currently, our temporary move is back to where he was previously to be introduced to my new gelding before I then take them both to our new home where they'll be at home with me. He seems to be much happier on a quiet homely yard so I am hoping I will have my usual boy back soon. He's always been a spooky sod, but has been worse the past few months. I'm determined to find something that works for him as I'd like to crack on with him, plus if he's a bag of nerves half the time then he can't enjoy feeling like that.
Will report back with our findings - first stage of the move is this coming Wednesday, with the move to our new place hopefully no more than a week later - solicitors permitting!
 
I dont know if either of you have ever heard of "grass staggers" in cattle. I used to work for Dalgety and come springtime farmers would ask for their cattle feed to include magnesium to counteract the effects of grass staggers. It does have a more technical name, grass tetany, but is caused by the lack of magnesium in the grass when the grass grows lush and fast in the spring. It can also affect sheep and in fact, a friend who farms sheep has lost a few this year to this disease. If your grass is deficient, feeding magnesium will definitely make a difference to your horses well being, its not calming them as such, its just restoring their natural balance. My tb was a lovely calm horse when I bought him in September, the next spring, literally within a week, he became a quivering wreck, he couldnt stand still, was constantly on high alert, kept kicking out and becane a real pita, certainly darent ride him!
 
Fast growing spring grass is deficient in magnesium. That is why farmers give their animals extra magnesium when they turn out animals in the spring, either as part of a ration or in salt blocks/buckets. Bearing in mind that cattle are in high production - either they are young animals growing fast or they are pregnant or lactating, so any deficiency is going to show up quickly. Not quite the same as a mature horse that is doing a bit of ridden work.

But cattle deficient in magnesium can show dangerous, eratic behaviour and I expect nearly every farmer will have a tale of a particular cow that went berserk - literally - which turned out to be magnesium deficiency.

That is why some horses do get hyper and spooky and silly in the spring.
 
MyBoyChe said:
I dont know if either of you have ever heard of "grass staggers" in cattle. I used to work for Dalgety and come springtime farmers would ask for their cattle feed to include magnesium to counteract the effects of grass staggers. It does have a more technical name, grass tetany, but is caused by the lack of magnesium in the grass when the grass grows lush and fast in the spring. It can also affect sheep and in fact, a friend who farms sheep has lost a few this year to this disease. If your grass is deficient, feeding magnesium will definitely make a difference to your horses well being, its not calming them as such, its just restoring their natural balance. My tb was a lovely calm horse when I bought him in September, the next spring, literally within a week, he became a quivering wreck, he couldnt stand still, was constantly on high alert, kept kicking out and becane a real pita, certainly darent ride him!
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Wow, this is really interesting! Thank you and Orangehorse, you learn something new everyday! It never even occurred to me what effects it has on other animals, I definitely wouldn't like to be near a cow like that, terrified of the things! No idea why! So in theory, lack of magnesium in a horses/cows/sheeps diet would be kind of like us if we have an imbalance of endorphins that can cause anxiety? Or just lack of something that causes a person to act unusually? I don't know, I'm tired and typing as I think now! :lol:
 
LHIS said:
Excellent! It's certainly sounding promising. It will be interesting to see if it works for us. My lad is so jumpy at the moment that even doing simple things is an effort. I don't think he ever 100% settled where he is currently, our temporary move is back to where he was previously to be introduced to my new gelding before I then take them both to our new home where they'll be at home with me. He seems to be much happier on a quiet homely yard so I am hoping I will have my usual boy back soon. He's always been a spooky sod, but has been worse the past few months. I'm determined to find something that works for him as I'd like to crack on with him, plus if he's a bag of nerves half the time then he can't enjoy feeling like that.
Will report back with our findings - first stage of the move is this coming Wednesday, with the move to our new place hopefully no more than a week later - solicitors permitting!
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Oh bless him, I hope he settles soon. They can really work themselves up when they don't know what's going on. Wish you could just talk to them and tell them what's happening! I hope the move goes well for you all! Keep me updated! :)
 
I think thats why many folk think that feeding magnesium will calm any horse! It makes such a difference and so quickly, if a mag deficiency is the root cause, that it does appear to be a wonder cure. Lots of modern pasture is mag deficient, so it will work for lots of horses. Even Mr Calm as a Cucumber that I have now does show a little outward anxiety at certain times of the year, doesnt make him too hot to handle but because I know its the pasture I do top up his levels just to keep him right. I also think that it must be horrid for him to feel anxious when he is so not like that at all
 
It is early days (day 3 today) but both last night and this morning leading him around the yard I had a calm pony and his eyes weren't on stalks as they usually are. I have to lead him past a collection of blocks and coloured wings and fillers and he has a good look at them every single day - but both last night and this morning he didn't bat an eyelid.
Yard move tomorrow (to a place he's been before) so not too worried about that, before meeting his new brother from another mother tomorrow.
 
LHIS said:
It is early days (day 3 today) but both last night and this morning leading him around the yard I had a calm pony and his eyes weren't on stalks as they usually are. I have to lead him past a collection of blocks and coloured wings and fillers and he has a good look at them every single day - but both last night and this morning he didn't bat an eyelid.
Yard move tomorrow (to a place he's been before) so not too worried about that, before meeting his new brother from another mother tomorrow.
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This is amazing news! Fingers crossed it carries on like that! Let us know and good luck with the move tomorrow. I am planning on taking my mare out tonight, second time alone since last Saturday where it seemed to be working. To be confirmed! :)
 
How are you getting on Ellie?

I've read the thread with interest. Really conflicted whether to try feeding mag to my boy or not. I try not to feed too much, he gets top spec balancer as our grass is rubbish and I don't think he gets all the minerals and vits from it. I'm debating switching his balancer to something a bit more researched and less sugary.... but feed stuff is confusing!

He can be a bit spooky, he's backwards thinking not forwards and doesn't do anything dramatic when he spooks but he is very 'looky' when hacking or just in general when something changes! I'm wondering whether magnesium might help him stop staring at everything and relax a bit. But then i'm conflicted because he doesn't do anything mad when he spooks and mostly he is just on alert! He's easily controllable and I also don't want anything to make him more backwards - I've worked hard trying to get him thinking more forwards and he has improved :confused:

ETA: Your comment on having a canter and not swerving all over the place got me thinking! He's not *that* bad but sometimes when we have a trot or canter he's staring something down and I'm bracing myself incase he does jump to the side (at something silly like a rock).
 
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Amye said:
How are you getting on Ellie?

I've read the thread with interest. Really conflicted whether to try feeding mag to my boy or not. I try not to feed too much, he gets top spec balancer as our grass is rubbish and I don't think he gets all the minerals and vits from it. I'm debating switching his balancer to something a bit more researched and less sugary.... but feed stuff is confusing!

He can be a bit spooky, he's backwards thinking not forwards and doesn't do anything dramatic when he spooks but he is very 'looky' when hacking or just in general when something changes! I'm wondering whether magnesium might help him stop staring at everything and relax a bit. But then i'm conflicted because he doesn't do anything mad when he spooks and mostly he is just on alert! He's easily controllable and I also don't want anything to make him more backwards - I've worked hard trying to get him thinking more forwards and he has improved :confused:

ETA: Your comment on having a canter and not swerving all over the place got me thinking! He's not *that* bad but sometimes when we have a trot or canter he's staring something down and I'm bracing myself incase he does jump to the side (at something silly like a rock).
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I was the same! I really wasn't sure, I hate adding in new things that I don't know enough about or understand properly how it works but I just thought, everyone else has done it so what's the harm! I also thought the same with the fact that it's not terrible as it is and I can cope but if it helps them relax more than it's not a bad thing I guess.
I don't think he would go backwards, it's supposed to just calm them down by leveling out the balance. I think there is some science behind how it relaxes muscles and send signals to the brain slower so it avoids them having a flight reaction at little things. Either way, I'm 99% sure it's working for us. She has been unbelievably relaxed, she will still have a spook here and there, and she's still a forward going galloping nutter, but her reactions to spooks are so much slower and not sharp anymore if she spooks at all. She doesn't look at everything on the ground either. It's been great, we have everything we did have before but without the swerving, spooking, looking etc. We can even jump things out hacking without looking at it first!
The right amount to feed according to Progressive Earth is 3g per 100kg and it's £7.99 for a 1kg bag! If you are worried that the maintenance dose is too much, maybe start off with a little bit and work up until you find the right balance?
If it doesn't work, you can always stop and there is no harm in just trying! Let me know what you decide to do! :)
 
LHIS said:
It is early days (day 3 today) but both last night and this morning leading him around the yard I had a calm pony and his eyes weren't on stalks as they usually are. I have to lead him past a collection of blocks and coloured wings and fillers and he has a good look at them every single day - but both last night and this morning he didn't bat an eyelid.
Yard move tomorrow (to a place he's been before) so not too worried about that, before meeting his new brother from another mother tomorrow.
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How are you getting on? Did the move go okay?
 
Ellietotz said:
How are you getting on? Did the move go okay?
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So far so good! The move was Wednesday and it went as well as I could have hoped for. I introduced him to my new lad and so far so good!
Unfortunately we are now moving again :( the person who has the field we are on wants it back and so we have to go. So my boys are relocating again this weekend. Quite a bit peeved about it to be honest, but can't be bothered to argue and it won't achieve anything. It's a bit of a stressful time for us at the moment but my priority is my boys and I am sure they will just take it in their stride.
We are moving to our new house with the horses on the 19th so I don't have to put up with yard b******s much longer. Rant over!
 
LHIS said:
So far so good! The move was Wednesday and it went as well as I could have hoped for. I introduced him to my new lad and so far so good!
Unfortunately we are now moving again :( the person who has the field we are on wants it back and so we have to go. So my boys are relocating again this weekend. Quite a bit peeved about it to be honest, but can't be bothered to argue and it won't achieve anything. It's a bit of a stressful time for us at the moment but my priority is my boys and I am sure they will just take it in their stride.
We are moving to our new house with the horses on the 19th so I don't have to put up with yard b******s much longer. Rant over!
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That's good to hear they are hopefully getting along! Is the magnesium working? Does he still seem calm?
What a nightmare about the fields! Not nice for any of you to have to keep moving them. Not long until the 19th now and you won't have to worry! :)
 
LHIS said:
So far so good! The move was Wednesday and it went as well as I could have hoped for. I introduced him to my new lad and so far so good!
Unfortunately we are now moving again :( the person who has the field we are on wants it back and so we have to go. So my boys are relocating again this weekend. Quite a bit peeved about it to be honest, but can't be bothered to argue and it won't achieve anything. It's a bit of a stressful time for us at the moment but my priority is my boys and I am sure they will just take it in their stride.
We are moving to our new house with the horses on the 19th so I don't have to put up with yard b******s much longer. Rant over!
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Just seen your latest thread! So sorry to hear that you had to go through that stress! Glad you found someone to move the boys tomorrow. Let us know how you get on x
 
Ellietotz said:
I was the same! I really wasn't sure, I hate adding in new things that I don't know enough about or understand properly how it works but I just thought, everyone else has done it so what's the harm! I also thought the same with the fact that it's not terrible as it is and I can cope but if it helps them relax more than it's not a bad thing I guess.
I don't think he would go backwards, it's supposed to just calm them down by leveling out the balance. I think there is some science behind how it relaxes muscles and send signals to the brain slower so it avoids them having a flight reaction at little things. Either way, I'm 99% sure it's working for us. She has been unbelievably relaxed, she will still have a spook here and there, and she's still a forward going galloping nutter, but her reactions to spooks are so much slower and not sharp anymore if she spooks at all. She doesn't look at everything on the ground either. It's been great, we have everything we did have before but without the swerving, spooking, looking etc. We can even jump things out hacking without looking at it first!
The right amount to feed according to Progressive Earth is 3g per 100kg and it's £7.99 for a 1kg bag! If you are worried that the maintenance dose is too much, maybe start off with a little bit and work up until you find the right balance?
If it doesn't work, you can always stop and there is no harm in just trying! Let me know what you decide to do! :)
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Glad to hear it's working so well for you! :)

I think I'll probably give it a go for a couple of weeks and then if no change at least I've tried! And it's not like he's unmanageable with his spooking, he just looks at everything so if it doesn't work no harm done!

Did you ease your pony just feeding a little, then a bit more until she was on a full dose or just give her it straight away?
 
Amye said:
Glad to hear it's working so well for you! :)

I think I'll probably give it a go for a couple of weeks and then if no change at least I've tried! And it's not like he's unmanageable with his spooking, he just looks at everything so if it doesn't work no harm done!

Did you ease your pony just feeding a little, then a bit more until she was on a full dose or just give her it straight away?
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Exactly! :)
I feed Dodson and Horrell placid which has a little magnesium in, not sure how much but because some was in it, I just started on the full dose.

It has been working really well and still is keeping her calm, she is still quite looky and veers away from things that aren't there but no where near as sharp. To be fair, I don't feed her everyday, only when she's worked, she puts on weight quickly. Even so, it's been working from 4 feeds a week but we had a right fiasco with the pigs yesterday. She absolutely despises them, managed to start getting her passed the one if it's far away and I mean like 40ft or something! This time it was a whole family, one big mum and about 10 piglets. She lost her nerve completely, I refused to get off because I most likely would've just got pushed over and have her run home. Luckily the local farm that owns them took them back in while we hid round the corner. We waited a few minutes while she snorted as loud as ever and proceeded back down the road, little did we know, round the corner there was another family of them! She span, took off, managed to stall her and keep just pushing her on, turning etc waiting for them to walk closer onto the green next to the road so there was more distance. I had rocking snorting horse dragon, with plenty of growling and leg, I got her passed them! (Yay!) I nearly gave up and went home though but I was determined to go that route. First 20 minutes of the ride was fighting to get passed the pigs so she was in a flurry for a while after that.
I wonder if you can feed a higher dose of magnesium if you don't feed everyday?
 
My lad has been on it now for a few weeks and I don't think it's making a difference unfortunately. He's still looky and jumpy despite being settled where he is. We finally make the move to our new place tomorrow so I think I'm going to try him on something else. I'm not sure what to try next, I'm aware of the more effective things like Valerian but I'm not sure I want to feel like I'm drugging my horse? I think some proper work would also do him some good, and once we're settled the regime will kick back in.
 
I have been very interested in this thread as my mare has been absolutely awful over the past couple of months, completely out of character and spooking at everything or tanking off. I was getting to the point that I did not want to ride. I started her on Mag ox, she is fussy so I disguised it in a Marmite sandwich, she has been on it a week. The difference taking her out today was amazing, my lovely mare is back. I took her out to see all the things that she was scared stupid over last week and she just stood and looked until I asked her to move. I am over the moon. I have heard that you should not leave them on Mag Ox permanently. so I am thinking 4 to six weeks which will get us through the summer and maybe two seasons.
 
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