magnesium ... amazing

[travelmad]

My horse has now been getting it for 12 days, after 8 days there was a big difference in his behaviour (box walking, generally unable to stand still when tied up at all, ETC) and last night i took him in alone to the yard and he stood entirely still the entire hour and a half i had him in – to tack up, to cool down etc. he was even easy to tack up. its like owning a new horse!!! Now my question is – do I keep him on magnesium, and if so for how long? If the change in behaviour is an indication he was lacking magnesium and now he has enough should I stop feeding it or reduce how much I feed (20g a day). Suggestions appreciated

 

[lincolnlady]

My horse has now been getting it for 12 days, after 8 days there was a big difference in his behaviour (box walking, generally unable to stand still when tied up at all, ETC) and last night i took him in alone to the yard and he stood entirely still the entire hour and a half i had him in – to tack up, to cool down etc. he was even easy to tack up. its like owning a new horse!!! Now my question is – do I keep him on magnesium, and if so for how long? If the change in behaviour is an indication he was lacking magnesium and now he has enough should I stop feeding it or reduce how much I feed (20g a day). Suggestions appreciated

my boy has been on pure magnesium (20g) for two years it doesnt make him into a different horse but does take the edge off. i took him off it as thought there was no difference but when i took him off i realised he was different but only slightly lol. so i keep feeding him it all year round x

 

[Cuffey]

Not sure what form you are feeding the magnesium in (not possible to feed pure magnesium ie metal)
May be oxide or carbonate
Perhaps feed at that level for a month then halve it

You are altering ratios of Ca/Mg by doing this but Calcium normally quite good in the diet.
Getting that wrong can affect muscle function

Grass will be very low in Ca/Mg due to the constant rain and I would guess some hay will be as well.

 

[travelmad]

Not sure what form you are feeding the magnesium in (not possible to feed pure magnesium ie metal)
May be oxide or carbonate
Perhaps feed at that level for a month then halve it

You are altering ratios of Ca/Mg by doing this but Calcium normally quite good in the diet.
Getting that wrong can affect muscle function

Grass will be very low in Ca/Mg due to the constant rain and I would guess some hay will be as well.

Lol - sorry! magnesium oxide 50%, I meant pure magnesium powder as opposed to in a calmer with other stuff!

He is on stud balancer so I hope it won't alter the calcium content but will try this level then halve, thanks for all your help

 

[AngieandBen]

If its only 50% then feeding 20g a day to a 500kg horse is about right. I've been feeding it for years to my two natives without any effect at all, I feed for their hooves not temperament. I think a lot of UK grazing is deficient in magnesium especially over the spring/summer months.

 

[Elsbells]

Move over to cal-mag and carry on giving it. What a lot of people mistakenly believe is that it is a calmer, well it's not, it's an essential mineral needed in 600 functions within the horses nervous system and even if I had the calmest horse in the world(unlikely) I would still feed it.

Today pasture is going to be short in a lot of essentials as land is short and often overgrazed. Add to this the season changes, the rubbish weather be get in the UK and the type of grazing our horses get(no browsing in hedges etc) is there any wonder that we need to supplement?

Google magnesium in horses and have a good read, it'll be a real eye opener.

Well done for taking the trouble to look for a root cause than just blaming your horse.

 

[mynutmeg]

we have my sister's tb on magnitude which is magnesium and calcium carbonate and find it brilliant, it makes such a difference to his behaviour. We find if he comes off the stuff then his behavious reverts so you can try lowering the dose and see how he goes but I would keep him on it at some level as he so obvioulsy needs it.