Magnesium calmers- do they work?

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ASBO Bob

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My 6yo IDxTB is naturally of a nervous disposition and this has worsened with the spring grass plus some time off due to a splint injury. He's now coming back into work but its very difficult to keep his focus and on the yard he's very on edge.
A friend at the same yard bought magnesium calmer supplement (powder type you add to feed every day) for her mare before discovering that she did not need it (mare was in pain not being scatty- having vet treatment now :) ).
So we've decided to try my boy on it to see if it just takes the edge off a bit..
Has anyone had success with magnesium as a calmer? And how long till you notice a differnce?
Thanks
 
I find it takes the edge of my youngster, without it he's more explosive in his reactions. I feed double to quantity recommended of one thats £20 for 6 month supply, only feed double after reading that the recommended amount is not enough, hope that helps :) normally takes a week or two to really notice a difference.
 
A magnesium calmer will only work if your horse is deficient in magnesium - if he isn't, then it won't make any difference - but you can work this out once he's on it. It's worth a try, how long it takes depends on the supplement but you'll usually see any changes in about a week(ish). Which calmer is it?
 
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Magnesium isn't a calmer - it is an essential trace mineral that is often found lacking in forage and especially if the horse gets alfalfa.

Symptoms of magnesium deficiency include;

• Irritability
• Hypersensitivity
• Muscular twitching and spasm
• Gastro intestinal symptoms
• Heart irregularities
• Gait disturbances
• Inability to control hind end (can be seen as a reluctance to canter)
• Sore hooves (seen especially in spring/autumn)

If the horse displays a positive reaction to a magnesium based calmer - then there is a deficiency and the horse has been crying out for help. The calming effect is actually the horse getting back to it's normal functioning state.

It really pees me off to see companies selling such products (at a hefty mark up) without explaining the real reason why it works :(
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MAGNESIUM...r_Equipment&hash=item3f15984d6b#ht_1368wt_952
 
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Oberon said:
Magnesium isn't a calmer - it is an essential trace mineral that is often found lacking in forage and especially if the horse gets alfalfa.

Symptoms of magnesium deficiency include;

• Irritability
• Hypersensitivity
• Muscular twitching and spasm
• Gastro intestinal symptoms
• Heart irregularities
• Gait disturbances
• Inability to control hind end (can be seen as a reluctance to canter)
• Sore hooves (seen especially in spring/autumn)

If the horse displays a positive reaction to a magnesium based calmer - then there is a deficiency and the horse has been crying out for help. The calming effect is actually the horse getting back to it's normal functioning state.

It really pees me off to see companies selling such products (at a hefty mark up) without explaining the real reason why it works :(
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MAGNESIUM...r_Equipment&hash=item3f15984d6b#ht_1368wt_952
Click to expand...

Thanks everyone- I'll give it a go then with a bit more hope that it might do something.
Also Oberon some of the symptoms you've described, e.g. irritability and hypersensitivity do describe Bob - I thought it was just grumpiness! He gets a vitamin supplement too, will check if it has any magnesium!
 
ASBO Bob said:
Thanks everyone- I'll give it a go then with a bit more hope that it might do something.
Also Oberon some of the symptoms you've described, e.g. irritability and hypersensitivity do describe Bob - I thought it was just grumpiness! He gets a vitamin supplement too, will check if it has any magnesium!
Click to expand...

It's not just about what you are adding to his diet - you have to consider the bulk of his nutrients comes from the grazing and forage he eats.

Looking at my own forage - after getting it tested it was found high in calcium and phosphorous - so even though my forage had plenty of magnesium in it, the calcium and phosphorous was 'bullying' the magnesium and stopping my horses from absorbing it properly...so I have to add more to jump over the calcium and phosphorous.

Either way - magnesium is a safe mineral to provide as any excess is pee'd out and it doesn't mess with any other minerals in the system.

Consider some brewer's yeast or yea-sacc too - you may find them helpful to your boy.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/YEA-SACC-...r_Equipment&hash=item3f0e7db469#ht_1003wt_952
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BREWERS-Y...r_Equipment&hash=item41640dbc3e#ht_1095wt_952

And salt - feed 25g (at least) of simple salt into the diet too.
 
Just a little update..
After only 2 days of the having the calmer supplement Bob was so calm today I thought he was ill!
After being practically asleep to groom I was panicking that maybe he had colic as he was so still! He was a pleasure to ride and seemed much happier and settled- here's hoping its not a one off and that he's now happier in himself.
 
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