magnesium deficiency?

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MrVelvet

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How do you know if your horse has one? Without having the grazing/forage analysed?

My horse gets a bit spookier/stressy in winter - he usually starts using his salt lick and this winter he has chewed all the bark off the low down tree roots! :/

Do you think these could be signs of a magnesium deficiency and so would benefit from a magnesium based calmer?

And if so, which would anyone recommend? The one off pastes or the supplement style ones?
 
Most grazing is deficient tbh. I always add it to the diet, it won't hurt and can only do good. You'll know if your feeding to much as the droppings will be loose. No need to use a calmer as you can buy it in powder form either on line or your feed merchants.
 
I guess unless you have specific tests done you won't know. We used to feed my horse Kossolian blood salts for periods when he would become lethargic (he was also a spooky type) I believe that has magnesium in amongst other ingredients and i do think it helped him. I've not given it to him for a few years now as he seems ok.
 
A friend of mine has a pony with a magnesium deficiency - she has put her on equine america's magnitude and improved a great deal on it - not very expensive either!
 
Hi there, my fiends horse suffered with a magnesium deficiency a couple of years ago, his behavior was really bad, we tried everything in the end she got him blood tested and it as confirmed that he had this problem, he had to go on some supplements and the difference in him was quite amazing, she got allot of help and advise from equifeast, shes never looked back, may be worth getting him tested just to rule out anything else then if it is a deficiency maybe give them a call at equifeast and have a chat with them. good luck hope you get sorted
 
She had some behavioral problems and was generally acting very uptight - she had a blood test done which confirmed the issue and recommended Magnitude - she has been a different pony since!
 
My ponies start chewing trees when they are copper deficient. If you feed copper sulphate you must feed dolomite with it to counteract the toxicity. So when they start chewing I start giving them Pat Coleby mix. Copper sulphate, dolomite, flowers of sulphur....
 
I use Feedmark Steady up, it takes ten days to have full effect, if I feed more than recommended it makes no difference, it still works at half recommended amount, so he gets half recommended amount daily, this works for anxiety/spookyness.
He can get a bit more if he is too fresh or re-active.
Now he is barefoot he also gets Laminator at half recommended amount when out on plentiful grass, Laminator also contains magnesium. It is a balanced product, I am fearful of making up one's own minerals as they need to be balanced.
I agree pure MgO will do the job, but the difference in price is not so great, I buy a year's supply of Steady Up at a time when it is on offer.
I have never had a problem with rejection or with loose droppings.
Pretty much all UK soils will be Mg deficient, acid soils and wet pastures will make situation worse.
 
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My mare is on magnitude too and she is very different since Ive been giving it to her, a pot lasts for ages as you need such a small scoop! I give it to her in an apple after riding as she is such a good doer and doesnt need extra feed.
 
The problem with individually supplementing micronutrients or using a number of different supplements is that too much is potentially toxic, cause unpleasant side effects and potentially block the uptake of other micronutrients. It is far better to feed either your normal fortified feed or a general balanced supplement with no more than the daily requirements in. A forage analysis so you only supplement things that are actually missing is best, but not cheap.
 
If you think that your horse is short of Magnesium then a blood test is the way to find out.

There are two times in a year that could cause Magnesium Deficiency , the one most people know about is in the spring, with the new grass. The other time is in the autumn when we get a flush of grass in September.

Often we look at a hyper horse as having Magnesium Deficiency when there are other factors to consider.

Often the land is deficient in Magnesium and horses do not show any signs at all.
 
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