Magnesium dose

[rachelh101]

Following on from my previous post (in comp riders) I went to buy some Nupafeed yesterday, however they didnt have any, but did have straight magnesium oxide so came back with that. Now on the box it says to feed 5g daily or more as required. 5g contains 2700mg of magnesium. However in response to my previous post I remember someone saying to feed 20g per day which is obviously alot more. I tried googling it and found this:

horses can expect to be able to make use of about 70 per cent of the available magnesium in each of these minerals.

Thus, to get the 13mg of elemental magnesium per kilogram of bodyweight, will require:

• 31 mg/kg/day of MgO

This would mean I would feed roughly 25g per day. Does anyone know if this is correct and the right amount to give. Thanks.

 

[brighteyes]

I'm feeding my 12 hander (Cushing's sufferer) with 10g per day.

 

[YorkshireLass]

http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/health/magnesium-121.shtml you might find this helpful.

I looked in to feeding magnesium and I feel these are the main points to bear in mind...

1. Be aware of ALL sources of magnesium in your horses diet. If you are feeding any sort of comercialy prepared feed, include its magnesium content i your calculations.

2. You are on a sticky wicket. You must know the precice weight of your horse ie, weigh bridge not tape, and know what is in your grazing. You must also find out weather your horse is deficient in magnesium, and you must determine whether it is deficient due to lack of magnesium in the diet, or because the horse has some condition whereby it can not use the magnesium it eats.

 

[emma_lg]

I have been told, when looking in to magnesium...that you need to get a test done to show that your horse is actually lacking in it...otherwise any that you give will just be discarded by the horses body in their urine/waste...their body takes what it needs and just gets rid of extra.

 

[lucygunson]

i have just put my 4 year old ex racehorse on magnesium to try and calm him down for travelling to see if it helps the anxiety and it did on the way and in our dressage we got 72.5% he is on the heavy magnesium from the vet 6 quid for the tub and he 2 and a half tbl spoons once a day