Magnesium - some idiot questions!

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NativePonyLover

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I apologise in advance for the idiot questions!

I've got my laminitic-prone New Forest pony on magnesium - he is currently on Equine America Magnitude, but a few people have commented that it would be cheaper to buy pure magnesium on-line. Plus, our local feed store isn't the most reliable at actually stocking it/ordering it when they say they will ... !

He was originally put on it as a calmer, but also understand it is a good supplement for a laminitic horse to be on in general - so quite happy to keep him on it.

I've also been told that if I'm feeding magnesium, it is a good idea to increase salt intake too?

Is it better to buy magnesium oxide or magnesium sulphate as a supplement ? And where is the best place to buy online?
 
Magnesium oxide is superior to sulphate. Progressive earth on eBay supply it at a reasonable price, and are a reliable source. I also feed salt, and the horses have access to a plain white salt lick too.
 
Oxide is preferable to sulphate and it's far cheaper to buy unbranded mag ox :) You'll probably want to feed around 20 g/day which is quite a lot more than the Magnitude container will tell you to feed for calming purposes.

Mine get 20 g of mag ox and 13 g of salt per day added to their feed along with other minerals.
 
I get it from pro earth on eBay too, I think the more expensive ones are 'highly digestible' forms but I use the chalky 85% stuff with no probs. I don't think salt has any particular connection with the magnesium but I do feed salt as well, just table salt, about a dessert spoon a day.
 
Thanks for all your responses :)

I've had a look at some of your suggestions & I think it will work out cheaper to buy magnesium oxide rather than keep him on magnitude - just need to register an eBay account & I'm away it seems :D
 
Or just phone up progressive earth (based in Orkney I think) and order it direct.

They send you a few bit of chocolate with each order which is the most important thing in all this!!
 
NativePonyLover I was delighted you asked. I was wondering the very same myself. A quick question though, I hope you dont mind me hijaking the thread. Will supplementing mag ox for laminitis prevention make a pony very quiet? My pony is fun and forward going and I like it that way.
Interestingly reading progressive earth's info on eBay they mention muscle stiffness and sore back with magnesium deficiency, my pony has had issues with back spasm too! It's amazing how its all linked. I'm expecting miracles from mag ox now...
 
I've been looking into magnesium, but reading some of the info above, I'm a bit worried now about the amount to feed. If the container doesn't say the correct amount, how would I best find out the quantity to use? Through a vet/nutritionist? And is the salt additive linked with it then? I thought it was only needed when a horse is sweating lots? Thanks and sorry to highjack the thread :)
 
Stripy said:
I've been looking into magnesium, but reading some of the info above, I'm a bit worried now about the amount to feed. If the container doesn't say the correct amount, how would I best find out the quantity to use? Through a vet/nutritionist? And is the salt additive linked with it then? I thought it was only needed when a horse is sweating lots? Thanks and sorry to highjack the thread :)
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The amount stated on supplements can only be indicative as a manufacturer has no way of knowing how much magnesium any one horse is already getting from its diet - ie from hay/grazing and hard feed; that said, most hay and grass is low in magnesium ad I think the recommended amounts on supplements tends to be conservative. A hay and feed analysis will give you a pretty good indicator.

Salt should be fed in any case whether you supplement magnesium or not, and whether your horse is sweating at work or not, unless it is supplied in a balancer in good quantity - I think the base rule is 2tbsp per day split across feeds, double that if working very hard or it is very hot.
 
I'm surprised at the amount of salt required. Makes sense, though to check how much salt & mag I'm feeding already and look into getting the hay analysed re magnesium. Thank you :)
 
Does seem a lot of salt - coming from someone who personally dislikes salty food but it must make their food taste rank?!
Back to the magnesium! I've looked a both progressive earth and various other cheaper forms on the Internet but all have a far higher feed rate than magnitude so are they really more economical or as I think someone else has mentioned would you up the dose if its being fed for metabolic reasons or hooves?
 
FfionWinnie said:
Or just phone up progressive earth (based in Orkney I think) and order it direct.

They send you a few bit of chocolate with each order which is the most important thing in all this!!
Click to expand...

Definitely the most important thing! Will ring on Tuesday to place my order :)

Thanks for your all your help.

ClaretCarrot - I don't mind hijacking at all! I'm just glad I'm not the only one needing to ask silly questions ... I don't feel quite so stupid :D
 
Sorry OP to butt in but have a related question.

If you were to use the Progressive Earth "pro hoof" would that cover most things?
Or would there be a need for additional mag ox?
(going on memory now as the site is down but sure it said they have increased the amount in pro hoof)
 
Hi!
We have 3 ponys and I get all the food from the internet. They eat so much It is indeed cheaper to buy all the stuff online. You can get much more offers and special prices as well!
 
Stripy said:
I've been looking into magnesium, but reading some of the info above, I'm a bit worried now about the amount to feed. If the container doesn't say the correct amount, how would I best find out the quantity to use? Through a vet/nutritionist? And is the salt additive linked with it then? I thought it was only needed when a horse is sweating lots? Thanks and sorry to highjack the thread :)
Click to expand...
Its 2g of mag ox per 100kg body weight. So, for example, a 300kg pony would need 6g mag ox per day and a 500 kg horse would need 10g of mag ox per day.
2 table spoons of salt per day for a horse at maintenance , more if sweating.
 
I tried giving my pony salt but she just ended up leaving her dinner. But she doesn't get a lot and only one feed so would seem alot fir one feed
 
I get mine from the agri merchant. Its a 20kg bag. human food grade crystals [ good in a salt cellar grinder!----much cheaperthan the supermarket] cost £7.
 
Rosie'smum said:
I tried giving my pony salt but she just ended up leaving her dinner. But she doesn't get a lot and only one feed so would seem alot fir one feed
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ditto won't touch it so he does without - it took a good while to get him eating the rest of his minerals too!
 
I bought some Mag Ox from progressive earth and my horse won't eat his feed with it in. :confused:

I guess I shall be going back to the Magnitude, as he ate that just fine. Picky boy! :rolleyes:
 
iF THEY WONT EAT THE FEED THEN REDUCE THE AMOUNT. bUILD UP THE AMOUNT GRADUALLY AND YOU CAN ALSO "DILUTE " USING MORE CHAFF. sorry didnt realise caps lock was on. You can also add a little dilute molasses to disguise the taste.
 
I have a question about magox too. I should know the answer to this and used to when I had my last horse, as I always fed it to him...

I know the difference between light and heavy magox but can't remember which is the best to feed. Any advice? :)
 
I found that magox is sometimes not that palatable, so I mix mine with Fast Fibre and it goes down better than with other things. Or you could add some mint - but that is more expense!
 
He already has mint (and fenugreek) in his feed. I tried him on a 1/4 ration and he left an entire feed, which was a rather pricey amount of linseed, slow release cubes, speedibeet, chaff and equijewel wasted. He won't eat their brewer's yeast either. I'm feeding it to my Mother's mare instead, and she is normally a hoover with her supper, but she's not that keen on either product either. Ho hum :)
 
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