Opinions on magnesium based calmers please

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cyberhorse

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Looking to try a calmer on my adrenalin junkie warmblood. Just wanting something legal that takes the edge off at shows. I can deal with him fine at home he just goes up a level at shows; at a time when I need to be able to keep myself calmer and positive ready for the ring which is difficult when he comes off the wagon practically pranging round the car park to let me know how up for it he is.

I like the idea of the syringe types where you give a dose before setting off. I have seen Nupafeed, Carl Hester Pro-Mag, SuperKalm Paste, NAF Magic Calmer, AnxiKalm. Some are just Magnesium and some have L-Tryptophan. Not sure which to try first any opinions gratefully received even if they are to save my money as they don't work!
 
Ok I hope I am on the right lines here, but I use Global Herbs supercalm for my aggressive, nervous gelding. It works wonders for him, I have worked him up to full dose and will advise he stays on that while his new owner (he's just been sold) gets used to him.

Supercalm also comes in an instant shot, I really do recommend it.
 
Another vote for supercalm. I took mine off it the other day as he's out of work (Ive broke my back). I've definitely noticed a change between him being on it and off it.
 
Well until last year i used to think that Calmers were a waste of money etc blah blah and used to think just up the work, get the feed right but- one of my horses is quite quirky and stressy and get's easily wound up, irritated and upset- every autumn he gets a mild colic- we always get his bloods checked and they always come back normal!- he gets really uptight. He can be spooky and tense to ride as well- so last year I started him just on a pot of magnesium based calmer (Magnitude) and he's so much more relaxed in himself, not so many stress and hissy fits, not so uptight, and he's much more relaxed in his back too- i was schooling him the other night and he's always detested birds, and at the moment we have a big fat pheasant who thinks he owns the school, he struts around the school and at one point was flying right over us when we were doing collected canter and my horse didn't even flinch or lose concentration- a year ago it would have been a different reaction completely!

You could give a calmer a try- i think the magnesium calmers work better on some horses than others and it may well be a case of trial and error 'til you find one you think works!- the magnitude was only about £18 as well and one pot has lasted since last oct and am about to buy my 2nd pot this weekend, so quite good value!

Nupafeed is supposed to be a very good one as well apparently!
 
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I use magnitude at the moment too. Only reason he is having it is that his bloods came back with low magnesium! But I do have to say he does seem even more chilled than he was before, just had 7 weeks off work for one injury after the other and hacked out the other day without batting an eyelid! Had that been before he would have been rather fresh!
 
Right, a magnesium based calmer will only work if the horse is deficient in magnesium, it also won't stop a horse being naughty. Basically, magnesium deficiency, amongst other things can cause hyper sensitivity, muscle twitching etc.
 
I had both mine on supercalm for a month and don't think I saw a difference really.

I do think that the instant syringe shots have an effect. I have used the Magic one and the Carl Hester one - both before shows - and think they do work. I give one in his dinner the night before a show, and one for breakfast and it does chill him out.

I've also heard good things about Oxyshot too.
 
martlin said:
Right, a magnesium based calmer will only work if the horse is deficient in magnesium, it also won't stop a horse being naughty. Basically, magnesium deficiency, amongst other things can cause hyper sensitivity, muscle twitching etc.
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^^ This ^^

I feed MagOx straight to my horse who can be silly and lacks concentration. He tends to overreact to silly things then finds it hard to calm down and concentrate again afterwards, also is very easily distracted and silly about it. He has been on MagOx for about 12 months now and it makes such a difference to him. He concentrates, thinks about things before reacting now, and the reactions are much smaller. It definitely stopped most of the silly moments.

Naughtiness is a different thing though... all the MagOx in the world won't make your horse well behaved if he is naughty!

It is also supposed to be good for muscle function and seems to have helped my boy who has shivers. He still gets the usual shivery leg thing, where they suddenly snatch one up in the air and wave it around, but I don't recall seeing him exhibit any muscle tremors since putting him on MagOx (he used to get thigh tremors).
 
Agree with martlin - mag based calmers are only going to work if your horse is deficient.

I have had my lovely, but slightly scatty in the head arab, on a mag based calmer when I am working him, and it has made a world of difference. It finally gave him enough chill out time to actually put some weight on for the first time :)
 
chestnut cob said:
^^ This ^^

I feed MagOx straight to my horse who can be silly and lacks concentration. He tends to overreact to silly things then finds it hard to calm down and concentrate again afterwards, also is very easily distracted and silly about it. He has been on MagOx for about 12 months now and it makes such a difference to him. He concentrates, thinks about things before reacting now, and the reactions are much smaller. It definitely stopped most of the silly moments.
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^^ this ^^

plus we have rescue remedy in his water too & that seems to take the last of the silliness off 99% of the time & he's more relaxed in his stable now as well :)
 
I know the theory about only working on horses deficient in magnesium - all I can say is that Equine America Magnitude definitely works on my gelding !!

He came back into work after a long break with a suspensory injury - so important that he keeps calm :o:o You only need a tiny scoop so a pot lasts for ages. I ran out and noticed the difference almost immediately.:eek:

My thoughts are that a daily dose works better than a one-off syringe.
 
martlin said:
Right, a magnesium based calmer will only work if the horse is deficient in magnesium, it also won't stop a horse being naughty. Basically, magnesium deficiency, amongst other things can cause hyper sensitivity, muscle twitching etc.
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Agree.
 
TBH it is not really naughtiness as such. He is generally on his toes, becomes very sensitive to ride and starts predicting. If anything I would say he is actually trying too hard. Generally it is accompanied by the wide eyed, slightly twitchy sweaty behavior & quickened reactions you'd expect if full of adrenalin. I can get him blood tested as I have the vet coming out at some point to do a sedation for the dentist.

The MagOX sounds interesting as we have a 5yr old with concentration problems and a slight shiv, this might be a good idea for him.
 
cavalo branco said:
I know the theory about only working on horses deficient in magnesium - all I can say is that Equine America Magnitude definitely works on my gelding !!

He came back into work after a long break with a suspensory injury - so important that he keeps calm :o:o You only need a tiny scoop so a pot lasts for ages. I ran out and noticed the difference almost immediately.:eek:

My thoughts are that a daily dose works better than a one-off syringe.
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Cavalo Bronco- me too! the Magnesium theory doesn't work on my horse either!despite full blood tests that show everything coming back negative!
-our horses must be one of a kind!
 
cyberhorse said:
TBH it is not really naughtiness as such. He is generally on his toes, becomes very sensitive to ride and starts predicting. If anything I would say he is actually trying too hard. Generally it is accompanied by the wide eyed, slightly twitchy sweaty behavior & quickened reactions you'd expect if full of adrenalin. I can get him blood tested as I have the vet coming out at some point to do a sedation for the dentist.

The MagOX sounds interesting as we have a 5yr old with concentration problems and a slight shiv, this might be a good idea for him.
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Try him on some pure MagOx, but feed it daily. Most of the magnesium based calmers don't actually have that much Mg in and they are expensive. I am currently feeding heavy MagOx from Barefoot Basics that costs me around £10 and lasts for 2-3 months. A commercial "calmer" must be IRO £30 and would last ~25 days at recommended feeding rates.
 
That sounds good value. We put our youngster on Cortaflex which has helped the shiv, no tail reaction anymore or twitching when doing up his leg straps. Just mainly the one leg when picking his feet out now, its only mild so never affected his performance ridden. We started the Cortaflex as it was recommended to prevent any worsening. If I am putting him on it then I might as well put my WB on it; Thanks!
 
Im a bit scepical too, having tried a few on my spooky irrational boy but I started using So Kalm pus and Im sure its made a massive difference. He is still himself but much more rational. Ive actually enjoyed him this month :eek: as everything has been so much of an uphill struggle.
Ive just ordered more today. Ive tried other Mag based calmers and they didnt work so maybe its the L-Tryptophan??
It isnt cheap though and I wondered if Magnitude would do the same??
 
I use magnitude and found it has helped my horse stop and think a bit before reacting. She hasnt shown any tendancies to bolt off or rear since using it but I cant say how much of this is down to the calmer or education - even though she seems too calm now I am reluctant to take her off it to find out if there is a difference.
 
martlin said:
Right, a magnesium based calmer will only work if the horse is deficient in magnesium, it also won't stop a horse being naughty. Basically, magnesium deficiency, amongst other things can cause hyper sensitivity, muscle twitching etc.
Click to expand...

this
never worked for me, have you tried oxy-shot?
My boy is explosive excitement at competitions, jumping, hacking out in a crowd etc. never really found anything that works unfortunately :(
 
Previous horse- I used Magnitude on him and it worked wonders. Brought him to my own place and he no longer needed it.

New horse- bought him from the same place as previous horse- nervy/jumpy/twitchy- used a mag based calmer and it really made a difference- he doesnt need it anymore....so I can only conclude that the other yard is magnesium deficient- and my place isn't......
 
martlin said:
Right, a magnesium based calmer will only work if the horse is deficient in magnesium, it also won't stop a horse being naughty. Basically, magnesium deficiency, amongst other things can cause hyper sensitivity, muscle twitching etc.
Click to expand...

This.

However, spring grass does tend to lack magnesium so at this time of year you may find it works. My boy is on Blue Chip Karma and will come off of it once the spring grass stops coming through.
 
I would say, before feeding magnesium, get your soil tested and see if its deficient.

I had mine tested and it was absolutely fine in terms of magnesium so I wouldnt want to be adding any to my horses feed.
 
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