Reccomendations for a calmer that actually works

Saxon_Jasmine

Saxon_Jasmine

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Hi,

I need a calmer for my TB mare to stop her stressing when ridden.

A lot of people I have asked reckon most of them don't work, so..

please reccomend me one that does :)

Thank you.
 
Another fan of Horse First Relax Me. Had tried others before with no effect, but on this my hyper 4 year old will wait long enough to think about what is being asked rather than just reacting!
 
Most calmers are based on magnesium as deficiency in this caused agitation. The best way to ensure compliant behaviour through diet is to ensure the horse is fed a forage based, high fibre with adequate vit and mins.

Actual substances that calm are things such as valerian and chamomile.

Of course, no amount of calmers will silence pain caused misbehaviour (teeth, body, ulcers) but I am sure you've been through that already:)
 
Oberon said:
Most calmers are based on magnesium as deficiency in this caused agitation. The best way to ensure compliant behaviour through diet is to ensure the horse is fed a forage based, high fibre with adequate vit and mins.

Actual substances that calm are things such as valerian and chamomile.

Of course, no amount of calmers will silence pain caused misbehaviour (teeth, body, ulcers) but I am sure you've been through that already:)
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She is fed a high fibre, low starch diet. Her feed plan has been designed for her by nutritionalists from various feed companies and contains everything she needs. We add and subtract things as her weight/fitness/workload changes.

Her back, teeth, hooves etc are done regularly and are in good condition.

She is just a bit stressy in certain situations so would like to try a calmer.
 
Have you tried Brewers Yeast? I have just started one on it, and I do believe that he has stopped being quite so silly since he's been on it. Could be my imagination of course, but I don't think it is. He is on a high fibre/protein, no sugar/cereal diet, so I think I've got that bit covered... Certainly this recent silliness is totally different to the spookiness we used to get when he was on cereals.

By silliness, I mean won't stand still, moves sideways, jogs, treads on his own feet and just generally acts the prat... He's perfectly well mannered by the way, this is an act he's started putting on... Eventually he will stop it after about 1/2 hour, but it gets very tiring...
 
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Saxon_Jasmine said:
She is fed a high fibre, low starch diet. Her feed plan has been designed for her by nutritionalists from various feed companies and contains everything she needs. We add and subtract things as her weight/fitness/workload changes.

Her back, teeth, hooves etc are done regularly and are in good condition.

She is just a bit stressy in certain situations so would like to try a calmer.
Click to expand...

As you feel her diet is covering all her needs, you are unlikely to get much result from calming supplelments. All you'd get is expensive wee:)

In your case I'd try chamomile and/or valerian. You can just buy the tea bags from supermarket and tip the tea into the feeds. I'd use two bags of each.
 
The vast majority of horse calmers on the market are magnesium based - they will only have an effect if the horse is deficient in magnesium. If you are happy that she has a balanced diet with the mineral profile of her grazing and hay taken into account then it is unlikely she has a magnesium deficiency. If this isn't the case then it is worth a try. Excess magnesium will make her loose so you can just drop it again or reduce the dose if this happens. I get mine from here http://www.naturalhorsesupplies.co.uk/p/category/0802204936-Magnesium+Supplements/ and get the heavy magox.
As Oberon says, valerian and calomile are fab too. I wouldn't bother feeding dry herbs though, an infusion is much more effective.
 
2 things to think about if you want

Mineral balance - as other have said, Magnesium (I use the fine food grade oxide each feed) - but other balanced minerals will help. Brewers yeat provides some mineras and amino acids.

Pain - it may strike you as strange, but I have see a MASSIVE temperament difference in my TB since going barefoot. I think there was a constant low level discomfort and he was half distracted all the time and that added to his temperament problems.
 
Magic works for my boy. noticed the difference in a few weeks, he actually walked past the barn full of noisey cows without wetting his pants yeaterday! WOO!
 
I've tried Naf Magic and Blue Chip Calmer for my mare and it mad no difference. Borrowed some Nupafeed from a friend and it works so I bought some. I've had my mare 7years and what a change, wish I'd come across it sooner.
 
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