Recommend me a calmer please.

Nickles1973

Nickles1973

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Starting to think ahead for when my boy has to be brought in overnight again for the winter, and it has been suggested to me that he might need a little something to help him settle back into the old routine. I Brought him in for one night last week as he'd a bit of a sore foot that I wanted him to rest and he stressed quite a bit. My YO could hear him calling to his friends at 4am and his stable looked like a bomb had gone off on a muck heap! His feed will be scoop of Hifi, 500g Top spec balancer and scoop speedibeet and I'm thinking I could maybe start him on a calmer for a week or so before they are brought in for the night and keep it up just till he settles to it again. So if you've used a calmer with any success could you please let mw know which one. There are so many and they vary quite a bit in cost. Tbh I'm a bit wary of wasting money on stuff that doesn't work as this winter is gonna be expensive enough as it is.
 
Calmers usually take a couple of weeks to 'kick-in'. I have a stressed out welsh x who I feed Top-Spec which is brill on him but every horse varies. In winter I will be bringing him in last and he will be out first to minimise the stress of his friends leaving him. Hope this helps and good luck, its not easy having a 'stresser!' :)
 
I use Equine America's Magnitude for my TB, works brilliantly and not too expensive. Have also used NAF's Magic which is good and there instant calmer syringes are also good especially when competing.

Good Luck
 
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I use Equine America's Magnitude for my TB, works brilliantly and not too expensive. Have also used NAF's Magic which is good and there instant calmer syringes are also good especially when competing.

Good Luck
 
The best calmer ive ever nown is training! I dont think there is such a thing as a product that will help a horse adjust to being confined. You just have to stick with it and he hopefully will get used to the new routine. Some horses never like being confined though..
 
I tried different calmers when going to shows; I always found they worked the first time, and never again. (And yes, it does take at least a weak to start taking effect.)
 
was he just missing his pals in the field? Will they be coming in at the same time as him? If so then I would have thought he will settle. If he genuinly dislikes being stabled then no calmer will change this. If he is happier out, could you let him winter out?

Most calmers are based on magnesium, they will only have a calming effect if your horse is deficient in magnesium. I wouldn't buy one of the calmers to try though as they cost an absolute fortune for a pretty box! I get my magnesium from here (our grazing and hay is deficient) http://www.naturalhorsesupplies.co.uk/p/category/0802204936-Magnesium+Supplements/ and use the heavy one. Lasts ages as we only need to supplement a little.
 
When I first owned him his routine was out all day, in all night, and he was happy enough like that. Then this year the hay and straw shortage happened for us in May and I had no alternative but to turn him out 24/7. I am pretty certain that once he gets back into the swing of the old routine combined with the fact that all his pals will also be in over night, that he will settle again. But I just wondered if there was anything I could give him that would make the transition a little easier on him (and less hard work for me lol)
 
If he was the only horse in last week then he was probably stressing from separation rather than being stabled. I've tried all sorts of calmers with Lil to no effect so have decided not to waste any more money. If she trashes her bed then so be it.
 
Nickles1973 said:
When I first owned him his routine was out all day, in all night, and he was happy enough like that. Then this year the hay and straw shortage happened for us in May and I had no alternative but to turn him out 24/7. I am pretty certain that once he gets back into the swing of the old routine combined with the fact that all his pals will also be in over night, that he will settle again. But I just wondered if there was anything I could give him that would make the transition a little easier on him (and less hard work for me lol)
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If he will be in with his field pals then I would have thought he would settle. Ours would never settle if they were in on their own, but settle just fine when they have company on the yard. You won't do any harm suuplementing with magnesium - too much will just give him the runs, so you could try a little and see how he goes. Strangely it was our back lady who got us onto it as oh mare had v tight back muscles. A magnesium deficiency can also cause tight muscles which struggle to relax - due to the ions needed for nerve impulses I think. Interesting stuff!
 
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