Recommend me a calmer please.

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GREYSMEADOW

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Can anyone recommend me a calmer please just to take the edge off my 6yo (almost 16.2h) when he next has the farrier.

He is just such a fidget and gets very bored easily. He has a hay net and a hand lick whilst I’m holding him to take his mind off things. Unfortunately his stable manners are not great but I am working on that. He does seem better in a bridle so I am going to tack him up when the farrier comes to do his feet in a few weeks time.

Is the Instant Magic any good? Or do you think I should talk to my vet.

I wold appreciate any feedback please.
 
My vet's advice was that a calmer with magnesium in it was most likely to work. TBH in your situation I would probably use sedalin to take the edge off. Talking to the vet would seem to be a good idea.
 
I would recommend 'Tranquil' I read about in a magazine where the racehorse rehabilitation centre had used it and they said it almost made the horse too quiet - so going on that I tried it on a very unsettled horse I had here and you get instant results - because it is a liquid you can start with full does and gradually use less and less.
 
What about rescue remedy? I've not used it on a horse but have heard of it used on dogs for fireworks/bonfire night.

I use the magnesium based calmer by Equine America. I can't remember what it's called but it seems to do the trick, although it's a long term thing so probably not quite what you're looking for.
 
Many thanks for your comments. I’m thinking about putting him on some magnesium now and see how it goes as he’s getting rather gobby and bolshy’ and tries to push the boundaries.

I lead him in a dually so I have some control when I turn him out and bring him back in, but he’s now pushing the electric fence tape and posts and me (I have a pathway – horses one side and person the other) and also tries to get hold of me by his teeth – but in a playful way. As I was leading him back to the yard today he had his mouth around my wrist so I’m afraid he got a ticking off. Trouble is he knows there is always a carrot in my pocket and he can sniff them out a mile away. I think I will have to remove them now.

Whilst back up the yard I decided to tie him up as I usually just let him roam around his yard area. Whilst I was cleaning off my other horse’s legs I watched him rubbing his nose up at the stable wall trying to untie his lead rope and he did but I got there before he walked off. He’s like a giant Thelwell! He is behaved when he has the pressure hose on as he loves the warm water spray (or even bath in the summer without even being tied up!). I then picked out his feet – about 3 or 4 times and holding a leg a bit longer each time.

I still continue with his ground work even when turning him out and bringing him in but he’s just a fidget with his head and gobby mouth. I think I need one of those wire masks like they do for camels out in the Canary Islands.

I’m wondering if I would get better manners with a chifney. I will try with a bridle next time but he’s so impatient when in the field. I have trouble enough puttng on the the dually as he’s always moving his head. I am not one for leaving headcollars on whilst they are turned out.

He does not understand yet how to eat out of your flat hand - his big lips are like suckers and then the carrot ends up on the floor.

Any further advice would be lovely. Thanks.
 
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