Recommendations for a calming supplement/bright ideas needed please...!

[Gingey]

After falling off my boy tonight quite literally twice in two minutes (yep, quite possibly a record? ) I think I need to find some kind of calming supplement, or get some good tips on keeping him grounded (literally)!

I'm not sure there is much more I can do in terms of regime/management to keep him controllable- he is out all day, every day (would stay out at night too but not allowed at yard), only fed literally half a handful of concentrate feed (and that's only mixed in to tempt him to eat his beet and Alfa A, which he needs to have to keep weight on!), ridden regularly and doing a variety of different things (hacking, schooling, jumping, canter work round the paddocks).
He is a an ex racer, naturally enthusiastic and forwards (which I love!) and can be quite 'hot' and sensitive (again, don't mind that at all!) but over the past couple of weeks has become a little excessive! I haven't been able to ride quite as much as normal in the past few weeks (think 4 times a week rather than 6, and for 40mins rather than an hour..) due to school work/exams and it seems that's not currently enough to keep him busy.

I was planning on giving him a couple of weeks nearly off over my exam period (just hacking a couple of times to keep him ticking over as otherwise he will just get OTT and drive himself crazy in the paddock!) as this has worked well previously, but this year I don't think I'll be able to- he had to have some time off last week due to an overreach injury (self inflicted in paddock after 2 days off..!) and was practically bouncing off the fences by day 4. Much as I'd like to give him some time off, as he's been working hard since the beginning of winter really, I'm not sure it would be enjoyable or beneficial for either of us! We won't be competing again til after my exams though so I guess that's some form of break...

I'm always tempted to give him a blast to get the 'wiggles' out, and quite often this works, and he settles down to work nicely- but sometimes it doesn't
Similarly, lunging him before riding can work, except sometimes it doesn't and it hots him up more!
..I'm also aware that both of these methods will actually be getting him fitter, which won't be helping- I don't want him mega fit at the moment, after exams is a different matter but for now I don't want him fitter than me!

And BTW I'm not exactly incapable ridingwise either I don't think, have brought him on myself for the past two years, have regular instruction and I think we make an OK team together generally.

So, tips/products for keeping him chilled, without lunging into the ground? It's basically exuberance, which is fine, and, like I say, I normally enjoy- I just don't enjoy it quite so much when I'm getting unavoidably decked, and I don't think my mum will forgive me if I break something a few weeks before A levels! Haven't fallen off in months, it's not a regular habit and I'd like to keep it that way..
Thanks, Ibuprofen, tea and Battenburg on offer

 

[claribella]

You could try a bit of magnesium ox in food. It might help a bit?

 

[CarolineJ]

Second the suggestion for magnesium oxide, mine has chilled right out since starting it.

 

[cellie]

You have described my old mare, the only calmer that worked well was made by equivet its herbal and has some valerian but it does actually work.There are times when she just needed leveling out and it really helped her.

 

[Gingey]

Thanks for the replies, discussed with my instructor last week and she did say magnesium oxide might be worth a try actually. Is it likely to be available at local feed store or is it best to look online?

Here's a picture of the little horror, doing what he does best

 

[claribella]

Naturalhorsesupplies online do quite. Strong one at a reasonable price. Come highly recommended. They also have other natural callers on the site too. Really helpful people.

 

[claribella]

How poorly was that written? Sorry on my husbands iPad which tends to predict. Ok so that was suppose calmers not callers.

 

[Mariposa]

We use Carl Hester Calmer as a one-off calmer, before the first time the ponies play in the season, and for one of our mares we use NAF Magic Calmer, which we give he every day ( although she doesn't like the taste very much!)

The Carl Hester Calmer works very well, it just takes the edge off them and makes them listen to me a little more, and the Magic seems to be working well with my mare, she is definately more laid back.

 

[Bertolie]

I found Topspec calmer worked wonders with my daughters horse. Really chilled him out. We also stopped feeding him a mix, even though it was a cool mix it was fizzing him up.

 

[Pampered Ponies]

He's lovely, looks exactly like my 2 when the adrenalline is flowing!

I do some work on the ground with one of my ex-racers most times before getting on to get his brain engaged. We work with him moving directly around me using his reigns and not a lunge line. It gives a little bit of relaxation/suppleness and submission before we start - well that's the idea. He can still be a little wired but generally it works.

I don't give him a supplement but I do use Naff Magic with my mare and I can only say good things about it's impact - but Magnesium Oxide is a key ingredient and is much cheaper to buy than a clamer. Not sure if you can buy it in a local store - certainly can't near me but you can buy it off the net for around £6-13 for 900g dependant on strength (which should last a while as I believe you feed roughly 2/3g per 100kg of bodyweight).