Spooky, nappy, rearing horse - fixed by calmer?!

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Becki1802

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I am in complete shock. I honestly didn't believe a supplement could change my horses life so much. I bought my lad in Apr and had all sorts of dramas with him napping, reversing and rearing when hacking alone or out in front when in company. I even tried to send him back to the dealer I bought him from. I then bought supplements (garlic and a skin/coat supplement) from an online seller (I'm not using names because I don't want people to think I'm just advertising - PM me if you want to know brand) and they gave me a freebee so I chose their calmer. Initially I didn't add it but then my lad trampled me in the field by spooking at god knows what and doing some real damage to me in the process and I decided the supplement was starting. Since then he has been an angel and his hacking is 95% perfect with only an occasional nap when I can usually get him going forward again. About 10 days ago the supplement ran out and I thought it was just a fluke that it had worked and that I should stop feeding it. In the last 7 days he has turned into a loon in both the field (YO couldn't catch him last week to give him breakfast as was galloping round like a loon & being dangerous) and to hack out - he is back to not even going down the bridlepath without company and getting very stressed and rearing when sent forward. I've re-ordered the supplement and it will arrive and be fed as of tomorrow. Needless to say I will be putting up with the £1/day it costs to feed it for the foreseeable future. I wouldn't believe it if it had happened to someone else but he is a different horse on this calmer!!
 
That's great you've had such a turnaround with your horse! My boy was a total nightmare until I started him on horse first relax me and he completely changed to - guess its just a case of finding the right one!
 
Can quite believe it as I've seen what a product like Bach Flower Rescue Remedy (which I'm sure wouldn't qualify as a supplement) can do. And I used a well known calmer supplement (mind's gone blank -Pacify?) on my very very edgy old ex racing mare with great success.
 
My new tub was waiting on my doorstep when I got home - I was so pleased to see it! Never going to run out again!!! I think you are right that you need to find the right one and when you do it is worth every penny!!
I'm still in total shock that it could be the supplement. I am going to give it a week to ten days to get back into his system before I try hacking alone again. I have also found in the past that he will learn to be naughty in places if allowed to get away with it. Once we have the supplement then we'll address any naughtiness he has learnt!!
I guess it is like when someone has tablets for mental illness you keep them on them for at least 6 months and wean them really slowly... I was an idiot for cutting it out and so quickly!!!!
 
Have had recent problems with my mare rearing out hacking and being generally rude and bargy wonder if a calmer would work with her, she really responds to herbs, would you mind Becki1802 PMing the name, thank you.
Any help would be great then maybe we can hack alone again!!
 
Hi girls (and guys),
In posting again as I have all of a sudden realised that I am not alone and that actually there are a whole load of you out there with all the same problems as I've had with my lad. I've had tears and tantrums. I've doubted myself and my own ability and blamed myself for getting it wrong on the first day I had him and tried to take him down to the menage past 'scary factory'. I even would have practically given him away for less than I pay - heartbreaking when you've just spent your savings on your dream horse.
I've had over 120 views on this post and about 15 messages asking about what I am using. I didn't put the product originally because I have seen warnings about people recommending particular brands and products who in fact sell them and I didn't want people to think that! Anyway it seems enough of you believe my story so T is on Feedmark's Steady Up Advance.
http://www.feedmark.com/Product.asp?Product=Steady%2DUp
I didn't 100% know it was the Steady Up for sure until he came off it and turned into a monster again but I'm now keeping him on it forever.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xG1dqbYKlTA
The above link is before he went on Steady Up and he was driving me insane - that is less than 100ms from his yard a route he would hack or lead perfectly in company. As well as the supplement we have done a lot of hacking in company and he is now 95% alone (I emphasise not 100% because he can still be a prat!). Let me know whether it works for you or if you are using something else and you have proof it works then let other people know!
I'm sure it won't work for everyone as I think it is like anti-depressants in people - what works for one, won't work for everyone. I have also learnt not to take them off it too quick if it is working - if you want to wean off I'd now do it over a period of months not a week like I did.
Please people share how you cope with this nasty habit?! It is heart breaking when your beautiful pony won't leave the yard!!
 
YAY!!! I can confirm that it is definitely the Steady Up and my lovely horse is back rather than the nappy, rearing idiot!

Today we went on a lovely hack on the moor and he led all the way out - he didn't bat an eyelid at the cows / sheep / ponies on the moor although there were 100s of them and even I felt surrounded. He has previously been very spooked by them. My horse hates getting his feet wet but he paddled through the brook even though it was really deep & then jumped it on the way back. & we had a lovely gallop!

It is official that Steady-Up works on him and he'll be staying on it forever!!!
 
Just want to bump this old thread as I am also having major problems and now trying the equine America calmer.... Just wonder if there have been any more success stories to make me feel better?

Becky I tried to pm you but it says your box is full!
 
I would just like to say, I used steady up years ago on my mental mare and it had no effect whatsoever!

Guess every horse is unique, but I'm pleased that it has worked for this horse! but from experience, I would also just make sure that your horse isn't in any pain :)
 
Opened this thread because I do have a problem horse at the moment! Sorry, but as a confirmed cynic, I would want to see some definite authoritative scientific studies before I'd be convinced. I had another nut case a year ago who is now a total saint -- and strangely I've fed no supplements, not fitted him with a copper bracelet, and haven't used any crystals either! Just training and desensitisation and the establishment of trust! Slow but with a track record.
 
Becki1802 said:
I am in complete shock. I honestly didn't believe a supplement could change my horses life so much. I bought my lad in Apr and had all sorts of dramas with him napping, reversing and rearing when hacking alone or out in front when in company. I even tried to send him back to the dealer I bought him from. I then bought supplements (garlic and a skin/coat supplement) from an online seller (I'm not using names because I don't want people to think I'm just advertising - PM me if you want to know brand) and they gave me a freebee so I chose their calmer. Initially I didn't add it but then my lad trampled me in the field by spooking at god knows what and doing some real damage to me in the process and I decided the supplement was starting. Since then he has been an angel and his hacking is 95% perfect with only an occasional nap when I can usually get him going forward again. About 10 days ago the supplement ran out and I thought it was just a fluke that it had worked and that I should stop feeding it. In the last 7 days he has turned into a loon in both the field (YO couldn't catch him last week to give him breakfast as was galloping round like a loon & being dangerous) and to hack out - he is back to not even going down the bridlepath without company and getting very stressed and rearing when sent forward. I've re-ordered the supplement and it will arrive and be fed as of tomorrow. Needless to say I will be putting up with the £1/day it costs to feed it for the foreseeable future. I wouldn't believe it if it had happened to someone else but he is a different horse on this calmer!!
Click to expand...

Yep!!! Totally agree calmers have their place.......spooky nappy (could also rear) and generally thuggish on occasion, transformed at shows in his behaviour with calmer, I fight the battles at home without lol
 
Has the calmer got magnesium in it by chance? The behaviour originally described is often due to a magnesium deficiency. Glad you are sorted now!!
 
Archie73 said:
Has the calmer got magnesium in it by chance? The behaviour originally described is often due to a magnesium deficiency. Glad you are sorted now!!
Click to expand...

Just out of interest, how much magnesium would this need to have in it to make a difference to a horses behaviour?

I've just ordered a hoof supplement for my boy and it has 6000mg of magnesium in it, so I wonder if it will change his attitude too?
 
Just be aware though an excess of magnesium can cause problems - so if your horse isn't magnesium deficient and you feed magnesium it can actually make the problem worse...
 
I had a feeling from the first post you were talking about Steady Up - I used it many moons ago for a fractious part bred arab mare and it worked wonders back then when it first came out!, Glad it's working for you and your horse.
 
A friend of mine gave me some Steady Up to try as she'd used it on her horse and it had made him worse. The horse I tried it on responded really well and showed improvement in his behaviour. When I ran out he reverted to previous behaviour, once I put him back on it he improved again.

Some supplements work for some horses. I don't think any supplement will work for every horse, but when you find one that does, it's worth every penny.
 
Kezzabell2 said:
Just out of interest, how much magnesium would this need to have in it to make a difference to a horses behaviour?

I've just ordered a hoof supplement for my boy and it has 6000mg of magnesium in it, so I wonder if it will change his attitude too?
Click to expand...

Depends how much it's not getting elsewhere. It's all about feeding balanced minerals.

I'm not an expert enough to advise blindly on a forum but personally I feed 35mg a day ish as don't always weigh. I have had previous grass and forage testing I emphasie hugely on this point!!
 
I've just put mine on the blue chip super concentrated calming balancer. I normally wouldnt as he I never feed anything with iron in and he gets magnesium normally in his pro balance, plus a bit extra when the grass is flushing, but since I moved him hes been unsettled. For him this means hes fine to ride if a bit jumpy but his behaviour in the field and in hand is thug like to say the least! Hes been on it for about 5 days and hes much more settled. I'm hoping he only needs it for a couple of months then I can wean him off it, but so far I'm really impressed! Hes calmer and just much happier in himself :)
 
I always used Steady up wth any of the hotter types when breaking, they are getting a change in diet and in work, so a lot to cope with. For long term barefoot on a spooky boy, I added 10gms of MgO per day to the diet, which had minerals for the barefoot, but he was not getting the full dose as he was not doing much and feet seemed fine.
 
I have a brand new 4kg tub plus a bit more from an old one (horse has been sold hence no longer needed) if you want it? Worth £70+ you can have for £60 inc. postage? PM me if interested

QUOTE=Becki1802;8988900]Hi girls (and guys),
In posting again as I have all of a sudden realised that I am not alone and that actually there are a whole load of you out there with all the same problems as I've had with my lad. I've had tears and tantrums. I've doubted myself and my own ability and blamed myself for getting it wrong on the first day I had him and tried to take him down to the menage past 'scary factory'. I even would have practically given him away for less than I pay - heartbreaking when you've just spent your savings on your dream horse.
I've had over 120 views on this post and about 15 messages asking about what I am using. I didn't put the product originally because I have seen warnings about people recommending particular brands and products who in fact sell them and I didn't want people to think that! Anyway it seems enough of you believe my story so T is on Feedmark's Steady Up Advance.
http://www.feedmark.com/Product.asp?Product=Steady%2DUp
I didn't 100% know it was the Steady Up for sure until he came off it and turned into a monster again but I'm now keeping him on it forever.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xG1dqbYKlTA
The above link is before he went on Steady Up and he was driving me insane - that is less than 100ms from his yard a route he would hack or lead perfectly in company. As well as the supplement we have done a lot of hacking in company and he is now 95% alone (I emphasise not 100% because he can still be a prat!). Let me know whether it works for you or if you are using something else and you have proof it works then let other people know!
I'm sure it won't work for everyone as I think it is like anti-depressants in people - what works for one, won't work for everyone. I have also learnt not to take them off it too quick if it is working - if you want to wean off I'd now do it over a period of months not a week like I did.
Please people share how you cope with this nasty habit?! It is heart breaking when your beautiful pony won't leave the yard!![/QUOTE]
 
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