Valerian again or something else?

[leflynn]

Morning all!

Just wanted an opinion on what to get next if needed for my boy who is currently on box rest. He has been on long term box rest for the last 11 months with various injuries and is currently on box rest with a fracture.

The poor boy has only spent about 8 weeks in the outside world (a spell of 6 weeks and one of 2 weeks 4 months apart) so he is understandably a bit bored/frustrated/thinks I am his playmate. He has been on zylkene for 2 month long session, interspersed with sevral bouts of valerian as any magnesium based calmer doesn't work (makes him worse), and he flatly refuses to touch the global herbs calmer.
He is so excitable that if/when he has to be turned out again he will have to be sedated otherwise he tries to get to the field on his backlegs. Walking in hand is a no no until he has been turned out 24/7 for a week, even parelli and/or a chifney plus 2 people can't contain the excitement. Once he is turned out he goes back to his normal loveable calmer self (he is a TB and can have *those* moments) and doesn't need a calmer in normal life.

The vet is out to check him over again on friday but I am preparing for either turnout or more stabling and I try to let him have a week or 2 off from the valerian before feeding it again. He needs a calmer otherwise he broncs and bucks and trots round his stable lunging at people/other horses - not good for healing a fracture! (makes mucking out fun not) He has managed to smash his light fitting by broncing 4 times now in the last couple of months.

He needs a break from calmer for a week, but I'm not sure what to use next - do I use more valerian or do I try something else as I'm not keen to keep him on it long term which is what its becoming..

Diet is:
half a scoop alpha a oil
handful hi fibre cubes (lowest starch/sugar)
msm/yea sacc/selenvite e/limestone flour
Twice a day so there is nothing sugar going on there and if he's only in a month he is fine on it. No licks or anything at all, no carrots or treats so hopefully no sugar risks.
Any thoughts? (think this is in the right bit)

 

[Happy H]

sedalin/acp?

To be honest, after 11 months of box rest and he is still going mad, the chemical route may be your only option.

 

[leflynn]

I wouldn't want to give something like that daily - I know my vet doesn't suggest it either, but thanks

 

[Tammytoo]

If Valerian works I would stick with that. As far as I am aware, there are no long term effects from using it and if it does the job it seems unfair to experiment with other calmers in case they don't work.

According to the advertising blurb "Alfa A Oil can be used as a conditioning or competition mix" which indicates energy giving (albeit slow release, energy is energy!) I would try substituting Mollichop Calmer instead. It is a dried grass/hay/straw chop with magnesium and camomille added for calming properties.

 

[aspirit]

I use valerian daily after trying everything else. Stick to it . If it does the job.

 

[NOISYGIRL]

Do you know if Valerian is safe to give a horse that has had lami in the past ? It is managed at the moment through feed and muzzle so don't want to risk triggering lami

Thanks

 

[sjp1]

Well I wouldn't feed mollichop calmer as it smells very sweet and has either moglo or mollasses in it. Nor would I feed high fibre cubes which caused my horse to behave like a lunatic with 12 % or higher starch. If you have to give a feed I give unmollassed sugar beet which I soak in a lot of water and then rinse through a collander before I feed. It swells hugely and two small scoops last us four feeds.