Valerian calmers

[leflynn]

Hi,

Just wanted a bit of advice on Valerian calmers... Currently using Tranquil E which is valerian based 2 x 15ml per day with one at lunchtime if the ned is getting a bit overexcited. He is currently halfway through 12 weeks box rest for a fracture to his left upper radius from a kick in the field (very unlucky allround).
The first 2 and a half weeks he was in too much agony to be silly so no calmer needed, he started to feel better and then started to lark about (which is typical of him, did the same when on box rest for suspensory ligament earlier in the year). He starts trotting round his stable, broncing and head tossing - this will not be helping his fracture I am sure, but obv I can't explain it to him...

With the Tranquil E it suggests that after 3 weeks of use I should take him off it for a week *eeks* Does anyone else do this? Any suggestions for a replacement calmer for a week or 2?
I can't inject anything as he's a nightmare to inject, magnesium calmers make him worse... My lovely vet has suggested Zylkene (cost not an issue as now running an insurance claim, otherwise I'd be selling my soul on ebay). Reading on here it seems to be quite successful and could mean I do 3 weeks of that, then do a further 3 weeks of valerian and then dope him and turn him out xrays all being well - any experiences/ideas welcome

He's a 6yo TB btw who can either be a donkey or a hyped stress head should the mood take him. I know he is bored hence why any little thing is sending him into orbit, he has toys/licks/a nice view so there doesn't seem to be a lot I change about his environment hence the calmer! Thanks in advance

 

[HappyHooves]

With most homeopathic and herbal things you are advised to take one week off and three weeks on. So I would be careful if you are considering anything else herbal for the week off valerian - you would need to be sure that there is no interaction with any valerian still in the blood stream.
Maybe you could go for toys and boredom breakers- a new one each day- for the week off? DIY not bought of course!
Which calmer is the one that makes the horse worse? They are all so different and many contain minerals in a form that is poorly absorbed by the horse.

 

[dianchi]

Personally best calmer I've found is global herbs tb calmer, no valerian and you can have them on it all the time!

 

[horseandshoes77]

I use chamomile/valerian root/vervain...i buy them seperately and feed all three for really stressful situations usually the rest of the time i leave the valerian out and feed the other 2 and vervain is especially good for fidgety tb types... seems to do the job for my mare and never had any probs etc doing this

 

[leflynn]

The zylkene is milk protein based so it should be okay after the valerian I think. I tried horse first relax me and also the Naf Magic one - both sent him loopier, also tried pure mag ox and that did the same. I can't feed him anything by global herbs as he won't eat it (otherwise I would have tried their calmer).

The only stable toys he likes is his treat ball but I can't give him that as I am trying to keep him still to help heal his leg. He does hifibre cubes sprinkled in heaps on the floor to try and keep him entertained, plus a salt lick, normal lick - he is a fussy pest!! Stable mirrors make him stressed the other horse will either crib in his stable or eat his food

 

[leflynn]

I use chamomile/valerian root/vervain...i buy them seperately and feed all three for really stressful situations usually the rest of the time i leave the valerian out and feed the other 2 and vervain is especially good for fidgety tb types... seems to do the job for my mare and never had any probs etc doing this

I'd pondered vervain, but wasn't sure about it against the valerian? In which form do you buy/feed it?

 

[Archiepoo]

my horse is on valerian ,vervain, brewers yeast, magnessium oxide heavy, agnus castus (chaste berry) and he has them everyday and will not be coming off them anytime soon!