Valerian

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Ceifer

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I did comment on another thread but realised it was in the feed section that doesn’t get as much traffic so starting a new one.
My horse struggles with the change of season. He’s always sharper when it drops cold and with the late grass flush he’s been a bit ummm unfocused.
I’ve never really had a good result with calmers. Tried pro calm and nothing.
As we aren’t competing I decided to try valerian root. Had a clinic 7 days ago so put him on it for 3 days prior. I didn’t think it did anything really, he was super sharp to hack prior and the clinic was at a new venue and he was hot but managed to keep a lid on things.
I took him off it as decided it wasn’t doing a fat lot. I went off to a venue hire today and just decided for the sake of it to put some in his breakfast.
Different horse today. Normally a new busy venue would result in a lack of focus and being sharp. Completely chilled, super focused and on side.
So now I’m confused. Is it
A) he respond better to a one off dose when needed rather than building up.
B) coincidence 😂.

Do people feed it as a ‘one off’ on the day of an anticipated need or build up a little?
I wouldn’t keep him on it all the time as I’ve read it’s not great to do this.
 
I used as one off's with a long term box resting horse and it did help him. I used when the lorry was going out as he always wanted to come.

Used this too, but didn't rate it at all - https://www.petdrugsonline.co.uk/zy...id=42cef356628b1d21e9b29b8cad22ef76#646=41347

The product that worked the best is no longer available. Temperalax if anyone can remember that. I accidently consumed some whilst dosing a very tall horse and failing to remember to close my mouth whilst underneath his :eek:. I was away with the fairies for a good while. It was a very popular product with the show pony world.
 
I use james hart v calm when I change my boys routine. I use it daily for a few weeks before bringing in at night, after a summer out. I carry it on for a little while afterwards. Works well.
 
AdorableAlice said:
I used as one off's with a long term box resting horse and it did help him. I used when the lorry was going out as he always wanted to come.

Used this too, but didn't rate it at all - https://www.petdrugsonline.co.uk/zylkene-equine-reduce-anxiety-stress-relief-tablets-for-horses?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=*BM | UK | Shopping | Non-Prescription&utm_term=default&msclkid=42cef356628b1d21e9b29b8cad22ef76#646=41347

The product that worked the best is no longer available. Temperalax if anyone can remember that. I accidently consumed some whilst dosing a very tall horse and failing to remember to close my mouth whilst underneath his :eek:. I was away with the fairies for a good while. It was a very popular product with the show pony world.
Click to expand...
Vet recommended Zylkene after an incident when the hunt came through our land and he was bonkers for a week after. I was also apoplectic with the hunt and probably needed some too.
I didn’t get him any in the end as he did settle.
I used Temperalax in France and a quick google shows you can still get it in Spain 🤣
 
I use it on my mare. She is usually a fairly laid back ride albeit pretty sharp and off the leg, but sometimes in season can become ridiculously spooky inhand and ridden.

I bought valerian root just to see if it helped settle the especially bad seasons. I just pop it in her feed as and when I feel she just needs the extra support or when I know something stressful is going to happen and it definitely works. She is on a mare supplement generally to support her so don’t often need to use valerian.
 
Valerian didn't help my horse, neither did magox, tryptophan, vervain or camomile. I bought zylkene in desperation but he improved on his own and I didn't use it.
 
Having tried every calmer I could get my hands on over the years on my horse who lost his head every winter I settled on a mix of Valerian, lemon balm and chamomile. It was the only combo he would
Not only eat but seemed to make a little difference. He had it just during winter and stopped in spring
 
It seemed to work on my spooky mare. I now have her on Buck Off and that works too, although you do need to play around with the dosage to get it right.
 
A friend pops some valerian in her sharp horses breakfast if we re hacking a new route or he is too highly strung. It seems to work within 20 minutes and it’s only given as and when not continually. She swears by it.
 
I fed it to mine last winter and noticed an improvement but then the effects seemed to fade, maybe small doses as and when required are best….. it stinks!
 
One horse - ex-eventer - on my yard gets given one or two of these before hacking on cold winter days. They work well and take his edge off without making him into a doped slug. It isn't based around valerian.

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Competition legal but note that not to be used for EMS/laminitics.

I take valerian root tablets when I get stressed and they do work for me. I no longer need diazepam at all. Funnily I've had to take a valerian this morning for an important legal call in 50 mins. It's the culmination of a legal fight that has been going on for 16 years and normally I'd need the presciption drug but on the valerian this morning I'm fine.

Agree it doesn't work for all people I know that have tried it and so I suppose it's the same in horses - works for some and not others.
 
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