What to feed a nervy mare. Help....!

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elliemum

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Hi guys. Recently bought a six year old sports horse for my daughter. When trying her she was very calm & safe & did everything we wanted her to do. The move to a new yard really upset her. She settled after about a month but has now started to be very nervy and get herself in a state about silly things. Especially when hacking out alone which she was doing fine before. Daughter is very confident and capable rider so I don't think the vibes are coming from her. We are taking everything very slowly and calmly with her but wondered if changing her feed might help. She is currently just on spillers horse and pony cubes with Dengie original hifi, but am thinking about changing her diet to a low starch/sugar one. Any recommendations as to what to try? Have looked at Coolstance copra or TopSpec cool balancer with cool condition cubes. I find feeding a minefield!! Help please....! :)
 
Hi there. I switched from alfalfa + oil to Thunderbrook Equestrian's base mix and healthy chaff. There is a small amount of starch in the base mix but it worked wonders for my TB ex steeplechaser. With ad lib hay, mine does well on a minimal amount anyway. Keeps weight on brilliantly too. I don't find it expensive compared to other balancers etc.
 
You could try a calmer. Either valerian based (if she's not competing) or a magnesium based one. I find the mag ox (bought cheaply on eBay) works well for the 'nervy' types - as they're potentially short of magnesium. You'd have to experiment to see what seems to suit your mare.
It doesn't sound like you're feeding anything too heating. So I'm not sure the diet will make a massive difference, although that combined with a calmer should help.
I also feed the too spec 'lite' balancer - which seems to suit my gelding. Along with cool & collected, micronised linseed & happy hoof chaff. If he needs a bit more in the winter I add micronised soya flakes. None of this is heating & he does well on it. Plus ad lib hay!
 
I would change her feed. Many horses, especailly mares, do not do well with alfalfa. We have one that reacts very badly to it, think rocking horse on the road!

We feed all ours on varying quantities of grassnuts and dried grass chaff and have never had one react badly. Your h&p nuts will have plenty of molasses and wheatfeed, which can also cause problems.

Do you know what she was being fed in her previous home?
 
I would certainly recommed Magic. Its been very effective on my horse and I also know of other horses where it has worked very well. I have taken my horse off it twice to see what happened, and each time had spookiness and spinning return within a few days which is proof enough that the product works very well.

Magic is available in powder form. here's what the website says about it.

Magic is a magnesium calmer with a difference. It's a five star formula that contains a unique combination of herbs and nutrients known to help relax muscle tissue and support concentration. Magnesium is an essential nutrient to a horse’s wellbeing, and among its many roles is the regulation of nervous tension. As magnesium also acts on muscle tension, a horse low in magnesium may appear ‘tight’ in his way of going and express excitability or a lack of confidence. Low magnesium may be caused by a grazing deficiency or simply a horse or pony’s individual metabolism. Magnesium levels can also be reduced by regular travel and competition. Magic is more than just magnesium; it also contains a blend of herbs chosen for their traditional use in supporting confidence and concentration. The unique blend of magnesium and herbal support of Magic enables the horse to tackle all that is asked of it, calmly and confidently. Note: NAF are pleased to confirm that the magnesium used in Magic does not contravene FEI rules and is safe for use in all horses.



Available pack sizes: 750g, 1.5kg, 3kg & 15kg
A 750g tub fed at 25g per day will last 30 days.

Incidentally I put a post on here the other day but currently Countrwide Farmers have a 3 for two on all NAF products of which Magic is included. Its saved me a few pounds!
 
Id have a look at St Hippolyt equigard as its grain and molasses free - contains all vits and mins and has certainly transformed my horse into a much more level headed one!
Id be careful with the magnesium as if you give them too much magnesium in their diet it can have the opposite effect
 
I would cut all hard feed to start with and just feed hay. Plenty of it. Then you will know whether it is a feeding issue or not. One of ours cannot tolerate alfalfa at all, well put it this way, I can tell when oh has given him some rather than plain oat chop which he normally has. To say he becomes exciting to ride is putting it mildly.

The chances are she does not really need hard feed at the moment.

I also use Magic and it does work.
 
elliemum said:
Hi guys. Recently bought a six year old sports horse for my daughter. When trying her she was very calm & safe & did everything we wanted her to do. The move to a new yard really upset her. She settled after about a month but has now started to be very nervy and get herself in a state about silly things. Especially when hacking out alone which she was doing fine before. Daughter is very confident and capable rider so I don't think the vibes are coming from her. We are taking everything very slowly and calmly with her but wondered if changing her feed might help. She is currently just on spillers horse and pony cubes with Dengie original hifi, but am thinking about changing her diet to a low starch/sugar one. Any recommendations as to what to try? Have looked at Coolstance copra or TopSpec cool balancer with cool condition cubes. I find feeding a minefield!! Help please....! :)
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This is exactly like my new mare. I have had her 3 months - tried her fine - now a little spooky and jumpy. Mine is 5 years old Irish Draught - I have her on Fibery and nuts along with a little Magic, still a bit jumpy but a masked improvement.

I will not hack her on her own yet even though she has been hacked alone. I want her to learn from older horses so I go out with some one every time. Though one mistake was to go out with another 5 year old *big mistake*



If your still erring and and wondering speak to D&H help line. They are always wary in a new home, mine has been here 3 months and I have not cantered yet or trotted. In fact I lunged here yesterday for the first time. There is no need too rush and start worrying the horse, take your time and let horse learn to trust and feel safe in your company and settle in his or her new home.
 
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hi i wanted to get in touch with you as you comment-hacked out with 5 yr old-big mistake-made me chuckle as it happened to me
i have a 3 yr old and decided to give her more exp to walk out with a lady with 6 yr old-very green pony!! everything that pony did mine did too!! stopped,would not go forward,napping--i also will NOT hack out on my own far too green and been panicky with local grouse shoot she can hear four fields away and tractors and trailers,had her since one so just got to keep going with her-what happened with you>
 
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