Would calmer help someone who's lost their nerve?

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hondatyper

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I had a conversation with a friend last night who has lost her nerve riding her horse, she has been bucked off a few times now, horse is just full of the joys of spring as he is not normally like this and is very spooky, spins, plants etc. The local tack shop have suggested a calmer but she is lothe to spend the £££s on something that may not work/take ages to have an effect, and she maystill have problems with the horse.

I have suggested she have some lessons from a good instructor to help get her confidence back, do you think a calmer would work? they have suggested the Equie America one to her? Any other suggestions greatly received, the horse is nice but she is so downhearted at the moment with it, she used to go all over the place and loved dressage I can't believe it's the same person I used to know:(

BTW feed is non heating just nuts and chaff, grass could be coming through, not a back issue as it's just had it's jabs and been checked and saddle was done a little while ago.
 
Oh, I thought you meant for the rider!!
(was going to watch with interest, as my nerves have taken a battering too).
Sorry, nothing constructive to add, good luck!
 
I was recommended Nuprafeed which is mega expensive but alot of people swear by it.

Sorry to hyjack your post but does anyone use HUMAN CALMERS? Are they successful would be very interested...
 
Magnesium supplementation does have a calming effect on humans, too. I've fed a magnesium supplement in the past (to husband as well as horses....) - farmers add magnesium to feed for cattle when they go out on spring grass, and they wouldn't spend the money unless they had to!

Lunge the brute before getting on his back- and not just for a fling, buck and kick, lunge him until he's really concentrating and listening (and maybe a bit tired?), and get a sympathetic instructor out to have lessons with him.

Hypnotherapy CDs can help improve confidence, too.
 
I have taken Kalms (human calmers) if I have lost my verve riding, 2x twice a day for a couple of days before hand did make a difference to me, you sleep better and just find that feeling in the pit of your stomach goes away and makes you more relaxed in general.
I wouldnt say Im more confident now purely because of them but they do help. The biggest help to me were lessons with an instructor i trusted
 
OOps sorry title does read like the human should have the calmer not the horse! what I was sort of saying is that if the rider is nervouse then surely the horse will pick up on it? I know rescue remedy is supposed to be good for people. But have read through here and there's so much conflicting advice re calmers and ones with magnesium say only useful if the horse is already low in magnesuim, confused!!! Anyway willl print off your replies and give them to her so keep them coming!!
 
I used good as gold also have used a few drops of valarian which really made mare dopey.Found bach rescue remendy helped me took the edge off.
I rode a horse from box rest and put her on a calmer tbh she didn't need it I needed her to be on it -totally psychological!
 
I think lunging first to get the horse to use up some energy and lessons with a good instructer. A friend of mine lost her confidence and her mare really wasnt helping so she has been riding another friends horse that is as good as gold and it has really helped her enjoy riding again
 
Lunging is good, especially for a short measure if the horse is just feeling fresh, but if you do this all the time your (or your friends) horse will just get super fit... lol

Get a decent instructor out, as when said horse starts to get a bit fresh in the school the instructor will help your friend knuckle him down to do some serious work and put that energy into creating something she will be happy with, instead of working against it.

Also, why take him for a few good blasts, let him get rid of some of this excess energy too.
x
 
My old YO used to say about lunging only making the horse fitter and more of a problem!! I wonder though if a horse will still spook etc even if lunged first it may be tired does that mean it just won't have the energy to spook/buck etc???

My horse can be spooky at times but once he's had a good canter he is lovely to ride, hers is a 17.2 dressage horse, she has a lot of road work to do and nowhere really to haved a good blast, also at 17.2 I think she would need to carry a parachute if he sets off bucking, he is a big brute very powerful!
 
I would defo suggest lessons with an instructor, having omeone calm and able to see from the ground and talk her through how to handle the situation will really help.

Plus having someone talk her through dealing with the horse when it mis-behaves will take her mind off worrying when the horse is mis-behaving and help to build her confidence up agian.

I would also suggest go with the lunging to take the excess energy off.
 
agree with lunging first then, if you have to resort to a calmer, the only one ive ever used that makes a blind bit of difference is Nupafeed.
 
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