[CloudsMystique]

I've decided I'm going to put my gelding on a calming supplement. He's nervous and stressed and ulcer-prone, so it's for his own benefit. Is there anything that's a) natural, b) pretty cheap, and c) actually works?



BTW - I've had blood work done on him. He was a little anemic so, per my vet's recommendation, I put him on an all-around mineral supplement. He's not anemic anymore.

 

[qtrhrsecrazy]

I tried (if I'm remembering the name right) Vita-B Crumbles once for my OTTB. It did seem to take the edge off but gave him the scours BAD so I quit using it. A bucket of it is pretty cheap, or was back then anyway

 

[kitten_Val]

I posted this link while back. Very interesting that all nervous horses I knew indeed were within those categories: Herbs for the Nervous Horse - Horse health problems and articles - Horsetalk.co.nz - equestrian news and horse health information

I'd suggest to try this thing: Calmer Wendals Herbs (Equine - Horse Supplements - Calming Agents)

 

[Void]

I've used Mare Magic with a lot of success, at the moment I am trying Vitamin B1 (it's cheaper) and can let you know how that goes later.

 

[kchfuller]

B-1 works well ... are you looking for something on a daily basis or just once in a while?

 

[Maverick101]

I have used Chamomile and Lavender with success.

 

[dressagebelle]

I personally have never had much success with calming supplements. They have actually made the horse's I've used them on even more uptight. But that being said, there's something called RelaxForm EQ that was highly recommended by a friend who is very into nutrition, and has done a lot of research into horse feeds, and supplements. It's $22 for a 13 ounce container at a local tack store in town. I've also heard lots of good things about Wendells herbs as well. I would also recommend maybe doing a hair sample. There are a couple companies that will do a hair analysis for you, and tell you what vitamins your horse needs to have adjusted, and what they do for his attitude, health ect. One company, don't remember the name unfortunately actually sells supplements as well, and they'll do the analysis, its $130 so pretty expensive, and then you can order the supplements, either premixed, or mix them yourself, that you horse needs. I know someone who's horse was actually pretty uptight and easily distracted so he did the hair analysis, and adjusted his horse's feed, and he's (the horse) is doing much better.

 

[CloudsMystique]

Thank you guys SO much for all the information!

B-1 works well ... are you looking for something on a daily basis or just once in a while?

I'm looking for something to use on a daily basis.

 

[Void]

Thank you guys SO much for all the information!





I'm looking for something to use on a daily basis.

SmartPak has Vitamin B1 in daily doses, super easy and cheap!

 

[kchfuller]

I'm looking for something to use on a daily basis.

B1 .. Void gave you a good suggestion or you can probably get it at your local feed/tack store. Talk to the people at the feed/tack store they normally are very helpful

 

[luvs2ride1979]

Before adding something to his diet, I would first look at what he's currently eating and what his turnout and riding schedule is like.

What kind of hay does hey get, how much, and how often?

What kind of grain/feed does he get, how much, and how often?

What other supplements does he get?

What are his living arrangements? (pasture 24/7, stalled 12 hours, etc.)

How often do you ride, for how long, and what kind of riding do you do?

After these questions are answered, we can give you better recommendations.

 

[CloudsMystique]

What kind of hay does hey get, how much, and how often?

He gets a scoop (I think it's a 3qt scoop) of alfalfa/orchard cubes in the morning and he's on a bale of TnA for 14+ hours overnight.

What kind of grain/feed does he get, how much, and how often?

One scoop (again, I think it's 3 quarts) of Nutrena Life Design complete in the morning and 1 scoop in the evening.

What other supplements does he get?

He gets one scoop of Platinum Performance in the morning.

What are his living arrangements? (pasture 24/7, stalled 12 hours, etc.)

He's stalled from about 8am to about 5pm. He's in the pasture overnight.

How often do you ride, for how long, and what kind of riding do you do?

I ride him Western and I ride almost every day. If I ride him in the arena, I ride for about 45 minutes and if I ride him on the trails, I ride for about two hours.

 

[ElizabethM]

I have been thinking on and off about B1 for my TB mare who is on the nervous/spooky side.

If you do decide to go with a supplement please let us know how it goes!

 

[RadHenry09]

I also often wondered how well or if they work, I dont know much about calming supplements....I would be interested in learning more as well.

 

[MIEventer]

Hey Cloud - I have Nelson on a calming suppliment.

He is a TB, and he stresses easily, and he has ulcers and all the typical who haw TB's go through.

Since we will be eventing often this summer, that means that we are going to have to do alot of haul aways - which stresses him out. Which also means that he will have to stay in a strange stall, surrounded by strange horses, and he does not bode well with that emotionally......

I contact SmartPak Equine, and discussed the whole situation with a Consultant. Explaining just how Nelson reacts when he is away from his buddies, in new surroundings and etc, etc and his ulcers and colic and etc, etc, etc - they put him on SmartCalm Ultra.

He hasn't started it yet, it will be coming in his next shipment of suppliments on the 16th. I'm excited to see the results. They ensure that all it will do, will help ease his nerves, without him losing his edge. I wont have a "drunk" or "groggy" "dull" horse - he'll be exactly as he is now, without him overly stressing like he does now. It also has a digestive aid in it, so it will protect his tummy

I just can't say enough good about Smartpak equine

 

[hhadavis]

I was in a tack store when a lady recommended mare magic for cochise because I told her what a nervous nelly he could be. I could never find it locally so I got on smart pak equine and was checking out their stuff. He also seemed like he was having stomach issues from the stress of being at a trainers for a couple months, so I started him on the smart digest ultra they had...it totally took his side/handling sensitivity away..so I knew it was helping. After a few months of that I switched to the smartcalm ultra which seemed to help also..he was less nervous about the new stuff and started listening. They do also carry maremagic but I didnt try it. I really love their large range of products, they really have something for everyones price restrictions and check the catalog too because they do offer free shipping at times. I went with the smartpaks (28 day supply) because its very handy and doesnt really cost anymore than buying it in the cannister and you can cancel/change your order as long as you catch them before they process your order.

 

[luvs2ride1979]

He gets a scoop (I think it's a 3qt scoop) of alfalfa/orchard cubes in the morning and he's on a bale of TnA for 14+ hours overnight.

One scoop (again, I think it's 3 quarts) of Nutrena Life Design complete in the morning and 1 scoop in the evening.

He gets one scoop of Platinum Performance in the morning.

He's stalled from about 8am to about 5pm. He's in the pasture overnight.

I ride him Western and I ride almost every day. If I ride him in the arena, I ride for about 45 minutes and if I ride him on the trails, I ride for about two hours.

I would nix the cubes and give him hay in his stall. If he eats too fast, use a small mesh hay net. I'd recommend a "calm" hay like Bermuda or other grass hay. If he's sitting in a stall all day without food, he can end up with ulcers and/or behavioral issues.

You're not feed enough of the Nutrena for full nutrition. Instead of the Life Design, I'd put him on a ration balancer type feed like ADM's Metabolic Minerals, Triple Crown's 30% supplement, or Buckeye Gro'n'win. You only feed 1-2 lbs a day, and you wouldn't need the Plaintinum Performance supplement.

Or, if you want to keep feeding the PP supplenment, then just mix it with some hay pellets or beet pulp, once a day. You really don't need to feed a fortified feed with Platinum Performance.

If your barn won't let you switch feeds, then just cut back to 1/2 scoop of the feed once a day, to mix your supplements in.

Giving him more may during the day and cutting back on his feed should help his attitude a lot. Some daytime turnout would probably help as well.

 

[~*~anebel~*~]

I agree with luvs2ride. I had a mare who was quite spooky and nervous and had her on every type of herb up the wazoo. As it ends up, half of them test in drug tests if you're going to be competing (so check the ingredient lists with your vet!) and I finally gave up and took her off and she didn't get any more nervous.
What I really found with her is that she was so un-dominant that she needed someone to tell her what to do and lay out rules so she knew what to do in every situation. The mare also wouldn't trust new people readily (moving barns with her I had to drive out to the barn all the time after emergency phone calls because the staff couldn't get her to walk into the barn, or into her stall, or past something, until she got used to the staff.). But with a routine and rules and knowing the people/horses around her she eventually became a very comfortable and capable horse. We also really had to manage her diet, she was always calmer on grass hay 24/7 than anything else. The mare lived with a hay net in front of her, and she was rarely supplemented except for free choice minerals. And when she grew up some (around 10) she really mellowed out and was fine with new people/situations and even started bossing other horses around.

 

[barrellover]

I have found this to be the best natural calming supplement. I like that they tout that it destresses the animal. So its not just about making the horse calm for the human, but also takes care of feelings of stress inside your horse Here is a link to it if you want to find out more
Ex-Stress (Peak Performance) - Featured - FarmVet.com

 

[CloudsMystique]

Okay, I've ordered SmartCalm Ultra Pellets and I'll let you guys know how that goes in a few weeks or so. Thank you all for your help!


luvs2ride: - Thanks for the suggestions. We did just cut down his feed a few days ago because he's been gaining weight. I can't change his feed, but I can change his hay. I'll ask about that. Unfortunately, he can't go out during the day because he doesn't get along with the other horses, but he does get put on the walker for a few hours every day.