Calmers (everyday feed supplements)

[sarge]

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to get some thoughts on calmers as I have a 3yr old (4 in May) who is newly broken and although well behaved is quite fizzy and a little jumpy. Some days she's fine, other says she feels like a timebomb waiting to explode, although thankfully we never get to the exploding part(yet! Touch wood!) she is just very tense and will look at anything rather than concentrate on me. I'm looking for a calming supplement that actual works, any suggestion?? I've used equine America So Calm before with another youngster but I'm just wondering if there is anything better?? Especially as I'm hoping to get her out to see some shows this year! Thanks in advance :-)

[sarge]

Sorry, It's meant to say calmers!! Blooming predictive text on iPhone!

[watson]

What do you give her feed wise ATM, could it be something in that which is causing it. I have a gelding who was exactly as you describe your mare turned out barley was making him behave this way can feed him buckets of oats and it does nothing but give him barley and woo hoo.

[sarge]

She's on Alfa A, Baileys no.4 conditioning cubes and blue chip pro. I've never found any of these feeds to fizz up any of my other horses but I suppose everything has different effects on different horses. Any suggestions on alternative feeds/ calmers welcome!

[avrose]

Looks to me like you need to take a look at what your feeding. Conditioning mixes are very high starch which causes fizziness, and blue chip pro is only neccessary for fit competition horses. You'd be better to use fibre and oil for condition as gives slow release energy and blue chip original is fine for any show horse.

[emmag]

No 4 turned one of mine into a raving lunatic, def look at changing feed, some mares in my experience dont cope well with Alfa either , my guys get speedi beet, fibre nuts, linseed and readigrass. None of mine are silly on this but look well.
One of mine got no feed and could be nuts, so, So kalm plus was the only thing that settled her at busy shows, i did also have her on valerian (cheap bag from ebay) which did work however i dont think its competition legal so no use if your taking her out anywhere.

[sarge]

Thanks for all the info, she definitely needs more condition hence the conditioning cubes, looks like they don't agree with her too much. Any other suggestions welcome, really keen to start the way we mean to go on with a sane and sensible horse!

[Nadem]

I love Baileys no.4 Ive found that sometimes the alfa a makes them loopy - certainly did with our new wee guy

K xx

[dillon]

valarian is excellent but def not show legal. however natural horse supplies on ebay do a calmer that is competion legal they also do chamomile flower things which work a treat!! all my guys are on frickers formula tiny tots cubes but they also do conditioning cubes and but with no added sugar!!! and my horses have never looked better since using them.have a look on frickers formula website.there is also the old fasioned magnesium but that will only work if her selenium and vit e levels are correct.but a selenium and vit e supplements are not expensive. good luck!

[boo]

try alfa a lite less sugar, i can feed that to fred but not the orig or oil sends him loopy
for condition allen & page calm & condition is good
and i have had good results with nupafeed or magcalm

[sarge]

Great, thanks everyone, taking it all on board! Think it's a major case of trial and error, but at least I have ideas to try now! :-)

[kermie]

I used Equistro Beta Mag 12 last year and I felt it took the edge off the pony given it.

[pinkpony]

I gave one of mine a magic calmer in the syringe and he looked positively doped on it. Wouldnt use it again as it worked too well. I think they do an every day powder version. Is it NAF that makes it?

[sarge]

Yeah it's nag, I've not heard of the powder working too well to be honest, maybe they make the syringes super strength?!

[blackhorse]

Alfa made one of my cobs loopy loo!
You could try changing her diet bit by bit & see if eliminating any of the feeds makes a difference, also trying straight mag-ox may help as horses that are magnesium deficient can be spooky as it effects their nervous system.

Then again after saying all that it could just be her make-up