Calmers. Any Advice or Recommendations?

[Trundlecat]

Hi All,

I'm considering giving my new TB a calmer for a while until he's settled in to the new yard & me. He's doing well but his mind is working faster than his body & he's like a young child let loose in a toy shop (getting very excited & then stresses because everything gets a bit too much for him).

Has anyone any experience of the calmers on the market? One's I've been looking at are Naff Magic & NEX TEX Nice & Easy.

Will be very grateful for any advice or experiences.

Thanks,
TC

[alanalovesfinn]

NAF magic worked well for a horse at my yard :)

[Giveitago]

NAF Magic is ok, a bit pricy though at £20 plus a tub.

I'm now using magnitude which seems better and a bit cheaper. It's easier to mix in the feed too as it is a very small dosage.

Have you cut out the 'hot' feeds first? Try swapping from Alfa to grass based feed and cut everything that looks like a cereal. Definately no mollassess either. No Hayledge either!

My neddy (who's a little on the orund side at the mo) is having a handful of Simple Systems Just grass with his small scoop of Magnitude and that seems to work well.

Best of luck

[wonkeywoody]

Different calmers have different 'active' ingredients, so what works for one horse wont work for another.

Prob the cheapest and easiest method of seeing if a magnesium based one would work is to buy one of the heavily magnesium laden quick calmer pastes and just use half of it over 2 days. If it has no effect then theres not much point in using magic/magox or magnitude and you'll need to try one of the herbal varieties.

[Skippys Mum]

I swear by TopSpec Calmer. Its great and really tasty (apparently:)). I couldnt get Arnie to eat Naff Magic:(.

I also swear by Rescue Remedy for particularly tense situations.

[Ginger Thing]

I have used NAF Magic, but now buy magnesium oxide off ebay, much cheaper, and very effective! 4 of us on our yard are now using it.

[eml]

At this time of year the best solution for most horses is turning away with some chilled horses.

We have a simple policy that anyone arriving on the yard is reduced to forage feed only with maximum turnout and is worked with to establish basics, manners in stable and in hand and work under saddle. Only then do we start to fitten them and increase feed.

With really stressed horses we have had a lot of success with the old fashioned Feedmark 'Steady Up'. This is sedative based (valarium (sp?) amongst others) as opposed to most of the others you mention that work on the supposition that the horse has a mineral deficiency

[punkypalomino]

if you want to go natural..go for diluted lavender oil..rub it into the nose rly helps them relax....they breath it in..and sends some kind of signal to the brain!! not quite sure how it works but it does work hehe im sure its worth a try!:D and tbs are mad anyway lol its in there blood hehe<<<(over eggarated btw for the pickers out there):rolleyes:
xxx

[Trundlecat]

Thanks very much folks. He's turned out 24 x 7 at the mo & is 100% sound in the field, with other horses, in hand & on the lunge. The problems only start when I get on him & it literally is excitement & anticipation, he just can't wait to be off even if I lunge him first. Once we've bonded properly & what I'm asking him to do over rides his impulses we'll be fine but until then I'm going to have a go with a calmer & see what happens.

I bought a 3 dose syringe of Oxyshot yesterday as that had been recommended to me & will try a magnesium based next. I don't want to be reliant on the syringes though, would rather have a feed based. Great idea about trying the magnesium in syringe 1st wonkeywoody, thank you!

Was very interested to read about the magnesium oxide off Ebay, thanks Giveitago. Would much prefer the magnesium only to add to a mixer cos then I know exactly what he's having.

Thanks again everyone, you've all been a great help :)

[Giveitago]

It was Ginger thing that recommended ebay...

Gingerthing, have you settled on a particular supplier from ebay who is a good price and good delivery?

I would be interested to try this option too.

Trundlecat,

If your neddy is good for most of the time (like mine), Before you start work, remind him that this is now your time and he can afford to give you an hour of work- sounds a bit silly but really focuses your mind on the job in hand and that will reflect in your work, whether you realise it or not. Tell him that he can do whatever he likes for the other 23 hours a day. I find it makes a difference.

Magnesium causes the muscles to relax. Have a look at previous threads where it has been explained in more detail. It is not a general deficiency that we are trying to correct.

Best of luck.

[*Sez*]

I gave my TB Steady Up, and it was excellent.
Agree with eml's advice as well.:)

[Rosie1994]

I've been using prosportive Chill with good results for my cob mare. I've got a tub of Steady up (only used for about 5 days), if anyones interested in buying it.

[Trundlecat]

RESULT!!!! :D

Gave him a dose of Oxyshot (syringe) yesterday then the "talking to" as recommended by giveitago. He was fantastic. I don't know if it was due to the Oxyshot (a lot of it did go on the floor instead of in his mouth), the talking to or the condifence I felt due to the oxyshot & talking to that made the difference. Whatever it was though we had one of those a major "click" moments when everything seemed to just fit together. I'm not green enough to think eveything will be rosey from now on, there are always good days & bad days with horses. However, from past experience, those "click" days are usually momentous with a new horse so I am chuffed to bits!

Cheers folks,
(a very happy) TC