Magnesium for spooky horses?

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Myfellpony

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Mar 15, 2015
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I have ordered some for Rosie. Thought it may be worth a try at only £7.00.

Having read up on magnesium deficiency in horses, I reckon that by the types of weeds growing in the fields, my land is low in magnesium. Rosie is very, very spooky, so no harm in trying it for a while.

Has anyone had any success with it? How long does it take to have any effect?
 
As far as I know there's no harm in trying it since the body will get rid of any excess. If you feed a good balancer or general vit and min supplement she should be getting enough though.
 
Yep it doesn’t hurt to try, it’s only effective as a calmer if they are deficient, but it’s just excreted if they’re not so worth a shot.
I’ve had it help, and not, but I’d always try it.
 
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carthorse said:
As far as I know there's no harm in trying it since the body will get rid of any excess. If you feed a good balancer or general vit and min supplement she should be getting enough though.
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I have only just put her on a balancer. Since she came to me in June she has just been having hay and a handful of chaf.
The spookyness has been increasing, which is why I thought I’d give it a go.
 
Is she doing less work though now its winter. That could obviously increase spooky/sillyness.

You could get a soil sample done on the field to check on the deficiencies there. As well as checks with the vets. Pressumably from blood samples.
 
I feed mine lots of magnesium as gets sensitive to magnesium. Its supplemented by Calm Healthy Horses at certain times of the year.

I'd always do a pH test to what their pH is too, personally.

I find magnesium oxide suits P better and is apparently more easily absorbed but not sure entirely how true that is!
 
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chunky monkey said:
Is she doing less work though now its winter. That could obviously increase spooky/sillyness.
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yes, that is also a possibility. She was ridden daily by a ten year old. I asked what The longest she went without being ridden, and the answer was that she was rarely ridden over Winter as the little girl didn’t like riding in bad weather.
When I got her at the end of June, someone else rode her for me until the end of August, she seemed to be doing ok, but has got worse since then. So Winter and not being ridden have happened at the same time.

how do I get her into more work when I’m now scared to ride her because of how spooky she is? She is just as spooky on the lunge, and I get really dizzy when lunging so can only do ten minutes or so at once. I also don’t have a decent saddle for her, so don’t feel secure when riding. But I can’t book a saddle fitting until I can ride her, so it’s a vicious circle.

The school I ride in has trees down one side and she is always shying away from ANY movement on the other side. And there are lots of cats, rabbits and birds around, so there is always some movement in the trees.
 
Myfellpony said:
yes, that is also a possibility. She was ridden daily by a ten year old. I asked what The longest she went without being ridden, and the answer was that she was rarely ridden over Winter as the little girl didn’t like riding in bad weather.
When I got her at the end of June, someone else rode her for me until the end of August, she seemed to be doing ok, but has got worse since then. So Winter and not being ridden have happened at the same time.

how do I get her into more work when I’m now scared to ride her because of how spooky she is? She is just as spooky on the lunge, and I get really dizzy when lunging so can only do ten minutes or so at once. I also don’t have a decent saddle for her, so don’t feel secure when riding. But I can’t book a saddle fitting until I can ride her, so it’s a vicious circle.

The school I ride in has trees down one side and she is always shying away from ANY movement on the other side. And there are lots of cats, rabbits and birds around, so there is always some movement in the trees.
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Oh golly this sounds familiar! Storm was really hard in winter - I remember trying really hard to keep up her routine with work but on a yard it was difficult as everyone clamoured for the indoor school in bad weather etc. She did some of her most fantastical spooking during the winter too. I found her slightly better when we moved her home, I even rode her lightly in the snow two years. I feel your pain with the lunge too,, doesn't matter how good you are at lunging you can still get pretty dizzy!!! And Storm used to be like a Duracell bunny, no amount of work wound her down..............................
Is there any chance you could try free schooling her to let some steam off? I see your point about the saddle too - it is indeed a vicious circle. Hmm.
 
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If you're scared to ride her the chances are you're making each other worse, Would getting a groom or pro - check them out by reputation first - in to get her going again be an option for you? The saddle fit i an issue, but it may be that it could be padded up to get her going, or while it isn't ideal some saddlers will do a non-ridden fit if you explain the situation. When she is up together then look at getting some lessons on her to boost your confidence and help build a partnership where you trust each other more.
 
Yes, my riding instructor will work with me and ride her for me. Just waiting for perfect conditions. The house next door have been doing a lot of work on their land and there has been a lot going on the last few time my RI has been. Mylo is fine with it all, but it would just be an added worry for Rosie so not got round to it as yet. I only tend to take her in the school when it is quiet next door and there is not too much wind so we have the best chance.
 
I was finding the more i got my lad out the calmer my lad was. It doesnt need to be long hacks or rides. Just frequent. Even just 15 minutes. Also if there only going short hacks which are therefore generally the same route. Repetition builds confidence and familiarity, which should reduce spooking.

If you cant ride her out due to saddle issues. I would suggest just walking her out in hand.
Ive just had to retire my young boy due to lameness issues. Hes spent three months stood in the field doing zip. Obviously its going to his head so this last week ive taken him out several times in had down the road and back. Well last week he squealed and bucked with excitement and pulled me the whole two mile walk. Today he walked out calm as anything. Theres also less bum biting, ears back, pacing around in my tack up area betwern my two horses. So just walking out makes for calmer horse.
 
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When Ben was younger he used to be really spooky in spring when the grass came through. I tried magnesium one year and it made no difference at all. The only thing that worked was more exercise. When he was really fit I was riding him for 2 hours per day (1 morning, 1 evening) and he was fine then.
 
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