Calming Supplement w/ Nutrition Piece too

[alteringwego]

Have tried several calming supplements over the years and still not found anything that really worked. My suspicion that the worrying was nutritional started several years ago when we had a tying up incident. Since then we’ve tried: Smart Calm, Smart Calm Ultra, Quiessence, E-Se-Mg. None have made a noticeable difference. I still have the horse on E-Se-Mg just for muscle health. Not a big grain eater so not overloaded on calories there.

My trainer suggested trying Perfect Prep Training Day and looking in to Cavalor Pianissimo, Cavalor Calm, and the others that they have. Before I went chasing more rabbits down holes though I thought I would pose the question to my expert friends.

Which supplements work on the nutritional imbalances vs which ones work on calming receptors. I know that the nutritional imbalance can cause the symptoms so treat the imbalance and the result is a calmer horse. But it seems some supplements are herbal calming agents such as Smart Tranquility (active ingredients: valerian, etc.) while others are full of magnesium. Can someone cause hypermagnesemia by over feeding magnesium or will you just make expensive urine?
So what is it that makes these calming supplements different? Cavalor makes 2-3 calming supplements. How do you know the differences and what are the look-a-like brands that we’re all more familiar with. Curious what the rationales are behind all the fancy labels.

And can we possibly keep this about the topic and not about who was suspended from USEF for what, morality, intent of rules, etc.

[skipollo]

What does he do that may warrant a calming supplement? Just out of curiosity.

[alteringwego]

Just tense really. Not spooky, quick, etc. Just tense.

[M_O_Connor]

If your horse is tense because of a metabolic muscle disorder commonly referred to as “tying up” (EPSM, PSSM, RER), a calming supplement will not address his nutritional needs.

These syndromes each have slightly a different genetic basis, but a horse who is affected by them needs to be placed on a high fat diet, and kept in a consistent training program where fitness and exercise levels are carefully monitored.

[KateKat]

Could just be a naturally tense/sensitive horse. If he’s on a multi-vite right now I might be looking at changing living situation/daily routine.

I’m pretty sure most of the calming supplements (at least the ones I’ve looked at) really only address a magnesium deficiency or add other amino acids that are supposed to “calm” (but no real evidence in they actually work)

[IndyEquestrian]

I have used Total Calm and Focus for a tense/hot/sensitive horse. It wasn’t a miracle worker, but it did make our rides more focused and successful. She is just hot by nature, and spends as much time outside as she wants, but will always be sensitive. Having productive rides makes life easier for both of us and she is certainly enjoying herself more. The more success we have riding, the less tense she has become. She is gaining confidence, which is making her happier overall. She will probably always be a bit more tense than some of my other guys, but that’s okay. She’s super smart and tries her little heart out!

[Pennywell_Bay]

is this for at home or for showing?

[alteringwego]

maintenance at home; not really interested in paste type supplements that must be given hours in advance, short term, etc.

[huntersgonewild]

The perfect prep training day works for one of mine that is actually very quiet but can get “worried” at times. I think it is like the carb care feeds that help smooth out blood sugar spikes and valleys. All of my horses are on carb care feed. For other horses of mine that have been just plain fresh, the perfect prep training day has made no difference at all. So, to me it clearly doesn’t work like a “calmer” in the sense that it affects the cardiovascular or nervous systems directly like a sedative would. I think if a particular horse responds, you have one whose blood sugar gets out of whack under stress, which can cause the spiral of various hormones being released, etc. Just my personal observation over the course of many years and hundreds of horses and my own experience with blood sugar issues. We humans aren’t that different from our horses:)

[SendenHorse]

MagRestore and Natural vit E are awesome for mental and physical tension. I have seen amazing results in my horses and my friends/clients.

[50ShadesOfHay]

A couple of questions. Is this for a mare or gelding? What is their turnout situation like, and what are they getting feed wise? Also has the vet been out to determine if there is something physical going on?

[Lori_T]

Have you tried Hilton Herbs Calm and Collected or Easy Mare?

[alteringwego]

Digging up this old thread. Horse is out 12, in 12, free choice Timothy/orchard/alfalfa, have never found a nutuional program or supplement that changed him. Have tried the epsm diet, he stays on e and msg even though I don’t think it helps. I didn’t have any luck with Traing Day, smart calm, smart calm ultra, total calm and focus, smart mare harmony or whatever it is. Tried Shen Calmer and Body Sore, every GI supplement ever made, he’s currently on succeed, smart combo ultimate, and smart muscle recovery. I think he gets tense under saddle from the riding so maybe this is all a training issue but I worry I’m missing something and the tightness under saddle is from something physical. Multiple vets say he looks great. Haven’t scoped him but tempted out of curiosity but he doesn’t get any better on gastrogard.