Huh, I always thought there was, that’s very much news to me and I should do more research before I state things then! I have something new to learn about and read up more on.
Thanks for the correction… off to read FDA rules!
It’s been a murky area for some time. Animal supplements were specifically excluded from the DHSEA, according to the FDA interpretation of same.
They are “unapproved drugs of low regulatory priority.”
The industry did form NASC–the National Animal Supplement Council–a self-policing sort of organization, in which members pledge to use GMP , not adulterate products, and so forth, but that organization has some detractors for various reasons, including the expense for small-scale operations vs. large ones.
There are ingredients that have had significant research behind them, which I would consider pretty safe. And the NASC has somewhat filled in the gap left by the FDA not regulating supplements in animals ( or people, but NASC doesn’t cover that). However, there is nothing holding supplement companies to join the NASC.
OP, you can lunge every day and your horse will be fine. Lunge in good footing, and stick side reins on him if he bucks like an idiot or runs at mach 10. Make him work, put poles out, make him trot on the bit, etc. don’t just make it a time to get extra energy out. The ride starts when you lunge him, and his focus needs to be on the work.
Then as mentioned before, I would immediately start with lateral work and walk poles after I got on. No lazy warm up walk circle. He must immediately start focusing on you and not an imaginary shadow on the wall.
There are tons of calming supplements out there to try. I would start with magnesium, and go from there. Some horses have a magnesium deficiency which comes across as spookiness. You might have to try around to find one that works.
If that doesn’t work, he might benefit from some time with a cowboy who will use him to sort cattle and just be ridden all day long.
