Feeding Magnesium

[TwoTrickPony]

So, I’m not much of a person for believing gadgets and supplements work, but I think I do now.

My young horse is super, super talented, but since about five has gone back and forth between being very randomly spooky and startling at the same thing over and over, tripping, twitching, etc. I noticed that she also on one side on her haunches, really was tender and always fell away from a brush. She’s like riding a giant, tight spring.

I finally ordered some MagRestore and she’s been on it about two weeks. I think it’s helping. I finally had a show where I felt I could ride instead of do damage control, and overall it’s better. I also spoke to a friend who I get lessons from some, and she says she uses it on lots of horses. I don’t know if I should try it on her full sister as she is pretty mellow, but maybe her mom, who can wind herself up.

So, I know a lot of people just get the stuff for cows at the feed store. We don’t have that here. I know there is Quiessence. I’m more of a find the basic ingredients person. I’m wondering what other people use and how it’s worked. They have this on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MZY0ILU/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_2?ie=UTF8&smid=A2PLP4BOVOPKB4&th=1 which seems the be about the same as MagRestore and about the same price.

I read old threads about different bioavailability and what to use. I did get plain old epsom salts, which did not go over well with the girls. What have you used and do you notice any difference?

[Tumbleweed]

I tried everything. smart Calm Ultra worked and so did T.H.E. calming cookies UNTIL…
I tried Purina Outlast. It has changed my horse. I highly recommend it and so does my vet who just recently scoped my horse.

[enjoytheride]

I think the who bio availability thing is all marketing. I use Remission which is a laminitis supplement but has lots of Mag in it as well as stuff for hoof growth.

[cutter99]

I have used this in the past and have liked the results. I will admit I am biased, as my husband had worked for Kauffman’s Animal Health doing formulation and technical support. But, their pricing is also fair and quality is second to none, plus it is a drug free manufacturing facility.

https://ka-hi.com/calming-pellets.html

[cutter99]

I have used this in the past with great results. I will admit I am biased, as my husband worked for Kauffman’s, but it also gave us an insider’s view of the supplement industry. But, Kauffman’s offers great quality with products that work for a fair price. They also manufacture in a drug free facility.

https://ka-hi.com/calming-pellets.html

[JB]

@enjoytheride

I think the who bio availability thing is all marketing.

There are a gazillion studies on various species of animals, including people, showing the bioavailability of different forms of all sorts of vitamins and minerals. Marketers just play on that - validly, or not.

EVERYthing has a bioavailability factor. Things that are edible but not digestible are down at or closer to 0. Organic (naturally occurring) forms of vitamins and minerals are a lot more bioavailable than the synthetic versions. How a mineral is chelated affects how well the body can absorb it.

@TwoTrickPony - what is the mare’s diet? MagRestore is one of the more bioavailable (and also $$) forms of magnesium, but is not the only one, and despite high BioA, is not the best one for all horses.

But a diet can be inherently low in Mg, or high (or low) in other minerals that negatively impact Mg absorption.

Without knowing more about why she’s behaving this way, and what happened at 5 to start this, adding Mg, while not necessarily bad, may just be throwing a bandaide at the symptoms.

The symptoms you describe also fit Lyme disease quite nicely, and one thing about Lyme is its “eating up” of Magnesium. So while it might seem like a bad idea to add Mg to an animal with Lyme (since the spirochetes consume it), what’s really going on is the body is becoming much too deficient, so you need to add a lot of Mg to make up for all that while treating the Lyme

So that’s what I’d do asap - get a Lyme titer run… Like, tomorrow.

PSSM/EPSM symptoms can also manifest with these symptoms, so adding Mg can help, but is not the total package for managing that.

[IPEsq]

I’ve had my horse on some form of magnesium for about 2 years, on and off. I’ve tried a couple different ones. Uckele Seroquene–wouldn’t eat it. Tried Perfect Prep Training Day, which he liked but didn’t really seem to do anything (also not a lot of Mg). Then he was on Vita Calm during rehab because it’s what the rehab barn likes to feed (but it’s pretty low on Mg). Then for most of the past year, he was on Magnesium Oxide from HorseTech after a vet suggested trying at least 10g/day. His main symptom is that his back muscles are rocks and contributing to all sorts of compensatory problems, which cause bad behaviors. He’s kind of a worrier by nature, but not really an “out of the blue” type spooker so long as inflammation from his neck arthritis is controlled and he doesn’t have an ulcer flare.

I ran out of the HT supplement recently and didn’t reorder because I was thinking about tweaking the formula, and I took the MagRestore quiz and got their free shipping coupon. He’s been on that for about a week, at 3 scoops/day. For the first time ever, he’s starting to hold his bodywork treatments slightly longer each time, and the hard, twitchy muscles have narrowed to a smaller surface area just over the lumbo-sacral area. I’ve been able to do the butt tucks and belly lifts on my own, which I used to only be able to do for a day or so after the chiro was out before he’d lock up too much again for me to get much response. The vets have not been able to diagnose the root problem, only rule several things out, like Lyme.

I’m not 100% a believer in MagRestore yet, but to the extent it might be doing something, that’s a change I never got from months of 10g of Magnesium Oxide. I got the small bag of the MagRestore pellets and will see how things are going by the time we’re at the end of it.

[TwoTrickPony]

JB, I was hoping you’d chime in,

My mare is in a “pasture” CA style, meaning no actual grass, really. They get half alfalfa and half grass hay. I feed them all vitamin E and selenium because my vet says we need it there. I don’t think something happened at 5, but I start them at 4, and usually the first year they are so focused on staying balanced and doing the work with a rider, you don’t see who they really are. I say 5 because that’s about when we went from just riding and staying balance and listening to working. It was also when we were at our only stay overnight show and she really flipped out about being inside. I have also had her eyes checked, and we’re pretty sure she doesn’t see normally, and the normal clear line that divides the top and bottom is all blotchy. It could have been anything, and there’s nothing to do about that, and I had a blind horse, so that’s not a big concern. It’s hard to know how much that contributes, her maturity (or lack thereof) and magnesium.

I will text my vet and see what she thinks about lyme. We did the lyme, ESPM and such on her mom once for a lameness that was just more and issue of inflammed bursa around her coffin bones from rapidly changing surfaces ( a real wet/dy year.)

IEPeq–Yeah, I took the quiz, too. I never tried magnesium before because it seemed mostly about cresty neck and such. I don’t know if this is it, or she’s just growing up, but it does seem to be a difference.

I will say I know a lot of people say these are ulcer symptoms, too, but since she’s out in a pasture with mom and sister and eats alfalfa, and is my easiest keeper, this seemed the route to try first. Well, my first route is there is no magic and it just takes time and effort.

[tazycat]

Wonder if magrestore would help my hot horse who is being ultra spooky to ride.? Do horses eat this stuff without to much issue? My gelding is picky eater. Interesting thread,i’ve never have fed extra magnesium heard of it read about it. Spooky as in lost me today while riding he jumped sideways a good 5 feet then whirled around.

[Simkie]

I really like Seroquine, and think it’s been better for my horses over other mag supplements, including Quiessence–although I don’t think I ever tried MagRestore. Every time I think maybe I don’t need it and don’t order it, my horses VERY clearly tell me that NOPE, that’s pretty important stuff :lol:

Horse.com or Stateline generally have the best price on it–at least on the big bucket–depending on what sales are running at either website.

[IPEsq]

@tazycat

Wonder if magrestore would help my hot horse who is being ultra spooky to ride.? Do horses eat this stuff without to much issue? My gelding is picky eater. Interesting thread,i’ve never have fed extra magnesium heard of it read about it. Spooky as in lost me today while riding he jumped sideways a good 5 feet then whirled around.

Depends on the cause of the spooking, but it’s pretty harmless to try out Mg. My horse is picky and doesn’t love most Mg supps with a decent amount in it. It’s chalky. I got the MagRestore pellets, and he makes the gaggy face if you try to give it to him in your hand but eats it fine in grain. It seems like a pretty small dose, as far as scoop size. In comparison with Seroquine, which he won’t eat in anything.

[TwoTrickPony]

razy–Yeah, it’s worth a try. I feed it with some applesauce and carrots on grain for my non-picky eater, and she still will not wolf it down. The MAgRestore doesn’t seem super chalky. The reason I went with MagRestore is that they offer free shipping on your first order. It’s also a nearby company.

[Uncorked]

About a year ago I suggested to a friend to try MagRestore for her Appendix QH. He was 18 at the time and had never been very willing or reasonable. She raised him from a foal so nothing bad happened to him…it was just his personality or so we thought. Let’s put it this way the first time she put a halter on him all he would do was flip over get back up and flip over again. He has a huge buck and had no problem dismounting whomever he chose at any given time. Super sensitive to flies or maybe it was just an excuse to be naughty! This horse went to Clinton Anderson and while it did give the owner some tools still didn’t make a huge difference - friend was selected and she and horse are in one of his books.

Well at first when she put him on the MagRestore we noticed a difference right away…but couldn’t conclude that wasn’t a placebo effect for her. Now one year later she can ride him by herself not only in the arena but around the pasture - first time ever. He is still the same horse with the same issues but he is now more reasonable about it and doesn’t overreact anymore. At one point she ran out of it and he was off of it for a couple of weeks and the old personality surfaced so we know it is working and not just a placebo effect.

Because the MagRestore worked so well there is no way she will try other products and take a risk. About every few months or so they offer free shipping so she buys a few months supply at that time to help save.

[candyappy]

I have not been in the habit of feeding any supplements. In January I started with Redcell and after a month changed to Manna Pro Vitality Supplement. My mare can be a bit “over reactive” ( shall we say) in certain circumstances. Since being on a supplement she is 90% less reactive and seems so calm.

For her it has made a difference. I’ve owned her since she was weaned (she is 12 now) so I know her well.

[Palm_Beach]

When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras.

A spooky horse, especially one with abnormal eyesight, needs to be desensitized and might need refreshers on a regular basis. The horse learns that noises and movement do not have meaning, and learns to control it’s reactions to these things. It’s free and it’s easy.

Body work for the tight spot on her haunches? I’d look for someone who can do some deeper tissue massage, not just someone who will rub her.

[TwoTrickPony]

@Palm Beach

When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras.

A spooky horse, especially one with abnormal eyesight, needs to be desensitized and might need refreshers on a regular basis. The horse learns that noises and movement do not have meaning, and learns to control it’s reactions to these things. It’s free and it’s easy.

Body work for the tight spot on her haunches? I’d look for someone who can do some deeper tissue massage, not just someone who will rub her.

Um, yeah. I’ve had a few horses and trained them through FEI. I had a blind horse that horse that competed FEI. My horses are exposed to anything and everything and do more than any other horses I know. They’ve been going on ride alongs to shows since they were babies. I also know how to massage. I know the difference between an desensitization issue and maybe something else. LIKE I said, I’m not much for gadgets and magic feed. So, I know the difference. That’s why I asked about the experience others had with specific magnesium, not the obvious answers.

[LookmaNohands]

@tazycat

Wonder if magrestore would help my hot horse who is being ultra spooky to ride.? Do horses eat this stuff without to much issue? My gelding is picky eater. Interesting thread,i’ve never have fed extra magnesium heard of it read about it. Spooky as in lost me today while riding he jumped sideways a good 5 feet then whirled around.

Spooking is often related to pain. I would check saddle fit, and for tummy issues, Lyme and EPM before worrying too much about a “calming” supplement.

[tazycat]

@LookmaNohands

Spooking is often related to pain. I would check saddle fit, and for tummy issues, Lyme and EPM before worrying too much about a “calming” supplement.

He’s having tummy issues. No EPM up here no possums to far north,saddle fit was checked recently. He’s had some stress in his life here recently,with herd mate changes.

[JB]

@tazycat

He’s having tummy issues.

Perhaps it would behoove you to investigate actual ulcer issues this time? A magnesium supplement isn’t going to fix digestive issues. I know you’ve said “if I treated for ulcers every time they misbehaved I’d be treating all the time”, but perhaps it’s time to actually consider ulcers.

Something about the management there doesn’t jive with your horses. They all seem to have some problem at some time or another. Maybe it’s the type you bring in. Maybe it’s them not being a good fit for how you choose to manage. It’s just not normal.

No EPM up here no possums to far north,saddle fit was checked recently. He’s had some stress in his life here recently,with herd mate changes.

The common possum ranges up into Canada, so…

[kcmel]

Have you asked your feed store if they can order the bulk Mg Oxide? It’s so ridiculously cheap compared to the horse supplements. I can’t remember what I paid for it, but I think it was somewhere around $30 for 25 lbs.