Calmers as a last resort?

[jill]

I'm not a huge fan of calmers for a few reasons but when Tanith was on box rest I bought some Magic. TBH I never noticed a difference but just kept telling myself she would be worse without it.

Then when I moved yards I lobbed some in Tanith & Shiraz's feeds and it was one of my friends that commented how calm Shiraz looked (her exact words were that she looked spaced out ) so I thought that maybe after 9yrs (3 with me) and having explored every route possible calmer was the thing to stick with. We'd tried steady up before (when it was like the only calmer available back in the dark ages) and it didn't work.

So she's been on magic for 2 weeks now and she's back to normal (weaving until she falls over or slips, just being a general pain in the at times) so what else should I try? She's been blood tested and has no deficiences so she doesn't really need a calmer (one of the reasons I don't like their use) but not sure what else to try?

Also was wondering if anyone had tried these:

cgi.ebay.co.uk/Cal-Mag-900g-Cal-Mag-Magnesium-Calmer-Laminitis-LOW-P-P_W0QQitemZ330185187039QQihZ014QQcategoryZ90862QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330184845669&ssPageName=MERC_VI_RSCC_Pr4_PcY_BIN_Stores_IT&refitem=330185187039&itemcount=4&refwidgetloc=active_view_item&usedrule1=StoreCatToStoreCat&refwidgettype=cross_promot_widget

It's the same ingredients as magic (apart from herbs and limestone) so is it worth a shot when it's so cheap?

Any help appreciated

[bingbong]

wowo they seam really cheap eh? i wouldnt have thought they could have done any actualy harm, r all the substances jocky club assured or what ever it is called ha ha?

have you tried taking all suger ie mollases and alfalfa out the diet? she might even have a cereal intolerance and might need a special diet??? id talk to a nutritionst about it if i was you.
jill are you not ment to be in germany?

[ali]

Camers like NAF Magic & Calmag etc work if your horse is deficient in magnesium. The other calmers that are trypophan (?) based work on the brain. Calmag is for cows with milk fever aparently. Equine America do Magnitude which is £15 for 6 month supply.
We use Equine America So Kalm on a daily basis and find it works, the magnesium ones do not work on Nick. Calmag is a strange gritty consistency, however, it is meant to also be good for ponies with fatty cresty necks, we did notice a difference on Iona for that.

[jill]

Ha ha, Bingbong I came back Wednesday night! She just gets hi-fi and High fibre H&P nuts just now so no starch/sugars etc.

Shiraz has been blood tested and she doesn't have any deficiences.

So what should I be trying for her brain? So Kalm? How much does that work out at?

[ali]

Its £35 for a months supply, we find it lasts the month and you only need to use a scoop a day. Global Herbs stuff is food too but we found we had to use 2-3 scoops for same effect as one of SK so although a tub was cheaper it didnt last

[bingbong]

wow ali your so knowlegable about this i take it you have done lots of reserch on it?

[ali]

only out of necessity LOL!

[lisah]

I think calmers are a real hit and miss - especially because what you feed will also have some effect on your horse's behaviour. As most of you know the best results I had with Brian was just changing to Top Spec balancer and calmer - but this may not work for everyone.

Even I have accepted that the 'brain' can only be influenced so far, the rest is just down to their personality and general make up - and you just have to work with it !!

LisaH x

[maggiemay]

I used to have Maggie on a calmer and I thought it was working (but sometimes I think its all in your head!) She stopped having it after her operation as she wasn't ridden and I havn't bothered putting her back on it and she is no different, I could say she was now slightly quieter!!

But all horses are different and what will work for one doesn't work for others! Im not complaining, saves me money

[bingbong]

^^^^^^^ yeh i kinda agree a wee bit i think some of it is in your head but then it could be our head that makes them need the calmer in the first place, what came first the chicken or the egg? ha ha

[gemmat]

Having seen the transformation in Brian at the weekend I would give Top Spec a bash Jill.....!!!!!!!

xxx

[eyesdontlie]

I have decided to put eyes onto the top spec calmer especially after his behaviour onsunday he has just really lost the plot this winter think he is maybe feeling a bit too well!!!!

will give it a try and see how we go.

[ScotNorth Ex Racers]

Guys

The Top Spec is ACE - those of you who saw Brian on Sunday can do nothing but agree

However, I did double the dose (at the advice of Top Spec) for 7 days before the actual parade. They said 3 to 4 days so I went for 7 days given what Brian can produce

I really do rate their stuff or I simply would not endorse it like I do.

I have put him back on his normal dose now but in future he is getting double dosed a week before any event.

LisaH xxxx