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 Expert
Posts: 1631
   
Location: Somewhere around here | My 7 yr old gelding is great getting into the trailer and hauling around but once we unload he goes a little crazy. Becomes buddy sour (even if he is the only one in the trailer from the get go), very high headed, and nervous/excited of everything. He's been trailered to places since he was 4 so it's not a new thing to him but he's always been this way, doesn't matter if we are going to a barrel race or a branding. The only way he starts getting calm is if I ride him til he's sweating and I really don't want to do that if I'm going to a race or branding just to ride, watch, and have fun. He isn't scared of cattle because that's all we have on our place and same with smoke. I'll give him hay in the trailer and he eats that great but doesn't really care if there is hay or water outside of the trailer. In the past I have tried lavender oil and it helped a smidge but not to the extent I'd like. I've also just let him stand tied to the trailer the whole time we are somewhere and never get on him, but then he digs a hole to China and you can hear him neighing a mile away. I feel like I've tried everything but using a product on him, hoping it was a training issue, but I think I'm ready just to give him some paste or something!
Any tips or products you recommend? What are the cheaper products? |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
 
Location: Kansas | I feed vita-calm daily to my two boys, they are the same way. My TB is the worst, both get 2 scoops of it daily and it helps.
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 Bulls Eye
Posts: 6443
Location: Oklahoma | I used Equine Matrix ECP. I had a horse doing exactly what you're describing. The ECP was a god send. I'm not a supplement pusher either, so for me to recommend something I truly believe in it and have put it to the test. |
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| My horse is completely different after a shot of Ulcergard. You can find cheaper omeprazole paste than Ulcergard, but since I only give it when we go somewhere (he's on a feed through ulcer treatment/preventative at home) I figure, why change what works. |
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 The Bling Princess
Posts: 3411
Location: North Dakota | Have you ever just hauled him and done ground work to get him respecting you and using the thinking side of his brain? |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 589
| T.H.E. Calming Cookies!!!!! They are great!!!!!!!!  |
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 Expert
Posts: 1273
Location: South Dakota | I've got a couple horses like that too. I bought some calming cookies but haven't had a chance to try them yet. The one horse even gets anxious if I tie him to the trailer at home. |
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 It's not my fault I'm perfect
Posts: 13739
Location: Where the long tails flow, ND | I would say there are some other things going on with him, horses don't want to be naughty. I know you said cheap but if you treat what is causing it then he and you will be so much happier. I have a mare in my barn that sounded like yours. Now she doesn't bat an eye. She is on Cur-OST Total and Adapt and Calm.
Good Luck |
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 Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | Easy way to see if you're dealing with ulcers (which I think is the issue) I would get some u-gard (basically an antacid) give him a scoop morning and night and 2 the morning before you go somewhere (or a couple hours before you leave) and see if he's better. If he is, treat/feed for ulcers. When these horses "grow up" in a working atmosphere, it can be stressful and a "great" horse last year can be a not so great horse this year simply from earning a new work ethic.
http://www.statelinetack.com/item/corta-flx-u-gard-pellets/E000456/ |
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Regular
Posts: 51
Location: CA | Warwick Shiller has some great videos on horses that get distracted and anxious.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1wnJH2tbu8 |
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 Expert
Posts: 2013
Location: Piedmont, OK | In the Zone paste by Animal Element! it is all natural and good for them. It helps them relax and focus and it is also an excellent electrolyte!!! |
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 Stinky Cat Owner
Posts: 4097
Location: Oregon | Pozzi Relax by Oxy-Gen! Daily pellet and/or pre-race paste. Oxy-Zen is awesome as well. |
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Expert
Posts: 1631
Location: Somewhere around here | WYOTurn-n-Burn - 2016-04-06 7:38 AM
Have you ever just hauled him and done ground work to get him respecting you and using the thinking side of his brain?
Actually did that with him last night but with it being windy it didn't do to much. Might try next week, just another weekday jackpot but I'm just wanting to go to watch and have fun.
I might try to ulcerguard type of treatments to see if he does have ulcers. We only give our horses hay and no supplements unless they really need it. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a small 14 day bucket though.
I say cheaper because my husband brings in the money and basically what he says goes with money usually. He is always looking for the biggest bang for your buck but if he deems it unnecessary then it's hard to get though him.
I might buy a few different pastes and see how that goes over the summer. Just curious but you don't have to give the whole tube to the horse for just one night, do you? |
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 Crazy Doggy Mommy
Posts: 1419
Location: Where Governor's make the liscense plates | I highly suggest calming cookies by T.H.E or doing lunging groundwork after he unloads. And I'm not talking plain circles. You need to switch directions multiple times to get him actually reading your body language and have him focusing on you and not his new surroundings. |
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 I hate cooking and cleaning
Posts: 3314
Location: Jersey Girl | Vita-calm does work but I found it made my horse super, uber sensitive to cues when riding.
I have had good luck with Smart Pack Ultra calm and the regular calming pellets too.
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 639
Location: God's country...aka TEXAS | Pozzi relax paste by Oxygen. It will calm him and soothe his stomach. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 695
Location: Missouri | Animal Element In the Zone Paste., it worked wonders for our nervous nelly when we got to shows |
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 Schnoodle Lover
Posts: 2987
Location: **Cactus Country down in South Texas*** | Love vita calm, it's a life saver |
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  Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | I would look at my routine when you haul. I have a horse that anticipates. If I unload and saddle up a few minutes later, he's hot as heck. If I take my time, make them wait before unloading, and just tie him to the trailer for a while, he's a completely different horse.
As far as nutritional, magnesium helps. |
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Location: Texas | Try http://oenutraceuticals.com/product/composed/
It's on sale right now too. It's a paste you give 2 hours out or you can use for trailering or hauling new places. I lile all his products. |
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Member
Posts: 48
| Most of the calming supplements or pastes people use have magnesium in them. I put my nervous mare on MVP 5000 magnesium...she is a different horse! It has helped a ton with hauling, spooking, and being flighty! |
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Expert
Posts: 1631
Location: Somewhere around here | bsh84 - 2016-04-11 11:08 AM
Most of the calming supplements or pastes people use have magnesium in them. I put my nervous mare on MVP 5000 magnesium...she is a different horse! It has helped a ton with hauling, spooking, and being flighty!
That's what I've been noticing lately unless they're more of a herbal supplement. I checked out our local Big R yesterday while I was running errands and all they carried was Quietex, which from what I've seen online there's been good reviews, but I'm going to also check the mom and pop store to see what they have as well. |
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Expert
Posts: 1273
Location: South Dakota | bsh84 - 2016-04-11 12:08 PM Most of the calming supplements or pastes people use have magnesium in them. I put my nervous mare on MVP 5000 magnesium...she is a different horse! It has helped a ton with hauling, spooking, and being flighty!
I looked at the reviews on this product on Smart Pak and they were exceptional. |
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Expert
Posts: 1631
Location: Somewhere around here | Kind of doing an update for some of you who are interested.
Went to a small jackpot tonight with the goal of lunging and just walking around on him and watching others run and ride. Lunging definitely did not work; the more I tried getting him to pay attention to me the more nervous and hot he became. After a few minutes I gave up and tied him to the trailer, just brushed him off calmly and he started relaxing pretty well... until he saw a horse running in the area in an exhibition. Hot and ready to go right after that.
Decided to get on a while after that and it took a good amount of time of trotting and circles to relax him. We would walk for a while then have to work him again because he'd get hot again.
After an hour I was finally able to let him just chill out with other horses, watching exhibitions and letting him chew and lick his lips. Kicked my feet or if the stirrups and just relaxed for 15 minutes before I got off and loosened his girth.
For everyone who has given me suggestions, thank you! I'll probably buy some paste later this week for next Tuesday and test it out to see how he reacts to it. |
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Excited/Nervous Horse at new places