I have a 3 year old that is already kind of jumpy and on the muscle.  She is just bred to be a powerhouse and has a ton of go.  I just need her to relax when I take her somewhere.  We arent even exhibitioning just riding around and shes already like "I wanna go fast" im like nope you need to chill.  So thought I would try a calming supplement. Do they actually work? I read the ingredients in calm n Cool and though I would tryi it. What do you think? 

I've been using Oxygen Relax and Oxygen MagSelect (Magnesium Pellets). I've been using these two products for 7 months and have seen a big difference. Both are in pellet form, and my guy eats them right up. Both are fairly inexpensive and I love the results I see! 

For a pre run paste, I absolutely love Oxygen Focus or Zen. I see a huge difference in my gelding when I use either of those two hours before I make a run. 

I use ViaCalm and it takes a bit to get into their system so about 2 months but my 1200lb mare is on 2 scoops and she is amazing. I actually have to ask her to do stuff now!

I will look into those thanks!

The product that worked best for my little over reactive mare was Silver Lining Herbs Keep Cool.  I had tried a few other products, some that didnt' work at all, some that made her even worse (yes, its possible) and one that made her dull and listless semi Catatonic.  The Keep Cool she was still herself but took the Crazy off the Crazy train. At first I had to have her on it 24/7 for the first 3-4 months then after that she got enough good experiences that I would only give it to her if we were headed some place totally new or a place that she still would get worked up at.

I always kept my one gelding on B1 Crumbles when I was running him, and I have used Quiessnce.. And they do work.

I use Performance Equine MagRestore with Focus.  My mare's personality was like she overdosed on amphedimines all the time.  It has taken awhile to get in her system but she is less watchy now and "spooks in place" as opposed to spooking and breaking in two, rearing or running off.  She's a lot more pleasant to ride.

I've had great luck with Equine Matrix ECP. It's all organic mushroom blends. It's what the olympians use on some of the dressage and show jumping horses. It worked wonders on a couple of mine. Allowed their minds to relax enough to get good training rides without them feeling drugged.

It's really one of those things that may work for some but not for all. Not a supplement but I have tried Confidence EQ on two horses - the one horse it helped so much he was nearly sleeping, my other horse I felt like there were no noticeable changes. I use the Calmex-V paste on that mare with good results, but that's the only calming paste that seems to have worked for her (I chalk it up to the Valarian Root ingredient). Seems you just have to sample different products out until you find what works for your horse.

What are you feeding?  I have a head horse that turned into a totally different horse when I put him on crimped oats only.  He went from being "for sale" to a super-nice ride.

To answer you question--I've had better luck with Valerian root powder than anything.  Its also much cheaper.

THE - Equine Edge - Calming & Focus.

I notice a huge difference in my ponies when I am feeding it.

Try something with a high quality magnesium in it. We have had good luck with this and our yearling who can be a touch spooky.

Where do you order the Valarian Root powder?  It was recommended for my horse, and I did a quick internet search, but didn't find anything.  Thanks! 

Best product I've seen for calming on a pre-run basis is PhytoSana's Equine Oil. www.phytosanacbd.com

I purchased from Bristow Vet Clinic in OK (they will mail), but have had friends that purchased on Amazon.  I was told to give 2 tablespoons the night before and 2 the morning of an event.  Doc said there was no harm in giving it to them daily, but that if you only needed it for events it wasn't necesssary.  The night before/morning of was enough to get it in their system.

Be warned--it stinks!

I have never fed a calming product to any of my horses. I believe riding & wet saddle pads is the best way to calm your horse along with teaching them. Yes I have taken young horses to jackpots to get them out & about & see the sights & yes they were jumpy. Except that, they are young. It's called training. It's also called seasoning. So what did I do when my young ones get a bit silly. I went to a corner & I lunged them. I teach all my horses to lunge. Lunging is a great thing to have your horses learn. After they got the buck & sillyness out of their system, I got back on & went to the arena & had my horse stand there & watch horses run or I walked them around & visited with people. 

Honestly...they are like any other supplement. What works for one might not work for the other. You have to experiment until you find one that works on THAT particular horse.

I tried this approach too first...even sent her out for 30 days to a tried and true colt starter who called and in all seriousness asked if she got a hold of locoweed.  Ed Wright was even perplexed with her, called her a pet snake. Which is when we went to the Silver Lining Herbs Keep Cool. 

Sometimes all the 'training' and 'seasoning' in the world is not going to make them 'calm'.   Some things work for horses, some things don't and everyone is going to have their own opinion.

Yes, check amazon, bunch of different options.  

Bulk in powder form is a good buy

Wow 2 tablespoons? I only give half a teaspoon and it works so well, I feel like I have a drugged pony

I have had the best luck with a product called Engage by Stride Animal Health. My horses dont act doped up. They are still alert and learn. But they acted like seasoned horses, not looking around, they stay focused and relaxed. No nervousness. 

Yes, that was the reccomended dosage from my vet--I wonder if there are different strengths?

Did you give it every day, or just when you needed it?

I've only used it on that one horse who was EXTREMELY nervous in the box.  It worked like a dream for her--she bumped the corner and stood there, but still had plenty of run.  I've never used it for barrels (although I would if I felt the need). 

I use it only on race days, makes my msre amazibg and calm in the warm up ring(used to run around like a lunatic) but doesn't take the run out in the actual arena. And I think you are right on the strengths. I had bought some Valeria root and ground it. That stuff is much stronger then the stuff I actually ordered. That stuff I may have to go up to a tablespoon!!

Do you give it the morning of the race or do you give it a few hours before your run? 

Try the supliment way before race/event day. It could take a bit to figure out what works for your horse. 

Im finding out the sweet spot for my horse. Some say it takes a week or so to really make a difference.  I can tell 

a difference in my horse 3 to 4 hours after doseing.  This past weekend I tried morning tablespoon and evening tablespoon. 

He felt “slow” he would still go, but I didn’t like the feel of him. 

Now im feeding it in the morning to see how he is in the evening.  It could be he needs a smaller dose twice a day. I will find out :) 

I didn't see an answer to this... but it starts there... you can't feed them hot and not expect hot... it's like giving a kid a super sized candy bar and a monster drink and telling them to be good... 

I don't go over 12% protein on feed... any higher then that, I have a different horse.  

With my previous batch, I would give it about 30 min befor3 and I could really tell it kicked in. Now the new stuff I have about 1.5 hours ahead and there was no change whats so ever. And no change throughout the day. 

She gets ridden every day, it has helped some but she is just a on the go mare.  This is more for her spooky, jumpy side which will eventually go away with hauling but I have to be able to haul her without getting us in a bind.  Thats why im trying a calming supplement.  :) 

My mare is hot and nervous. It doesn't matter how much you ride her. She's bred to go, go, go, go! I see her out there galloping all by herself in the field while everyone else is grazing. They all look up, "Oh, Fireball is running again," lol, and go back to eating. My mare is also suspected of having ulcers. I give her a scoop of ViaCalm twice a day to calm her down and to prevent nervousness which would flare up the ulcers. She's still running around but the ViaCalm has taken just enough of the edge off that she's not out of her mind and she's safe to handle. I give her a heaping scoop when something is going to happen that makes her nervous like going to a race. I can't say if it slowed her speed down because we haven't run her long enough. She's pretty fast though. 

I know we can't name suppliers on here that don't advertise on BHW, so can someone please, please PM the name of your valerian root powder supplier?  I'm anxious to try this one.  BTW, I only feed 10% protein and small amount of stabilized rice bran.