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Member
Posts: 31

| I've got 2 full siblings and they are the spookiest, lookiest, chickens I've ever tried to ride! They are scared of nearly everything! It's driving me crazy! I don't mind an occasional look, or something that's scary looking setting one off once In awhile, but it's hard to get them around an arena, and I'm not sure trail riding will ever be their thing! The 4 yr old tries to trail ride, her 3 yr elder brother thinks he must be going on his last ride or something! I've tried different things to desensitize then, but they seem to get worse. any natural herbs, or natural products that anyone's used to take the edge off, so they'll at least focus a little? I saw someone said something about one of the OE products the other day it was around a 100.00 for a 3 mo supply. I can't find the ingredients on it. I thought that was a little odd, not that I'm trying to make my own, just want to know what I'm feeding them. Any tips on what you've done to help get them to listen and trust more instead of spook? |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
      
| I hear ya! My 5yo is a looky loo!!! I've had a full vet check on him to rule out any pain/health issues, and I started him on Oxygen magnesium pellets and oxygen relax pellets, and have noticed a difference. I still do a lot of desensitizing with him, but in my area a lot of horses are low in magnesium, and it's cheap to feed. I go out on the trails with him twice a week and ride into town with him and cross streets, etc, and he's getting better. Just take it slow with the looky ones, keep doing what your doing and not getting upset will make a difference! Over time it will get better. |
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 Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
     
| Magnesium is supposed to be very helpful. I tried it from Animal Element and I felt it definitely took the edge off my one goofy horse. If I keep him rode and working pretty good it really helps him too. But he will still find the occasional boogeyman hiding behind a Bush or whatever |
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| We've had a few clients try Zylkene, it's a milk protein (casein) derived powder product, and they have had great luck with the calming effect it has had on their horses. It doesn't sedate them in anyway, it's all natural, and it basically just calms/settles them like mother's milk does for a foal. https://www.vetoquinolusa.com/content/zylkene-equine https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B01FKN87V0 Note: we were given sample boxes from Vetoquinol, so I had no idea the price ($5/packet... yikes!), but you could always try and contact Vetoquinol and see if they offer trial sized samples or anything. It isn't something that has to be given every day- we have one client that gives one packet in the morning before running at a barrel race, and has seen great results (even with the "sporadic" use). |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
              Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Quiessence or B1 Crumbles is what I have used..  |
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Veteran
Posts: 141
 
| Be confident riding them and only react after they spook, dont try to predetermine when and where they are going to spook or lead them / enable them to spook. Then when they do spook just ignore it and move on like its no big deal. If youre dreading riding them and all tensed up that will only make it worse, just relax and go for a ride with zero expectations or pressure and laugh and have a good time. Also... I wouldnt expect a quick fix or supplement for this, I would desensitize them to everything multiple times a week and round pen them correctly. |
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 A Barrel Of Monkeys
Posts: 12972
          Location: Texas | Try some horsie Prozac - fluoxetine. Your vet can get it for you. It's been a game changer for one of mine. |
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Queen Bean of Ponyland
Posts: 24952
             Location: WYOMING | My mare was very spookie/lookie. For a while I rode her in a fly mask to just dull the sparklie wiggles in the world that always scared her. Worked great for trail riding and for making runs. She eventually outgrew her extreme spookiness and we ditched the fly mask. Just gotta think outside the box every now and then. 
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Member
Posts: 31

| You all never let me down. Thank you for sharing for what's worked for you. they've been on a magnesium supplement for several months, I'll definitely give all these a try. I ride them as calm as possible, loose in the saddle. Relaxed reins, etc... They are both asofs, I haven't seen any other asof owners complaining, maybe it's their dam. Thank you all for sharing your experiences, I do appreciate it. |
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