Magnesium - a calming supplement for excitable Horses and Ponies

Many horse owners use equine calming supplements containing magnesium to calm their nervous, excitable, stressed, or spooky horses - especially before competitions or during periods of box rest.

Some of the most popular of these equestrian feed supplements contain magnesium which is known to calm the nervous and cardio-vascular system and relax the muscles and help to manage frightened or erratic behaviour.

Magnesium has been proven to be an effective and legal way to relax a horse before a competition, show or race and is used by National Hunt, Flat racing and Show Jumping yards. Horse owners who just want a quiet, happier ride out are also benefitting from feeding this as a supplement.

Magnesium has an important part to play part in muscle and nerve and function. It calms the nervous and cardio-vascular systems and induces muscle relaxation. Horses and ponies that have a deficiency in this mineral may show signs of nervousness, excitability and muscle shaking.

Some horses become especially "fresh" in the springtime. The fast growth rate of grass in spring means that spring grazing has an increased sugar content and is also often deficient in magnesium. As a result many horses become much more excitable, some become almost unrideable - feeding a horse feed supplement containing magnesium can help to control this, but this should never be used in place of good grazing management.

Stress in the horse, caused by training, travelling and equestrian competition, can also cause a magnesium deficit and an excess of calcium - this can result in excitability, tension and muscle cramps.

The easiest form of magnesium as a supplement for horses to absorb is magnesium oxide, however other forms are available - including Magnesium Glutamate, Magnesium Aspartate, Calcium Magnesium (dolomite) often referred to as CalMag and magnesium sulphate more commonly known as Epsom salts.

Equine magnesium supplements come in several forms including powders and pastes in syringes for quick and easing dosing.

When feeding a supplement always carefully follow the manufacturers instructions to get the correct dose for your horse.