Calming Supplements for Horses
| November 17, 2011 | Posted by admin under Horse health |
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Horses, like other pets and humans, can get moody and nervous in certain situations, often quite unexpectedly. This can become a cause of stress to both the animal and the owner. Calming supplements for horses are the answer.
Like all sensitive domesticated animals, horses are susceptible to periods of nervousness and panic, and the easiest way to keep that in check is by using a horse calming supplement.
Once panic sets in, even the most docile of horses can start acting uncontrollably wild. In most cases, an anxious and scared horse will try to escape by running as fast as possible. While that is entirely dependent on the situation and the way the horse is secured, it should always be kept in mind that a stressed or nervous horse wanting to break away, can become incredibly strong and extremely perilous to handle during that period of time. The immediate way to attempt calming the horse down is by first securing it, and then gently and soothingly speaking to it, preferably by a person familiar to the particular horse.
However, in the long run, such behaviour usually has deeper, health and nutrition related reasons. It would be interesting for a lot of new horse owners to know that regular nervous and agitated behaviour from horses is the physical manifestation of a deficiency of Thiamine, which is better known as Vitamin B1. And therefore, it is the single most important calming supplements ingredient for horses. In addition to Vitamin B1, the other most important component in calming supplements for horses is Magnesium. This element is crucial for the normal functioning and stability of sensitive tissue cells such as those found in the nerves and muscles. In a lot of calming supplement programs for horses available in the market, some herbs like Valerian and Chamomile are included. Valerian is a popularly known herb, traditionally famous for its sedative characteristics. It has no relation to the synthetic drug Valium, however. Chamomile on the other hand is a soothing and gentle herb with extraordinary calming properties.
A new chemical which is increasingly being used in calming supplements for horses these days is a susbtance known as tryptophan. You will find it in most of the latest calming supplements available in the market today. However, there is a warning attached to this. Since it is being categorized as a nutrient by most drug control agencies, tryptophan or L-tryptophan can be put freely in any product. The problem is, research shows that this substance is responsible for causing haemolytic anaemia, or the reduction of white blood cells in horses. Also it has been found to be species dependent, and therefore does not guarantee any positive effects as part of a calming supplement program for horses.
Apart from the above, natural calming supplements like those prescribed in Homeopathic remedies, are a soft alternative. Ingrediants like Kaliphos, Asarum, Cina, Chamomilla and phosphorus help maintain a healthy nervous system and provide holistic well being for horses.
Some of the major brands for calming supplements available in the market today are Equine Chill, SmartPak range of calming supplements for horses, Quietex which is a daily calming supplement, and Calmer Equine, which is a magnesium based horse calming supplement, and also Zylkene equine.
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