Caring for a horse goes beyond physical fitness; it's important to prioritize their emotional well-being too. Horses, just like humans, can experience stress and anxiety. Picture this: your horse restlessly pacing in their stall, sweating excessively, or losing interest in their food. These behaviors may indicate anxiety in your horse. But worry not! That's where calming supplements come into play. Join us as we explore the world of horse-calming supplements, helping you find the perfect match for your four-legged best friend.
Understanding Horse Anxiety and Stress
Just like us, horses can get stressed by changes in their routine, being in new places, hard training sessions, or the arrival of a new horse in the stable. By understanding what causes their stress, we can better help them handle their anxiety and improve their overall mental health. Horses exhibit their anxiety in various ways, just as humans do. Some may become more introverted, while others show physical signs like excessive sweating, pacing, or decreased appetite. Recognizing these signs is the first step to addressing their stress. Chronic stress can have serious implications on a horse's health and performance. It can lead to weight loss, weaken their immune system, and even affect their ability to perform at their best.
Types of Calming Supplements for Horses
There are many different types of calming supplements available for horses, including pastes, pellets, powders, and more. You can find these for daily or instant use, made with natural or synthetic ingredients.
Daily vs. Instant Calmers
Daily calmers are supplements that work gradually over time, providing consistent support, while instant calmers offer immediate relief during stressful situations. The choice between the two largely depends on your horse's needs and circumstances.
Natural vs. Synthetic Supplements
Natural supplements utilize the power of herbs and organic materials, offering potential advantages from natural sources and traditional use. However, potency and consistency may vary, and effects may lack scientific proof. On the other hand, synthetic supplements contain man-made ingredients for more precise dosing and standardized effects. They undergo rigorous testing and have predictable outcomes. However, synthetic supplements may lack holistic benefits and carry a higher risk of side effects.
Popular Ingredients
The most popular ingredients in calming supplements include magnesium, thiamine, and other B vitamins due to their natural relaxing effects.
Choosing the Right Calming Supplement
Before resorting to supplements, it's essential to rule out any underlying health issues that might be causing their stress. Always consult a vet before introducing any new supplement into your horse's diet. They can provide expert guidance based on your horse’s health history and specific needs. Every horse is unique, with different triggers and responses to stress. It’s important to understand what specifically causes your horse's stress in order to select the most effective supplement.
The Top 7 Best Calming Supplements for Horses
- Perfect Products Perfect Prep EQ™ Gold Paste
- Perfect Products Perfect Prep EQ™ Training Day Powder
- Total Calm & Focus
- EQUI+Calm® Paste
- Quiessence
- dac® Formula Calm B
- Kahm Equine CBD Hemp Pellets
First on our list is the gold standard in equine calming supplements. This gold paste, with its active ingredients including Magnesium, Taurine, Inositol, and Thiamine, isn't just a supplement; it's a golden ticket to tranquility for your horse. Easy to administer and effective within minutes, it's a horse owner's "calm switch" for sudden stressful situations. It's the perfect quick fix for those unexpected moments of tension.
Imagine a calming supplement that works every day to keep your horse's stress levels in check. That's exactly what the Perfect Prep EQ™ Training Day Powder does. With the power of amino acids and B vitamins, it's like a personal trainer for your horse's mood, making sure they stay cool, calm, and collected, day after day.
Next up is a supplement that has mastered the art of balance. Total Calm & Focus promotes calmness without compromising alertness and focus. It's like yoga for your horse, helping them find their inner zen while staying alert and ready for performance. With a highly effective all-natural formula, it calms anxious and nervous horses. The cutting-edge use of Ramisol enhances focus and reduces cortisol levels, which are associated with fatigue, mood changes, and depression.
When your horse needs immediate relief, turn to EQUI+Calm® Paste. Specially designed to reduce adrenaline and increase endorphin levels, acting as a soothing balm for your horse's nerves. This rapid-acting formula works to reduce stress and anxiety, without impeding athletic performance or causing excessive acid production. It's the perfect partner for travel or high-pressure events, helping to keep the peace when it matters most. Show safe and not currently listed on USEF or AQHA prohibited substance list, this palatable 'maple praline' flavored paste can be given orally or as a top dressing on feed.
Quiessence is more than a supplement; it's a calming experience. This magnesium-based supplement is designed to support calm, balanced behavior while effectively reducing nervousness, hypersensitivity, muscle tension, and irritability. It also helps reduce the risk of laminitis in overweight horses. It's like a deep breath in a bottle, helping your horse find their calm amidst the storm.
The dac® Formula Calm B is a holistic approach to your horse's well-being. Fortified with B vitamins, essential amino acids, and trace minerals like Magnesium and Tryptophan, it's not just a calming supplement; it's a complete wellness solution. The ingredients work together to produce a natural calming effect while supporting overall health. Highly palatable and made in the USA, this highly effective powder is perfect for daily use.
Last but not least, we have a natural solution with a modern twist. The Kahm Equine CBD Hemp Pellets offer a unique approach to managing stress and promoting relaxation without causing drowsiness. They are guaranteed to contain at least 1% CBD or 10mg of CBD per gram of pellets, providing a full spectrum product with other cannabinoids and terpenes from the whole plant.
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