Horse Calming Supplements

A nervous, excitable horse is not only difficult to train and work with, but is also a danger to itself and its handlers. Horses easily frightened or excited will oftentimes express their unease through unpredictable behaviors. These can be minor habits, such as head shaking or pawing, or significant, fear-based responses such as spooking and bolting. Supplements are a commonly used method of calming a high-strung, “hot” horse and are available in a variety of forms. When deciding upon the correct calming supplement for your horse, it is best to consult with your veterinarian to determine the form and dosage.

  1. Vitamin B1

    • Vitamin B1 or Thiamine is often used as a primary ingredient in equine calming supplements. B1 is the only B vitamin that the microorganisms do not produce enough of in a horse’s intestines. It is an important vitamin to metabolize carbohydrates and to receive and transmit nerve impulses. B1 is particularly necessary for horses that are not fed fortified grain or given access to pasture, as a certain degree of B1 is provided by forage and feeds. B1 supplements are widely available and can be administered in pellet, powder and paste form.

    Magnesium

    • Magnesium is a micro mineral that aids in muscle contractions, metabolism and enzyme production, taking the form of electrolytes in a horse’s blood. A horse with a magnesium deficiency is often nervous, anxious and uncoordinated. Many horses get enough magnesium from their diet; however, horses that are exercised extensively on a daily basis, those still growing or pregnant and lactating mares may require additional supplements. Magnesium is available on its own in pellet, powder and paste form.

    Valerian Root

    • Valerian root is an herbal supplement often used to calm excitable or nervous horses. Valerian works to balance the nervous system. It can be fed on its own but is also a key ingredient in many calming supplement blends such as Quietex and Easy Mare, both of which come in paste and powder form. The American Horse Show Association (AHSA) as well as the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) have banned Valerian from use in competitions. Both the FEI and the AHSA perform routine and random drug tests at equestrian events that detect valerianic acid or its metabolites in a horse’s urine. Valerian should therefore be used as a calming supplement in training or shipping situations as opposed to competitive events.

    Chamomile

    • Chamomile is another herb that may be used to supplement the diet of a nervous or anxious horse. It is generally not potent enough to impact a nervous horse’s habits on its own, but when fed in conjunction with other calming compounds, Chamomile can ease a horse’s nervous symptoms, particularly those that take the form of digestive issues such as colic, weight loss or diarrhea.