Posted: 2nd December 2014 | Back to news feed
Minerals, and in particular, magnesium, play a vital role in the diet of the horse, helping to maintain a normal blood sugar level and improving the sensitivity of cells to insulin. Magnesium is also important for the general growth and repair of tissue and assists with blood circulation and transmission of nerve impulses. In the spring when the growth is lush, grass can have an increased sugar content due to its fast growth, but this often means that it is deficient in minerals, including magnesium. This in turn can lead to a magnesium deficiency in the horse’s diet. The result of this is very often a fresh, excitable horse and that is when many owners turn to a calming supplement or feed.
Of course there can be many other reasons for a fizzy, tense horse and it is important to try and find out why. Analyse your horse’s diet as too many carbohydrates or too much protein combined with too little exercise can have a similar effect. If your horse just has a nervous temperament, patience and a quiet atmosphere can help too. If you think your horse may have a magnesium deficiency, ask your vet to take a blood sample to check it out.
An alternative to an expensive calming supplement is a complete fibre feed such as Mollichaff Calmer. It contains a balanced blend of fibre pellets, oat straw, dried grass, herbs, soya oil, vitamins, minerals, limestone and trace elements, and it can be used as the sole bucket feed. It is suitable for all horses and ponies, including laminitics, as it is low in sugar and starch providing limited controlled energy from high quality, digestible fibre and oil-based ingredients.
In Mollichaff Calmer we have included elevated levels of Magnesium along with a carefully formulated combination of camomile, lemon balm and mint, to help relax your horse. It also contains Vitamins B1 and B12 which are known to help decrease anxiety by exerting a calming influence on the horse.
For more information on feeding your horse or pony please call the HorseHage Helpline on 01803 527257 or visit www.horsehage.co.uk/
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