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| Lifted right off SmartPak. Sorry. But hey, if it works, I'll buy more of it from them! |
It supports the muscular and nervous systems, which can cause a calming effect. It's supposed to help metabolic issues as well, but Penn doesn't really need that part. Hopefully it will help his stall walking and keep his traveling nerves at bay (oh yea, I forgot to mention- he screamed up a storm at the schooling show... while Fiction was right next to him). I'm really hoping that his stall walking isn't an ingrained habit yet, since I've heard it is basically impossible to stop once it starts.
I'm still interested in trying the Liquid Titanium Mask, but I'm not sold on it yet. I couldn't find many reviews of it- one good review and one thread on COTH that ripped the product line to shreds.
I was able to start him on Quiessence right away because as luck would have it, the new girl at the barn works for Dover, and had a 5lb sample bag of it in her trailer that she wasn't going to use! I asked her about the mask, and she said to get it from Dover if I want to try it, because they have a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If I don't notice a difference, bring it back. I quote, "I've had stuff returned for less than it not working!"
I truly think he'll grow out of his nervous behaviors, except for the stall walking. Everything I've read on that is once it starts, it will never stop. I'm not sure if he'll grow out of the spinning in his stall around feed time (he waits fairly quietly for feed then spins up a storm after when the horses start to go out). Luckily, we can avoid that by turning him out first! The calling for other horses, nervous in the barn by himself, trailer diarrhea- I think with time and life experience they'll stop. I never worried about any of it before (Mikey had similar nervous tendencies for the first couple years I had him), until I googled ways to prevent horse diarrhea when Penn moved to this barn. I never thought about negative side effects other than dehydration, but scary things like colitis came up as reasons why you need to get it under control ASAP. #scaredhorsemom
Either way, I don't want him stressing. We will see how it goes!
I didn't know magnesium had calming effects. That is interesting.
ReplyDeleteGive it a try for your guy, I'm working on my next post for Monday morning, but it seemed VERY effective!
DeleteI'm actually putting together a bit study on stereotypic and anticipatory behavior in animals, and it's a really fascinating topic. Stereotypic behaviors don't go away once they start, but they aren't always an indicator of anything bad -- often it's just a horse anticipating that something will be happening soon, and more often than not that thing is something good (turnout! feeding! etc.).
ReplyDeleteSide note: Olivia at DIY horsemanship put me on to this, but Animed Remission has the same amount of magnesium and chromium as Quiessence for like 1/8th the price. It does have some rice bran filler, though, which Quiessence does not.
It really only worries me because most of these behaviors come with diarrhea - it isn't anticipatory as much as it is nerves. This whole being a riding horse/show horse/stabled horse is very new to him. I'm fairly certain he spent the first 5.5 years of his life in a field, so he hasn't got a clue what to do in the barn.
DeleteI glanced at the supplement you mentioned, and I like that it has done extra things in it that quiessence doesn't (like calcium, which I heard has to be paired with magnesium in humans otherwise their heart rates can become irregular, so I don't see why it would be any different in horses). It is also a fraction of the price!!
I am excited for this post!
DeleteI started my dude on straight Mag and it really turned his attitude right around under saddle. Hope it works just as well for Penn!
ReplyDeleteI heard it worked well for your guy!
DeleteFiction used to weave/stall walk like crazy when I got him. He spent one month on stall rest and it basically cured him of it :) He still get antsy when he is in by himself though.
ReplyDeleteSo there is hope for Penn!
DeleteI'm really hopeful, especially after this weekend!
DeleteOooo I'm super curious about magnesium for my guy too, he's less nervous and more hyped up though, but I really want to try it. He'll be going on that when he comes home for sure. I think I'll start with the cheap one (I think Magnesium 5000?) and work up from there.
ReplyDeleteHopefully Penn will be feeling better (and I REALLY hope it works for him both for your sake and so that it gives me hope for mine too!).
I think it has an overall calming effect, so maybe it will help hyped up? It seems like there's hope for all of us!
DeleteChiming in late here, but I can't comment from work ...
ReplyDeleteIzzy has been on Quiessence (from SmartPak) for exactly a year. My vet recommended it when we thought Izzy was suffering from head Shaking Syndrome. I have no idea if the Quiessence actually does anything. Once we roll into summer, I am going to quit giving it for a week or so to see if I notice a difference. I am 100% the head shaking stuff was just lack of training, but then again, the Quiessence might be doing something to help with the nerves and muscle tightness. For sure this horse has a tendency toward tight back muscles.
We'll see what happens this summer. No matter what, at less than $1 a day, I figure it's not doing harm.
I noticed an immediate difference in Penn - much more relaxed all the time. A lot of his stall walking has stopped too!
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