calmers


Maintaining a Calm Outlook by Kate Hore RNutr (Animal), Snr Nutritionist at NAF


A quiet hack on a calm horse is a lovely way to unwind


A calm, confident horse is the result of a large number of factors including breeding, management and training. Diet and feeding can play an important role within that regime for maintaining a calm outlook, both from a total diet point of view and providing the right targeted nutrition where appropriate.


To look generally at the horse’s diet, the more we can look to feeding in a natural way, which means trickle feeding on high fibre, low concentrate feeds, the happier and healthier our horses will be. We know that providing a fibre based diet not only helps maintain gut health, but also helps the horse cope with the pressures of modern life. Recent research


at Edinburgh University found that when horses were fed a fibre based diet, compared to a more traditional cereals diet, they were better able to cope with new and exciting situations, and this was seen as lower heart rates. Of course when feeding high fibre diets, particularly through winter when feeding preserved forage, it’s important to ensure that high fibre diet is balanced with the essential micronutrients, which can be done with a concentrated balancer rather than needing to add concentrate feeds.


However some equine individuals are just naturally more anxious and reactive and this is where adjusting the whole ration alone might not


Five Star Magic


Five Star Magic is a magnesium calmer with a difference, containing a unique combination of herbs and nutrients known to help relax muscle tissue and support concentration.


It contains magnesium, an essential nutrient to a horse’s wellbeing - amongst its many roles is the regulation of nervous tension. As magnesium also acts on muscle tension, a horse low in magnesium may appear ‘tight’ in his way of going and express excitability or a lack of confidence.


To support the benefits of magnesium, Five Star Magic also contains a blend of herbs chosen for their traditional use in supporting confidence and concentration. The unique blend of nutrients enables the horse to tackle all that is asked of it, calmly and confidently. Five Star Liquid Magic has the advantage of extracting the active ingredients from the herbs, making them more readily available for absorption by the horse. The calming effects can be seen fast.


When stress and anxiety is spoiling performance, feed Five Star Magic daily to support confidence and concentration so that you can really get the most out of your horse or pony! Visit www.naf-equine.eu/uk


www.farmnequine.co.uk .theequinesite.co.uk Equine Page 39 11


be the answer. Magnesium is a commonly used mineral for calming, with research now showing that supplementary magnesium can moderate the horse’s responses. However remember nothing in nature works alone, so look for the right synergistic blend.


The power of plants is well known and anxiety and stress are areas where these so- called phytochemicals have long been used. So for our genuinely worried equine friends it’s worth looking for a blend of key nutrients that may help keep those nerves settled. Remember, too that if competing on your horse, it’s important that you only use herbs for maintaining confidence and


concentration and avoid those with a sedative effect, such as valerian. Choosing the wrong herbal preparation may not only compromise performance, but also result in a positive dope test if tested under FEI rules. If you’re in any doubt, check with the manufacturer before using a product in competition, and look for the BETA NOPS logo which will tell you that the product is tested and audited to a standard suitable for competition.


So in conclusion, for all horses we should be looking to feed a balanced high fibre, low cereal diet and, where necessary, use targeted nutrition to help support a calm, confident outlook.


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