calmers
Do you Dream of a Quiet Life?
A horse, of course by Don Blazer
There are basically two types of nervous horses. There is the bold nervous and the timid nervous and whilst they are very much the same, they are different. Which is which is usually decided by observation and the way you handle and train each is a matter of knowing which is which.
Dougie aged 23
Before handling any horse, it is a good idea to observe his physical characteristics, especially his head. While there are always exceptions to the rules, a nicely chiseled head with refined and pointed ears says the horse has intelligence. A big nostril which flares tells you the horse gets plenty of air and therefore you can expect stamina. It is said looking into the eyes allows you to see into the soul. Large, soft eyes say the horse is kind, while small eyes ringed with white say ‘beware the rogue’. Many breed societies consider eyes set well out to the side of the head is a requirement of good conformation, however in addition to this, the width between the eyes of a horse, which has both binocular and monocular vision, will definitely have an effect on the horse’s reaction time and ability to concentrate. We know that
animals with binocular vision alone tend to learn faster. The wider the eyes are apart the greater the tendency to use monocular vision, using one eye to see one thing, and the other eye to see something else. So does eye placement make one horse bold nervous or another timid nervous? I can’t be positive, and neither can you, but the look of the eyes will give you the first clues. The timid horse’s eyes will exhibit some fear, always shifting from one thing to another, always investigating in a shy way. The timid nervous horse will constantly raise and lower his head trying to get a better view of ‘things which might attach him.’ The bold nervous horse’s eye will be bright, and he will hold his head steady, using binocular vision to study things of interest. When he wants to get a better look at things his head movement will be determined, not fearful. Both the timid nervous and bold nervous horse will exhibit similar initial behaviour when brought from their stable. They will prance, snort, sweat, and tend to tread on your foot. Both will spook and shy at unfamiliar objects, yet their demeanor will
• A complete fibre feed.
• With camomile, magnesium, lemon balm and mint.
• Contains a broad spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement.
• Suitable for horses and ponies prone to nervousness or excitability.
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Rockies’ Magnacalm provides horse owners with a hard feed free way to add a calming supplement to their horse’s diet. The vast majority of calming supplements come in the form of a liquid or a powder meaning that, in order to feed it, it needs to be added to some form of bucket feed. Not Magnacalm. This clever lick, containing bioavailable magnesium along with salt and cerelose dextrose for palatability, can be offered in free access manner in the horse’s stable or shelter. This gives horse owners a simple way to add magnesium to their horse’s diet – a deficiency of which can cause nervous, excitable behaviour.
BY APPOINTMENT TO HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN MARK WESTAWAY AND SON
MANUFACTURERS OF HORSE FORAGE Equine Page 12
MARK WESTAWAY & SON LOVE LANE FARM, MARLDON, PAIGNTON, DEVON, TQ3 1SP TEL: 01803 527257
www.horsehage.co.uk
Magnacalm is available in 1.8kg blocks that fit into conventional salt lick holders and are priced around £6.21.
Visit
www.rockies.co.uk, email
info@rockies.co.uk or call 01606 595022
www.theequinesite.co.uk
Calming supplement with a difference
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