Is there any feed that calms horses??

Question

I just bought a new horse two days ago.She is a 5 yr old, black TN walker mare.She is calm most of the time,but....

She has this problem where she gets excited and wants to run ahead of you when you lead her around.I am working with her fixing that problem.

Well yesturday I walked her to a neighbors house(who also has horses) up the road(about 200-300 feet away from my farm).She was nice and calm on our way there,but when we got there...she started whinnying at my neighbors horses' and then she went crazy! She started trying to run away from me.She was getting excited and also was nervous.I had to walk her back to my farm because she was acting "wild".She kept trying to run ahead of me,so I kept turning her around in circles to calm her.On our way back home..she kept trying to push me into wodden fences and barbed wire fences(running alongside the road).

I know that I need to be the boss and not her "pasture buddy"

I am having a hard time controlling her because I am....

Answer 1

I would not use that stud chain.  I also wouldn't be walking her to the neighbor's place yet...if you just got her, her whole world is upside down and she needs time to adjust.  Taking her away from the place she is just getting used to might have been the straw that broke the camel's back for her.

Try to ease her in to bonding with you and trusting you...if you start using a stud chain and pushing her, she will only find more reasons not to trust you.  Take your time and use kindness..not chains.

Answer 2

honey, oatmeal,

Answer 3

b1

dynamite easy boy

and oats

NO ALFALFA

Answer 4

I agree with the above that she needs to settle in a bit.  Also, my gelding was off the wall when I tried him on sweet feed.  He's a bit high strung anyway being only 3, but he was pushy and even bucking under the saddle. He's now on nutrina complete feed and doing much better.  It's actually amazing to me how different he is, how much difference that can make.  Probably not much help, but I would let her settle in and change her feed.  If that doesn't work, then you can try adding supplements.

Answer 5

Your problem is not feed.  Your horse is disrespectful and lacks training and understanding of what you want from her.  She seems fearful and reactive and like she was not comfortable when you placed her in these new surroundings without any preparation.  Horses do not naturally know these things, they have to be sensitized and desensitized.  Also, in this situation, size is not the problem, technique and knowledge is what is missing and I do not mean this in a negative way.  You either have to learn how to work with her and help her or get some help from someone else.  If you are unsure of what to do, there is a lot of good information on natural horsemanship out there on DVD's.  Be safe.  What you described is a dangerous situation for you.  Your horse doesn't even know how to lead, and it was not a wise decision to take her into a situation where she could have gotten away from you and hurt herself or you.   Your horse either has ground manners and respect for you or she doesn't - it's not a matter of "being good sometimes".  Start with ground training from the basics and go from there.  Be safe.

Answer 6

The lowest protien possible.  Maybe 8 or 9 %

Answer 7

I'm sure there is some type of supplements to can give her, however I also heard if you put a copper pipe (or something similar) in her water bucket helps as well.

Answer 8

Sweet feed can hype up horses. Try a dry pelleted feed. If  you go to your local feed store ask some one to help you. Most of the time they are going to be more than willing to help you out. I use Pellets, Grain (oats), corn, and mix in just a little sweet feed.  Try that. Be careful with a stud chain. Especially if you've never used one before ( I've never used one either) a horse'ss face is delicate and you don't want her to hurt herself. There is no excuse for bad behavior but a mare is a mare. They are always going to be just a little testy.

Good luck. I hope that helps.

Answer 9

my horse (an ottb) was getting Sweet feed before i got her.. she was nuts.. sweet feed has lots of well sweets in it that makes the horses hot...  i switched her to timothy pellets and took her off all things alfalfa (its like redbull for horses... and meant for cows anyway) and put her on grass mix hay and now i can ride her bare back and bridle-less after not riding for a few days.

good luck!!

Answer 10

Safe choice is fed at my barn. It has a calming effect on horses and is great for them also. It is available at almost  feed stores.

Answer 11

It sounds as if she is lonely.  does she have a pasture buddy?  Seminole feeds makes a feed meant to be calming called Wellness, Calm and Cool.  I don't know where you live but Seminole feeds are very high quality feeds that are distrubuted through the south eastern US

http://www.seminolefeed.com/HorseFeeds.h...

Answer 12

stay away from oats that can give them lots of energy.

Answer 13

Take her off the sweet feed.  The corn and sugar are probably hyping her up even more.  If she needs grain for a little extra supplementation in her diet, give her a complete feed like Strategy.  But if you don't have to have her on grain at all, I wouldn't give her any.  Horses don't NEED grain.

I have a hyper TB mare and I put her on a supplement called SmartCalm.  In just two weeks it worked wonders.  She is SO much more mellow now.  It took that extra edge off her.  She's not lazy, just calmer.  I would highly recommend trying it.

I know people will tell you it's all about training but some horses are just naturally high strung...just like people.  It sounds like you are trying as hard as you can and doing the right things, you just might need a little help by using something like SmartCalm.  My mare wouldn't leave the barn without throwing a fit either, and just the other day (after being on SmartCalm for about a month now), I rode her down the road for 2 miles and she couldn't have cared less.  She never even turned her head to look toward home.  

Haha, I sound like a commerical!

Good Luck!

http://www.smartpakequine.com/productcla...

Answer 14

b-1 supplement some come cherry or apple flavored.

Answer 15

Here is the one I used on a over excitable horse, as a last resort, Calm it's manufactured by Cavalor. But talk to your vet before you give it to her.

Get her off the sweet feed and try a dry mix.

Answer 16

Hello,

Well for feeding, I suggest grass hay.  NO alfalfa, no grain, no oats, no pellets, no sweetfeed, etc...  JUST grass hay.

If she is acting up and running out from under you, you probably should try out some new bits.  REMEMBER that you never want to switch to something harsh, just work your way from the softest (snaffle), and go from there.  She needs to keep you safe and you need to be able to stop her, so you don't get hurt by her not listening to you.

here are a couple of articles on bit selection:

http://www.ehow.com/how_2321867_choose-b...

http://www.horsekeeping.com/horse_tack/b...

It does sound like your horse wants a buddy!  But, with the attitude she is giving you, seems like it would make her buddy sour (not wanting to leave her friends to go for a ride with you).

YOU two just need to figure each other out!

EDIT>

Stud chains can make things worse.  They are generally NOT a piece of equipment you use for riding.  

Here is an article on it and how to use it properly:

http://www.curlyfarm.com/articles/horse_...