How long for calming supplement to work?

[RealityCheck]

I'm thinking of trying my horse on a calming supplement, but I understand they only work if the horse is actually deficient in B1, magnesium, etc. So how long should it take before I notice a difference (if there is going to be one)?

[Bayou Roux]

I'd say it took about a month for the Rouxster to show some reduced anxiety after starting on Thia-Cal. She's still a bit neurotic, but the degree is greatly reduced, so she comes across as a bit addle-brained, rather than panicked in anxiety-producing situations.

[gabz]

I've used Quietex, B1, and Tryptophane at various times, for different horses.

The Quietex powder takes a few days to take effect and you need to use it pretty regularly.

B1, same thing. (I use the B1 crumbles for a "sensitive" horse)

Trptophane works the fastest, but it's not recommended for long term. Although tryptophan is a necessary amino acid of the horse's diet, it's not necessary in super large amounts. Also - supplementing with trypto is illegal for some show associations.

Oh, Dr Kellon, in her newest supplement book, is quite helpful about these. She discusses which element works for different "personalities". :)

[desertmyst]

I have my filly on the Thia-Cal also, I started it around christmas and it's just now starting to make a difference in her. She is definately calmer in her stall.....so it's been about 3 weeks?

Also, at the same time i started her on a supplement to help ulcers, not sure if that is contributing to the calmness. :confused: So i'm keeping her on both of them. LOL

[MediaMD]

I had heard ancedotal evidence that Quiessence was actually more effective than Quietex and provided needed minerals to alleviate cresty necks/reduce founder tendency. I started my part SB gelding on it about 2 weeks ago and have yet to see any difference in his overall calmness, but figured it might take closer to a month to see any real change.

Anyone else have good/bad experience with Quiessence?

[Sansena]

On average? A week.

[Cherry]

I would say at least two weeks. If it doesn't help after a month it's probably not going to and you should try something else.

It seems to me that Quiessence or a supplement like Equinime (which contains calcium, magnesium, B-vitamin complex and some amino acids) are better at calming than Quietex or other products that do not contain calcium and magnesium. ;)

[veebug22]

I would give it a month at the loading dose. I've seen Quiessence be REALLY effective before. It made a noticeable difference in the horse's attitude and more than one person remarked on the difference when the horse was taken off of it without knowing the Quiessence had been removed from their diet.

[Peggy]

Another thing to throw into the mix is that an article in The Horse Journal (http://www.horse-journal.com/issues/14_5/features/Herbal_Horse_Remedies_1095-1.html) (May 2007) said that valerian is more effective when the horse is in the stall than when the horse was outside (as in being worked or walked), and presumably stimulated more. Vitamin B-1 (thiamine) and magnesium were more effective in that case. The article may have mentioned times to take effect, but I'm not sure.

[GirlGeek]

MediaMD,

There's a thread that's been running this week ("Speak to me of Quiessence") that's been discussing this very thing that you may find helpful. I think the last post was around 11:30 today...

[manyspots]

I put my gelding on SmartCalm on December 24 because I couldn't take his flighty behavior anymore. I saw a difference in about a week and he just keeps getting better and better. This is the first time I have used a Mag supp with B1. Had always used Valerian based products... I think I like this a lot better. He seems more stable and "thinks" more before he acts! :winkgrin:

[RealityCheck]

Thanks everyone, I'm not sure which one to try yet but I can't use anything USEF illegal (aka no valerian). So I'm thinking of going with ThiaCal first, since I know my feed store carries it.

[MediaMD]

Thanks GirlGeek--I'll absolutely look for the thread on quiessence. I was about to give up thinking it just wasn't working but i've only been doing the loading dose for about 12 days so I'll give it a full month and then decide whether to continue.

Good and helpful thread though...