L-tryptophan anyone use it?

[woops]

I am trying a calming supplement from smartpak -- Ultra calm
It has l-tryptophan init along with other stuff ---
Anyone use this before --
What id you think??

[Ambrey]

Yep, it's in the vita-calm I use. I'm convinced it doesn't do a damned thing.

[Long Spot]

I've used it on rehab horses having stall rest. I use stuff mixed by my own special suppliment guru though.

Most of the L tryp stuff sold on the market doesn't contain enough to produce the desired affect in a small human. So, to quote Ambrey, it doesn't do a damn thing.

I think it also impacts some horses more than others. Just like "Uncle Bob" always falling asleep on the couch after Thanksgiving dinner, and "Aunt Betty" doesn't feel sleepy at all so she polishes all the silver and asks you what you are doing with your life. Boy, I really wandered there.

[Woodland]

I have used it - some horses it works on and some it does not even phase.

[redsky]

I have been using SmartCalm Ultra for a little over a month now with extraordinary results. Regular SmartCalm didn't do a thing for him so I think it must be the tryptophan.

My pony, who gets all hot and fired up at the canter, finally has a workable canter after YEARS of work. The only variable that has changed recently is the addition of SmartCalm Ultra. Everything about him feels different when we are riding. Calm, relaxed, responsive. I don't know for sure if the supplement is doing it but I don't want to change a thing as I love the pony he has become.

[Semi75]

I've used L-tryptophan products before and while some of the products helped a little I started researching and realized there are more negatives than positives associated with tryptohan. There doesn't seem to have been any research that shows it helps horses as a mild sedative but in some cases mild excitement and increased heart rate, exactly what I don't want. The dosage in most calming products is small to begin with but there was research that showed L-tryptophan administered in very high dosage is toxic. That was a rather extreme case study though because they used Shetland ponies and administered high doses through a tube to the stomach.

Most of the supplements I used were a B1 and Magnesium supplement and taking the L-tryptophan out of the equation didn't seem to change the results but that would be hard to quantify. We do know that Mg and B1 deficiencies can have a negative effect on horses including nervousness so I stick with that. I've been using B-Quiet by KER lately and like it a lot, it's inexpensive and when checking out the ingredient list on their website I wasn't annoyed by outrageous claims like we see a lot of places. I'm sure there are others out there that work just as well, it's just B1 and Mg after all. It's a little hard to find it seems but I think you can order direct.

[arabhorse2]

I tried the B-Kalm on Casper, and didn't see a change at all. It has 10,000 mg of L-tryptophan per dosage. Waste of money!

He's now on magnesium and B1, and that combination seems to be working fairly well. The B1 especially seems to be helping. I buy mine from Valley Vet Supply.

[rtse]

It didn't do a thing for my horses. They do best on a B vitamin combination with magnesium

[shalomypony]

Many vets can get you straight tryptophan.

[outofthepocket]

You have to be careful if showing. L- Tryptophan can test, and sometimes leaves the horses feeling lethargic. Some crazy horses need something to "dope" them up, but beware that it has affected some of my horses performances. I stick with B-complex and Magnesium, Ex-stress has been what I turn to to take the edge off.

[Ambrey]

Many vets can get you straight tryptophan.

you can also order it from most supplement companies. I'm still convinced it doesn't do a danged thing, though ;)

[workinggirl]

hey there

I am using it on a horse that didn't want to go forward in the ring- gave him that- loosened his back and maybe his head andoff we went. He is great now.

[LDavis104]

SmartCalm Ultra did not help calm my horse at all. But he was on stall rest, so pretty severe conditions for a horse. I ended up just aceing him every day until he was off stall rest for our hand-walks or rides.

[BoysNightOut]

I put my TB gelding on AniMed Vita-Calm when he was on stall rest a few weeks ago. It had L-Tryptophan, but not sure how much.

Anyways, I was surprised at how well it worked. He still did some airs-above-grounds when he was hand-grazed, but it definitely took the edge off. I was real happy with it.

He doesn't show anymore, so no worries for me about testing.