Best Calming Supplement For Horses With Anxiety

Last updated on January 10th, 2023 at 07:43 am

Are you looking for the best calming supplement for horses?

The best calming supplement for horses has the potential to sooth your horse’s nerves if there is a stressful event coming up. Some horse calming supplements have the tendency to work better than others so you should test your supplement the day before your event. If you are using a horse calming supplement during a show or competition, read the ingredients of your supplement and make sure they are approved by your organization, as many equine organizations have prohibited common ingredients found in calming supplements.

Our Favorites

1. Best Overall For 2023: Redmond Daily Gold Stress Relief, Natural Healing Clay for Horses
2. Runner Up: Oralx Corporation Calm and Cool Pellet for Horses
3. Best Wafers: Majesty’s Kalm+ Wafers
4. Best Paste Runner Up: Formula 707 Calming Equine Supplement
5. Best Pellets: Ramard Total Calm Focus
6. Best Herbs: Mare Moods
7. Best Liquid: Dover Saddlery Omega Alpha Chill Equine Calmer
8. Best Gel: SynChill Oral Horse Calming Gel

Best Horse Calming Supplements Comparison Chart

REDMOND Daily Gold Stress Relief, Natural Healing Clay for Horses – Best Calming Supplement For Horses 2023

The REDMOND Daily Gold Stress Relief, Natural Healing Clay for Horses is our top pick for the best calming supplement for horses in 2023.

Daily Gold Stress Relief, Natural Healing Clay is a Montmorillonite clay found in Redmond, Utah. This unique clay is great at aiding your horse’s digestive system by binding toxins and buffering acid. Daily Gold can help de-stress your equine companion and reduce the chances of them developing gastric ulcers by bringing the pH levels of your horse’s stomach to a healthy level.

Most modern horses are deficient in essential minerals. This is where Daily Gold can help by providing 68 natural trace minerals which horses require for optimal health. A lot of other calming supplements only contain about 12 minerals. This is why Daily Gold is the best calming paste for horses.

Horses seem to really thrive while taking the minerals that Daily Gold provides. Reported health benefits include increased energy, improved digestion, better hydration, healthier hooves, improved vitality, and greater overall endurance. This is what makes Daily Gold the best calming supplement for horses.

Oralx Corporation Calm and Cool Pellet for Horses – Best Equine Calming Supplement Runner Up

The Oralx Corporation Calm and Cool Pellet for Horses is our runner up for the best equine calming supplement.

What we like about Calm & Cool is that it is made from a combination of natural herbs and L-Tryptophan, which is an essential Amino Acid. If used daily, Calm and Cool Pellets can help to relieve edginess and anxiety. This is especially helpful in new situations, but also works great during routine showing, clipping, training, and trailering. It helps to relieve stress for your horse, allowing for more productive performance and  training sessions.

It can take a couple of weeks to start to see noticeable results, so be sure to have patience during the first few weeks after starting use. Being that this one of the best equine calming supplement products on the market, we feel you should give it a try if you have a nervous or anxious horse.

Be aware that this product does contain Valerian root, which may be a banned substance at some recognized shows. It is advised to take your horse off of this supplement at least 2 days before a show, in order to give it enough time to clear your horses system.

Majesty’s Kalm+ Wafers – Best Calming Wafers For Horses

Majesty's Kalm+ Wafers are our top pick for the best calming wafers for horses. As we mentioned in our joint supplements for horses guide, Majesty makes high quality equine products.

There are several things that we really like about these calming wafers. For starters, we really like how easy they are to give to your horse. There is no powder or liquids to mix. The handy wafers are convenient and can be given anytime, anywhere. They contain Vitamin B1, Tryptophan, and other natural calming ingredients which help to ease stress, aggression, fear, and anxiety.

These wafers are made with apple sauce, oats, and molasses, which horses seem to love. Because of this, there is typically zero waste with this product. That’s why we feel these are the best calming wafers for horses.

Be sure to read all warnings on the product label, especially concerning pregnant horses or those intended for breeding.

Formula 707 Calming Pellets – Best Calming Pellets For Horses

Formula 707 Calming pellets are our top pick for the best calming pellets for horses.

These pellets combine three solid calming ingredients into one tasty apple flavored pellet. They contain complete support for a balanced central nervous system. The three key ingredients are Thiamine, Magnesium, and L-Tryptophan. These three work in combination to increase serotonin, improve nutrition, and induce relaxation.

Horse also love the apple flavored pellets.

Ramard Total Calm & Focus – Best Calming Paste For Horses Runner Up

The Ramard Total Calm & Focus is our runner up for the best calming paste for horses.

Total Calm & Focus uses an all-natural formula which helps to calm nervous or anxious horses while also increasing their focus. This supplement contains a leading edge ingredient called Ramisol, which the manufacturer claims can aid in the suppression of Cortisol, the major stress hormone. Cortisol is often released in response to stimulus or high intensity activities. This calming supplement also is made with a balanced blend of B vitamins and Magnesium, both of which are thought to be very positive for hyper or nervous equine.

Mare Moods by Silver Lining Herbs – Best Calming Herbs For Horses

The Mare Moods by Silver Lining Herbs our top choice for calming herbs for horses, in particular mares.

Whether your mare is in season or not, this supplement can help to maintain a normal disposition. It works good for mares that have hard or too frequent cycles.

Mare Moods supports a healthy and natural hormone balance, supports reproductive organs including the uterus, and helps control heat cycles.

Dover Saddlery Omega Alpha Chill Equine Calmer – Best Liquid Calmer For Horses

The Omega Alpha Chill Equine Calmer is our top choice for the best liquid calmer for horses.

We like that this all natural liquid formula is easy to administer. It also works well to reduce stress and anxiety.

SynChill Oral Horse Calming Gel – Best Horse Calming Gel

The SynChill Oral Horse Calming Gel is our top choice for the best horse calming gel.

We really like this horse calming gel because it reduces anxiety and stress horses without affecting their performance. It is recommended to give this calming gel 1-6 hours before a stressful event, so the horse can focus and relax.

We also like that SynChill is not made from any drugs or banned substances. It is a unique blend vitamin B6, of 5-HTP, and melatonin which combine to increase serotonin levels in the horse’s central nervous system, thus calming them.

Lastly, we really like that SynChill requires a very small dosage because 5-HTP easily crosses into the blood-brain barrier of the horse for a fast calming effect, unlike tryptophan which can take hours to become effective.

Calming Supplement For Horses Buyer’s Guide

In the central nervous system you will find a hormone and neurotransmitter called serotonin that has the ability to put your horse at ease. L-tryptophan is an amino acid found in small amounts throughout grass and pastures that the horses body needs to create serotonin.

A calming supplement such as Daily Gold that contains tryptophan will need to work over the course of 1.5 – 2 hours and the effects will last roughly 8 hours. Tryptophan can be found in the horses body so it can be used everyday to relax your horse.

Ingredients To Look For

You will find a variety of key ingredients in horse calming supplements, ranging from minerals and vitamins to amino acids and herbs.

Calcium, Zinc, and Magnesium

Calcium, zinc, and magnesium are all common ingredients that you will find in today’s horse calming supplements. Signs of magnesium deficiency in a horse include by muscle tremors, incoordination, nervousness, and irritability. This key mineral plays  a vital role in over 300 enzyme reactions of a horse. It also works in conjunction with calcium in muscle contraction and nerve transmission.

Please be aware that feeding too much calcium and magnesium could have negative effects on the growth and health of young horses, so be certain to consult with your veterinarian before giving calming supplements to your young horse.

Vitamins

You will also find vitamins such as the B-complex vitamin thiamine, as they can help reduce stress and calm the horse’s nervous system. Thiamine is a water-soluble vitamin which is not stored in the equine’s body, thus it needs to be supplied by the animal’s diet. Thiamine is needed to help metabolize carbohydrates and fat. Horses low in this vitamin often seem stressed and nervous – which is why it is included in a lot of equine calming supplements.

Vitamin B12 helps with metabolism, nervous system regulation, and red blood cell production. You should give this vitamin to your horse to help increase his appetite or in a stressful situation. A horse calming supplement with Vitamin B12 would be recommended for situations such as moving to a new place or longer trailer rides.

Additionally, vitamin C has been shown to help equine with relieving stress.

Tryptophan

An additional ingredient is tryptophan, which is an amino acid that horses cannot produce and thus needs to be introduced through their diet. Once ingested, the horse will turn the tryptophan into serotonin, which is an anti-stress hormone.

Valerian Root & Chamomile

There are two common herbs in calming supplements, chamomile and Valerian root. Both herbs have been associated with stress relief and inducing sleep. Valerian is the more potent of the two, but has been banned by some equine associations.

Valerian is a natural herb that can help reduce excitability and anxiety without lowering the horse’s mental function. Valerian root can further be used as an antispasmodic in cases of muscle spasms or colic. This equine calming supplement should be used in stress-inducing events, rather than competitive events.

Conclusion

When trying a calming supplement you should have a “trial period” where you observe how the supplement is affecting your horse. If the desired results are not achieved you can discontinue use and try another product.

You should never use two calming supplements at the same time, because you will not know which one is truly working, and there could be adverse effects with combining certain supplements.

Monitor your excitable equine to better understand how, where, and when it becomes anxious or nervous. The horse may need a simple change in diet, more time outside, or a better exercise routine to help release some of their excess nervous energy. If you think that a calming supplement may help relax your horse, a supplement containing tryptophan would be a good place to begin.

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