Calming the Sensitive Horse

Just like humans, horses can suffer from nerves that can have an impact on their behaviour and performance.

Stress isn’t always a bad thing as both humans and horses can harness some nerves to enable them to perform to the best of their ability. However, feeling under constant pressure, unable to shake off the tension can have a detrimental effect on a horse’s health.

The top five causes of stress in horses are:

• Change of routine. • Pressure to perform. • Loneliness due to being kept in isolation away from other horses. • Insufficient roughage or too much concentrate feed in the diet. • Sensing stress from their rider. Recognising the Signs of Stress Stress in horses can manifest itself in a number of ways. Obvious signs of stress include loud snorts, showing the whites of the eyes or nervous pacing. Vices such as cribbing/windsucking and weaving are also recognisable signs that your horses is feeling stressed. More subtle signs that might not be so easy to spot are a faster pulse and breathe rate and tension during training, as well as passing droppings more frequently. Effects of Stress

Long term stress can have a damaging effect on your horse’s health leading to a range of common stress related complaints. Stress and diet are closely linked and if your horse has too much energy available for the required exertion, this increases the risk of digestive issues such as colic and stomach ulcers.

Adrenaline and cortisol cause the liver and muscles to release more glucose; this provides instant energy for brief bursts of power. Your horse’s movements will take place anaerobically without oxygen so the muscles acidify rapidly. The accumulation of lactic acid results in pain and fatigue. High levels of cortisol will compromise your horse’s immune response which means they are particularly susceptible to viruses and infections when under stress.

How to Ease Stress

When horses feel threatened or stressed in the wild they can flee by running away to relieve the tension. Leisure and competition horses don’t always have this luxury when they are confined to a stable.

Nervous horses that are prone to stress will benefit from regular daily turnout, where this is not possible such as when turnout is limited during winter, try to vary exercise using lunging, walking out in-hand or on a horse walker if you are lucky enough to have one. The right diet is also key to managing your horse’s stress levels and lack of sufficient roughage is an important underlying cause of stable vices and increases the risk of stomach ulcers. A painful stomach ulcer is one of the main reasons behind performance and more nervous or aggressive behaviour. If you have a nervous horse, start by modifying the basic rations, ensuring the diet is high in fibre and choose feeds that are higher in fat and lower in sugar and starch, allowing plenty of time for your horse to adjust to any dietary changes. There are various supplements that can further alleviate stress if dietary and management changes alone do not provide satisfactory results. Cavalor Calm

Cavalor Calm reduces stress in nervous horses that have hypersensitive and timid reactions to changing situations or unusual circumstances.

These can include many different circumstance such as transport and when on the road, loud noises, colours, lights, commotion, unfamiliar environments, people and animals. Horses that perform well in training may be less attentive in competitions or may withdraw from stress in certain situations and environmental pressure which causes performance to suffer. Cavalor Calm is developed for young, introverted, fussy horses and showy stallions.

It helps the horse to maintain composure and concentration. Stress not only affects performance, it also affects a horse’s general well-being and can make it difficult to maintain condition.

Ingredients include magnesium sulphate and magnesium acetate which are good, absorbable sources of magnesium which helps to relax muscles. L-Tryptophan: tryptophan which stimulates serotonin, an antistress hormone that the body produces naturally. Vitamins B1, B6 and B12: B-vitamins play an important role in nervous system function. In certain amounts, these vitamins deliver a calming effect. Cavalor Calmix: calming herbal mix containing linden. Cavalor Calm - 800g - £47.50. For further information visit www.zebraproducts.co.uk