Supplements are not medicines and do not treat or cure medical conditions. Where appropriate, they may form part of a wider nutritional and management programme.
🧠 What are stress and anxiety?
Stress prepares the horse to respond to a demand, challenge or possible threat. In the short term this is normal and useful. Anxiety involves anticipation that something unpleasant may happen, such as before loading, separation, competition or a procedure associated with a previous frightening experience.
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Can supplements calm a horse without making it sleepy?
Yes, some nutritional supplements are designed to help support a calm, relaxed outlook without causing drowsiness.
Unlike sedative medications prescribed by a veterinary surgeon, calming supplements are intended to support the horse’s normal nervous system and help it cope with everyday stress, excitement or changes in routine. They should not make a healthy horse appear sleepy or unable to perform.
Many owners use calming supplements for horses that:
Become anxious when travelling.
Are tense or distracted when competing.
Find new environments stressful.
React to changes in routine or management.
Become unsettled when separated from other horses.
The response can vary from horse to horse. Some horses show a noticeable improvement in focus and relaxation, while others may respond less. As with any nutritional supplement, results are influenced by the individual horse, its management and the reason for the behaviour.
It’s important to remember that behaviour can sometimes be a sign of pain or an underlying health problem. If a horse suddenly becomes difficult to handle, unusually anxious or shows a significant change in behaviour, it should be examined by your veterinary surgeon to rule out any medical cause.
