Best Calming Supplements for Horses: 20+ Picks for a Calm Ride
We’ve all felt anxious or stressed at some point, right? Well, our four-legged companions, horses, can feel that way too! When a horse is stressed, it can impact their training, care, and overall performance. So, how can we help them feel more at ease?
This is certainly a problem that many people are concerned about. Don’t worry, RaxinHorse is here to “support” you in caring for your companion. Below are the top 20+ best calming supplements for horses selected by our experts. The products below will help you “calm” your beloved horse.
Top 20+ Best Calming Supplement for Horses
You’ve been waiting for it, and now it’s here! RaxinHorse is excited to present our curated list of the best calming supplement for horses, carefully selected by our experts. We’ve gathered all the information you need to make the best choice for your equine companion.
Best for: Supporting hormonal balance and reducing anxiety
Foxden Equine Quiessence
Photo credit: Amazon
Product Information
- Ingredients: Magnesium, Chromium
- Item Package Dimensions: 15.79 x 12.87 x 3.66 inches
- Item Weight: 8.09 pounds
- Suitable for: Horses that are hot, tense, anxious, have sore, strained muscles or backs
- Nerve support
- Stress relief
- Energy booster
- Variety of products
- High price
Why We Love It
Foxden Equine Quiessence is specifically designed for horses that are nervous, distracted or have sore muscles. This supplement can help reduce the tendency to fall by supporting normal glucose metabolism and increasing peripheral circulation. It is completely safe and legal for competition.
Best for: Competition horses requiring enhanced focus
SmartCalm® Ultra Pellets
Photo credit: Amazon
Product Information
- Ingredients: Magnesium, vitamin B1, inositol and l-tryptophan
- Item Package Dimensions: 15.79 x 12.87 x 3.66 inches
- Item Weight: 8.09 pounds
- Suitable for: Horses that lack attention, seem nervous, or spooky
- Improve mood
- Reduce oxidative stress
- High price
- May cause weight gain
Why We Love It
When looking for the best calming supplement for horses, you definitely can’t go wrong with SmartCalm® Ultra Pellets. This product is suitable for horses of all ages and provides soothing and antioxidant benefits. It comes in a convenient tablet form with a holistic approach.
Best for: Daily relaxation support, easy administration
SmartCalm® Pellets
Photo credit: Amazon
Product Information
- Ingredients: Magnesium, vitamin B1 and inositol
- Item Package Dimensions: 15 x 12.83 x 4.17 inches
- Item Weight: 7.61 pounds
- Suitable for: Horses need basic stress reduction
- Nerve support
- More affordable
- Not suitable for horses requiring increased antioxidants
Why We Love It
This product is similar to SmartCalm® Ultra Pellets but without the antioxidants. SmartCalm® Pellets are also available in a convenient, easy-to-use, and palatable tablet form. They provide basic calming for the “occasional” anxious horse.
Best for: Mineral balance and nervous system support
Quiessence®
Photo credit: Amazon
Product Information
- Ingredients: Magnesium, valerian root, chamomile
- Item Package Dimensions: 12.64 x 8.74 x 4.13 inches
- Item Weight: 5 pounds
- Suitable for: Horses susceptible to mild stress, difficulty sleeping
- Mild anxiety relief
- Sleep aid
- Energy booster
- Variety of products
- May not be effective in severe stress
- May be banned by the FEI due to the presence of valerian root
- High price
Why We Love It
If your horse is mildly anxious or occasionally suffers from insomnia, Quiessence® is for you. As the name suggests, this product brings “quiescence” to the horse’s nerves. Quiessence® products are famous for their natural ingredients like valerian root and chamomile. However, if your horse is competing in international competitions, be careful because valerian is listed as a banned substance in competition.
Best for: Reducing symptoms associated with hormonal cycles
Mare Magic Calming Supplements
Photo credit: Amazon
Product Information
- Ingredients: 100% Raspberry Leaf (Rubus Idaus)
- Item Package Dimensions: 6 x 2 x 10.5 inches
- Item Weight: 9.28 ounces
- Suitable for: Mares with behavioral problems related to the reproductive cycle
- Hormone balance
- Reduces stress
- Calms temperament
- For mares only
Why We Love It
Is your mare a little “mare-ish”? Does your mare have a bit of an attitude? Then Mare Magic Calming Supplements are the ideal suggestion for you. This is one of the best-selling calming supplements for moody mares. This product is specially formulated for mares, helping to balance hormones and reduce anxiety.
Best for: Supporting reproductive health in mares
Smart & Simple® Raspberry Leaf
Photo credit: Amazon
Product Information
- Ingredients: Raspberry leaf
- Item Package Dimensions: 11.61 x 8.46 x 2.95 inches
- Item Weight: 8.78 ounces
- Suitable for: Horses need a natural and affordable relax solution
- Mild anxiety relief
- Help horses relax
- Affordable
- Slow acting
- May not be suitable for acute cases
Why We Love It
Smart & Simple® Raspberry Leaf is a trusted best calming supplement for horses. This product contains 4000mg of pure organic raspberry leaf extract, which effectively balances the emotional state of horses. For calming down agitated horses, Smart & Simple® Raspberry Leaf is a “cup of tea”.
Best for: Supporting nerve function and reducing anxiety
Smart & Simple® Magnesium
Photo credit: Amazon
Product Information
- Ingredients: Magnesium
- Item Package Dimensions: 14.57 x 10.79 x 4.65 inches
- Item Weight: 10 pounds
- Suitable for: Horses lack magnesium and need mineral supplements
- Regulate mood
- Reduce anxiety
- Easy to administer
- Comprehensive support
- Affordable
- May not be as effective for severe anxiety
Why We Love It
With 5,000 mg of magnesium oxide per serving, Smart & Simple® Magnesium is a popular calming supplement on the market today. Magnesium supports the nervous system, increases metabolism, and strengthens the horse’s muscles. This product is also popular for its ease of use. You can combine Smart & Simple® Magnesium with a variety of supplements to increase effectiveness.
Best for: Replenishing electrolytes, maintaining hydration
SmartLytes Horse Electrolyte Powder Supplement
Photo credit: Amazon
Product Information
- Ingredients: Sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and trimethylglycine
- Item Package Dimensions: 8.66 x 5.04 x 4.96 inches
- Item Weight: 3.78 pounds
- Suitable for: Horses need rehydration
- Reduce stress
- Relax
- Can be used long-term
- May not be as effective for horses with severe anxiety
Why We Love It
If you are looking for the best soothing supplement for horses that tastes great, you can check out SmartLytes Horse Electrolyte Powder Supplement. This product is rich in sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and important minerals like trimethylglycine, which help to effectively replace electrolytes.
Best for: Supporting serotonin regulation, reducing stress
Seroquine™
Photo credit: Amazon
Product Information
- Ingredients: Serotonin
- Item Package Dimensions: 13.7 x 12 x 10 inches
- Item Weight: 20 pounds
- Suitable for: Horses with severe anxiety disorders
- Regulate mood
- Reduce anxiety
- High price
- May need a prescription
Why We Love It
If the previous products are too “mild” for your fussy horse, you will need Seroquine™. This product contains serotonin, a neurotransmitter that can help regulate mood and reduce anxiety. It is more potent and is suitable for chronically stressed horses. Seroquine™ are herb-free, soy-free, grain-free and non-GMO. However, you should consult your veterinarian before using this product!
Best for: Reducing anxiety and enhancing focus
Formula 707 Calming Equine Supplement
Photo credit: Amazon
Product Information
- Ingredients: L-tryptophan, thiamine, magnesium
- Item Package Dimensions: 11.97 x 8.07 x 3.19 inches
- Item Weight: 5 pounds
- Suitable for: Horses needing improved concentration and mild stress relief
- Increase concentration
- Reduce stress
- Can be used for both training and competition purposes
- May cause drowsiness
- May not be as effective for horses with severe anxiety
Why We Love It
Formula 707 Calming Equine Supplement is the top 1 best calming supplement for horses on Amazon. The product includes 3 nutritional ingredients: L-Tryptophan helps provide serotonin and can reduce anxiety; Thiamine (B1) addresses nutritional deficiencies and metabolism; Magnesium supports calm, relaxed muscles. It will help horses relax, reduce stress, and focus on training better.
Best for: Enhancing focus and reducing pre-event stress
Perfect Prep™ Training Day Pellets
Photo credit: Amazon
Product Information
- Ingredients: Blend of herbs, vitamins, minerals
- Item Package Dimensions: 14 x 11 x 9 inches
- Item Weight: 10 pounds
- Suitable for: Horses need support during training
- Provide energy
- Reduce stress
- Aid training
- Variety of products
- High price
Why We Love It
Is your equine partner preparing for a big test? Get your horse competition-ready with Perfect Prep™ Training Day Pellets! This product lives up to its name! Packed with calming ingredients, electrolytes, and gastric support, these pellets are designed to give your horse the edge they need to perform at their best. It’s the ideal supplement to any exercise program.
Best for: Long-term nervous system and anxiety support
TopSpec Calmer
Photo credit: Amazon
Product Information
- Ingredients: Yeast, MOS, vitamins B, magnesium, tryptophan and sepiolite clay
- Item Package Dimensions: 3.94 x 3.94 x 3.94 inches
- Item Weight: 7 ounces
- Suitable for: Horses need comprehensive solutions
- Nerve support
- Stress relief
- May not be suitable for severe stress
Why We Love It
The list of best calming supplement for horses cannot be without the “player” TopSpec Calmer. The product is designed with special ingredients such as pure protected yeast, MOS, or sepiolite clay to increase the effectiveness of reducing stress and calming horses. TopSpec Calmer is also favored by many users because of its ease of use and can be used for a long time without worrying about side effects.
Best for: Reducing stress and promoting calmness
Hilton Herbs Calm & Collected Gold
Photo credit: Amazon
Product Information
- Ingredients: Blend of herbs
- Item Package Dimensions: 11.26 x 7.72 x 5.59 inches
- Item Weight: 2.2 pounds
- Suitable for: Horses need natural and premium solutions
- Relaxation
- Stress relief
- High price
Why We Love It
If you are looking for an easy-to-use liquid calming supplement, you can refer to Hilton Herbs Calm & Collected Gold. This product contains a natural herbal and mineral blend that helps promote relaxation and reduce stress in horses. It is completely natural and benign so it can be used for a long time.
Best for: Magnesium and herbal balance, reducing anxiety
NAF Five Star Magic
Photo credit: Amazon
Product Information
- Ingredients: Blend of herbs and minerals such as magnesium, prebiotics, probiotics
- Item Package Dimensions: 15.75 x 5.91 x 23.62 inches
- Item Weight: 1.66 Kilograms
- Suitable for: Horses need comprehensive solutions
- Nerve support
- Stress relief
- Natural ingredients
- Can be used long-term
- May not be as effective for horses with severe anxiety
Why We Love It
Winner of the 2019 BETA Innovation Competition – NAF Five Star Magic is a calming supplement trusted by many users. It contains natural herbs and bioavailable magnesium, enhanced with prebiotics and probiotics to enhance the effectiveness of stress reduction in horses. It is also tested and proven to reduce stress without causing sedation. NAF Five Star Magic will use “magic” to help your horse calm down and stop being angry.
Best for: Supporting performance and training
Total Calm and Focus for Horses Supplement
Photo credit: Amazon
Product Information
- Ingredients: Ramisol™, L-tryptophan, thiamine, magnesium
- Item Package Dimensions: 6.18 x 4.06 x 4.02 inches
- Item Weight: 1.12 pounds
- Suitable for: Horses needing improved concentration and mild stress relief
- Increase concentration
- Reduce stress
- Can be used for both training and competition purposes
- May cause drowsiness
- May not be as effective for horses with severe anxiety
Why We Love It
As the name suggests, Total Calm and Focus will help your “hot-tempered” horse become calmer and more focused. This product contains the special compound Ramisol™ – which helps reduce the increase in cortisol levels caused by stress. In addition, Total Calm and Focus also contain L-tryptophan, thiamine, and magnesium to increase the stress-relieving effect.
Best for: Quick support in stressful situations.
Majesty’s Kalm Wafers
Photo credit: Amazon
Product Information
- Ingredients: Tryptophan, vitamin B1, winter cherry, and inositol
- Item Package Dimensions: 6.5 x 3.9 x 9.5 inches
- Item Weight: 1.5 Pounds
- Suitable for: Horses need comprehensive solutions
- Nerve support
- Stress relief
- Energy booster
- May not be as effective for horses with severe anxiety
Why We Love It
Is your horse a bit of a handful? Majesty’s Kalm Wafers can help! This unique formula, packed with tryptophan, vitamin B1, winter cherry, and inositol, is designed to calm even the most spirited horses. With its convenient syringe, adding Majesty’s Kalm Wafers to your horse’s daily routine is a breeze.
Best for: Overall health and behavioral support
Blue Chip Super Concentrated Calming Balancer
Photo credit: Amazon
Product Information
- Ingredients: Magnesium, L-tryptophan, chamomile, probiotics and nucleotides
- Item Package Dimensions: 11.77 x 7.99 x 5.98 inches
- Item Weight: 2.8 pounds
- Suitable for: Horses experiencing general anxiety, stress, or difficulty sleeping
- Stress relief
- Provides essential nutrients alongside calming benefits
- Possibly more costly than certain choices
Why We Love It
This product contains nutrients such as magnesium, L-tryptophan or chamomile extract to calm the horse’s nervous spirit. Blue Chip Super Concentrated Calming Balancer is also supplemented with probiotics, which effectively support the digestive system. You may not know that the digestive system and stress are related. Therefore, this product aims to soothe and reduce stress most comprehensively.
Best for: Reducing anxiety and promoting natural focus
Global Herbs SuperCalm
Photo credit: Amazon
Product Information
- Ingredients: Blend of herbs and minerals
- Item Package Dimensions: 5.31 x 5.2 x 5.08 inches
- Item Weight: 1.1 pounds
- Suitable for: Horses with mild to moderate anxiety or behavioral issues
- Nerve support
- Gentle on the digestive system
- Natural herbal blend
- May not be as effective for horses with severe anxiety
Why We Love It
If you are looking for a gentle supplement for your horse with mild stress, you can refer to Global Herbs SuperCalm. This product is a concentrated herbal solution that can reduce anxiety and agitation in horses. Global Herbs SuperCalm is produced in a variety of forms and capacities to meet different needs.
Best for: Reducing anxiety and promoting calmness
Farnam Quietex II Horse Calming Supplement Pellets
Photo credit: Amazon
Product Information
- Ingredients: L-Tryptophan, thiamine, inositol, riboflavin, magnesium, vitamin B6, and valerian root extract.
- Item Package Dimensions: 6.42 x 4.88 x 4.88 inches
- Item Weight: 1.62 pounds
- Suitable for: Horses experiencing general anxiety, stress, or performance issues
- Nerve support
- Gentle on the digestive system
- Natural herbal blend
- May not be as effective for horses with severe anxiety
Why We Love It
Is your horse often distracted or stressed before matches? Then the best calming supplement for horses you need is Farnam Quietex II Horse Calming Supplement Pellets. This product is formulated with essential nutrients such as L-Tryptophan, thiamine, inositol, riboflavin, magnesium, vitamin B6, and valerian root extract. These ingredients work together to help manage stress and nervous behavior in horses without the use of drugs or sedatives.
Best for: Supporting nervous system health and reducing anxiety
AniMed Vita-Calm Horse Care
Photo credit: Amazon
Product Information
- Ingredients: L-Tryptophan, thiamine, calcium, magnesium, flaxseed meal, stabilized rice bran, brewer dried yeast, saccharomyces cerevisiae
- Item Package Dimensions: 6 x 5 x 5 inches
- Item Weight: 2 Pounds
- Suitable for: Horses of all ages and breeds (except pregnant horses) experiencing anxiety or behavioral issues
- High-quality ingredients
- Effective for calming and reducing stress
- Possibly more costly than certain choices
Why We Love It
Another safe suggestion for your “beloved horse” is AniMed Vita-Calm Horse Care. This product contains helpful ingredients such as L-Tryptophan, thiamine, calcium, magnesium, flaxseed meal, stabilized rice bran, brewer-dried yeast, and saccharomyces cerevisiae to help horses reduce stress effectively. Thanks to its safety, AniMed Vita-Calm Horse Care can be used for all horse breeds at all ages.
SynChill Daily Pellets
Photo credit: Amazon
Product Information
- Ingredients: 5-hydroxytryptophan, L-theanine, griffonia seed extract, pyridoxine HCL
- Item Package Dimensions: 7 x 7 x 7 inches
- Item Weight: 1.59 Pounds
- Suitable for: Horses experiencing general anxiety or stress
- Supports relaxation and focus
- Stress relief
- Enhance overall well-being
- May not be as effective for severe anxiety
Why We Love It
Does your horse need to relax? Then add SynChill Daily Pellets. This product contains 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) – a breakthrough among equine calming products. It also complies with the USEF Drug & Pharmaceutical Guidelines or the FEI Prohibited Substances List. You won’t have to worry about your four-legged friend showing signs of discomfort or indigestion.
Why You Need to Buy Calming Supplements for Horses?
Before we get into the best calming supplements for horses, let’s learn about anxiety in horses and why you need to buy calming supplements.
Understanding Horse Anxiety
A lot of people believe horses cannot be anxious; the truth is quite the opposite: horses are very prone to anxiety. Like humans, horses develop anxiety and, especially stress, which may reflect badly on behavior and performance.
There might be several reasons why our four-legged friends develop anxiety, such as:
- Environmental: The change in the living environment, whether it be a change of stability, changes in food, or annoying noises, can be the cause of anxiety in horses.
- Genetics: Some horses have been known to acquire an anxious personality from either parents or ancestors.
- Past events: Past traumas, such as injury, maltreatment, or witnessing suffering, are continually haunting, anxiety-provoking incidents in the life of a horse.
At the same time, when these horses get anxious, they become restive, difficult to control, or even aggressive. Anxiety traits of horses can be manifested through such behaviors as biting, kicking, and running away. A state of anxiety could be prolonged, eventually leading to a decline in the overall performance of horses. They may lose concentration, become lethargic, unmotivated, or fail to learn complex training exercise courses.
In addition, horses that are anxious for too long can affect their health. Anxiety can cause horses to lose weight, lose sleep, increase the risk of injury, or have a weakened immune system.
Calming Supplements for Horses
One of the important principles for you when choosing the best calming supplement for horses is the ingredients. Here are some substances that help horses reduce stress that you need to pay attention to:
Magnesium
Magnesium plays an important role in many physiological processes in the horse, including the regulation of the nervous system. Magnesium deficiency can cause nervousness, poor coordination, and muscle tremors. The horse’s absorption of magnesium is 0.8% and excess is excreted in the urine. Magnesium is commonly found in fresh grass, whole grains, cashews, almonds, and legumes.
Tryptophan
An important amino acid called tryptophan aids in the body’s synthesis of serotonin, a neurotransmitter linked to mood and sleep. Serotonin helps balance emotions and effectively reduces stress in horses. However, you need to be careful because supplementing too much tryptophan at a rate of 350 mg/kg of body weight can cause poisoning in horses. This substance can be found in chicken, beef, eggs, milk, and beans.
Valerian
The flowering plant known as Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is frequently utilized in traditional medicine. This herb is used to reduce stress and improve sleep quality. Valerian acts as a mild sedative. However, you should consider using this herb because the FEI (Fédération Equestre Internationale) has listed Valerian as a banned substance in competition.
Thiamine
Thiamine (Vitamin B1) plays an important role in energy metabolism and nerve function. A thiamine deficiency can lead to stress and anxiety. You can easily supplement your horse with thiamine through fresh feeds such as pork, brown rice, soybeans, and nuts. This nutrient is also considered safe for horses and is not banned in competitions, so you can rest assured.
Alpha-Casozepine
Alpha-casozepine is a protein derived from cow’s milk that is believed to reduce anxiety in horses. It has a similar effect to benzodiazepines, which are used to treat anxiety. Alpha-casozepine is also highly regarded for its safety and benign nature. It does not cause side effects like other anti-anxiety drugs, helping horses to calm down and concentrate better.
Chasteberry
Chasteberry is a traditional herb used to regulate hormones and reduce stress. By lowering the pituitary gland’s synthesis of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), it aids in the regulation of cortisol levels. Thus, chasteberry helps reduce stress and calm your horse.
Before using any horse supplement, consult your veterinarian to ensure safety and effectiveness.
Benefits of Calming Supplements for Horses
When you invest in the best calming supplement for horses, you will enjoy many great benefits such as
Less anxiety and stress
In cases of high levels of stress, a horse becomes disobedient, aggressive, or both. These supplements will minimize levels of stress in horses; thus, they will make them calm and docile. Calming supplements will therefore be beneficial in calming horses, making them relaxed and more comfortable, especially during tacking up, training, and competing.
Improved focus and concentration
Calming supplements also help increase concentration in horses. When supplemented with the right nutrients, horses will be more obedient and focused during training. Calming supplements also help horses reduce distraction and increase their ability to handle situations, which is most important when competing in sports such as jumping, dressage, or eventing.
Better overall well-being
This will ensure overall health for your four-legged friend, and you can choose the best calming supplement for horses. The supplement helps in relaxation and reduces stress in horses, which will assist in their better physical and mental health. It can also improve the quality of sleep in horses and reduce their digestive problems.
You get to see better results when you incorporate the use of supplements together with other care-related measures such as appropriate living environment, regular exercise, and stress reduction.
A Word from RaxinHorse
The psychological well-being of a horse is equally vital as its physical well-being. Helping your horse reduce stress will help them live happier, improve their overall performance, and extend their lifespan. If you haven’t found the best calming supplement for horses, check out our list of suggestions above.
In addition to supplements, there are many other ways to help your horse reduce stress, such as massage, exercise, and music therapy. Combining multiple methods will bring more comprehensive results. Always be considerate of your four-legged friend’s feelings and don’t hesitate to seek professional help when necessary.
FAQs
Yes, some supplements can help reduce stress in horses. However, their effectiveness can vary depending on the individual horse and the cause of the stress. Some common supplements we have mentioned include magnesium, tryptophan, valerian, thiamine, alpha-casozepine, and chasteberry.
There is no single best anti-anxiety medication for horses. Choosing the right medication will depend on the cause of the anxiety, the horse’s health, and other factors. Your veterinarian is best placed to assess the situation and prescribe the appropriate medication. Therefore, you should consult your veterinarian to choose the right medication for your horse.
Many medications can be used to calm a horse, depending on the level of stress and the intended use. Some common medications include:
– Mild sedatives: Acepromazine, chlorpromazine, and diazepam.
– Anesthetics: Ketamine, xylazine, and detomidine.
– Antidepressants: Fluoxetine and amitriptyline.
Note that administering medications to horses should be done under the supervision of a veterinarian to ensure safety and effectiveness.
