11 ‘instant’ calmers that offer quick action
Are you looking for a calmer to offer quick and effective relief for an anxious or excitable horse? Here are the best instant calmers for horses below. These are available in paste or gel form and are administered via a large syringe into the horse’s mouth, which makes them perfect for a one-off stressful occasion.
If you’re looking for a calmer that’s fed daily, check out our best daily calmers for horses. They all have the same aim of reducing acute stress and overall anxiety, which should allow your horse to learn better, be more manageable and lower their risk of stress-related disease.
Best instant calmers for horses
NAF Instant Magic
This natural calmer contains a combination of herbs and bio-available magnesium known to help maintain calm, support concentration and learning. It has been independently trialled, with peer-reviewed, published results showing a reduction in inappropriate responses, and an improvement in the horse’s cognitive profile with no sedation.
Feed 1–1½ hours before event.
Specifications
Nupafeed MAH Concentrated Syringe Instant Horse Calmer
An advanced magnesium supplement that is easily absorbed and can also be used to support the metabolism, facial nerves or muscle relaxation without compromising performance. Ideal for ‘on the day’ calming.
Can be used alone or in conjunction with Nupafeed MAH horse calmer liquid. When used alone, most horses require two syringes. Administer one syringe three hours before the onset of stress, the second is given an hour and a half before.
Specifications
Science Supplements ProKalm
This supplement helps horses perform to their potential using a fast-acting formulation, which can “take the edge off” in as little as 30 mins – peaking two to four hours after administering, lasting up to eight hours. Science Supplements recommend feeding it alongside Science Supplements ProKalm powder.
Specifications
Equine America So Kalm Paste
So Kalm Paste is formulated to settle stressed horses so that they can focus on their performance. It contains a premium grade magnesium with L-tryptophan, which is an essential amino acid associated with the production of serotonin.
Administer 10ml 1½–2 hours prior to exercise or event, or for a slightly faster effect, try Equine America Super So Kalm Paste.
Specifications
Animalife Vetrocalm Instant
This paste works within 30 minutes and lasts for hours, helping your horse maintain a relaxed outlook and deal with stressful situations. It supports the replenishment of oxygen in the blood to help horses deal with stress, fear, anxiety and tension.
Can be used every 2–3 hours as required, and available in powder form for young horses.
Specifications
Global Herbs SuperCalm Instant Syringe
This calming herbal mix of holy basil, winter cherry and amla reduces nervousness and excitability, and improves focus.
Specifications
It’s designed for use before competition or stressful events and results are usually seen within an hour. Can be used in addition to SuperCalm powder or SuperCalm liquid.
Equine Products Cool It Paste
Containing L-trytophan, magnesium, vitamin B1 and a probiotic, this supplement is useful in stressful situations, such as fireworks. There is no withdrawal period so it is ideal for competition horses.
Administer 3–4 hours before needed. Also available in powder form.
Specifications
Supreme Products Defuse
A vitamin, magnesium and amino acid-based supplement that helps calm nervous animals.
Designed to be used as an “on-the-day” calmer, it can be given when you feel it is required without build up. Administer 10ml 2½ hours before needed.
Specifications
Horse First RelaxMeNow
This syringe paste is designed to be fed as a booster alongside Horse First RelaxMe when your horse is particularly excitable or stressed.
It should be administered two hours before performance to settle nerves and stomach.
Specifications
H Bradshaws Coligone Calm Down Paste
Fast acting and effective soothes the digestive tract and guards against gastric irritation during times of stress, while the naturally sourced calming capabilities of calcium and magnesium relaxes stressy horses. It is formulated to replenish the good bacteria in the hind gut, which is lost during stressful periods.
Use 20–30 mins prior to requirement. This is the shortest time offered by instant calmers.
Specifications
NutriScience Anxikalm Triple Strength Gel
This apple-flavoured gel formulation helps calm excitable horses in stressful conditions. It is described as the most concentrated L-Tryptophan syringe on the market, which combined with vitamin B, helps to decrease anxiety and stress.
Give 2–3 hours before requirement.
Specifications
When should I use an instant calmer?
Any change of routine, such as your horse starting box rest, or novel situations can bring new stresses with it. In these situations, the best instant calmers for horses can help to “take the edge off”, leaving you with a more relaxed horse that may be easier to handle. Some are designed to work alongside a daily calming supplement, while others are effective on their own.
How to choose an instant calmer
We’d usually suggest considering the form a supplement takes, but these all come in paste form. Instead it’s worth considering the time each one takes to act as although they’re billed as “instant calmers for horses”, most take at least an hour or two to enter your horse’s system.
Cost is another consideration – some of these syringes deliver multiple doses so are better value for money if they work for your horse. You’re also better off buying multipacks where available if you’re likely to require the calmer on multiple occasions.
If you compete with your horse then it is important you make sure any supplements you use do not contain any prohibited substances.
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Best calming supplements for horses: what’s on the market?
Calming supplements — how do they work?
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Franchesca is Horse & Hound’s Products Editor. She produces all of our buying guides and gift guides, as well as organising product testing and bringing you news about the latest products to hit the market. If there’s a new launch, Franchesca is the first person to hear about it. She brings you the best deals and is passionate about arming Horse & Hound’s readers with honest, unbiased product reviews. Franchesca loves letting riders and horse owners know what products are coming out, how to make their lives easier and how to spend their money wisely.