To be able to help a stressed horse effectively, you first need to determine what kind of stress your horse is experiencing. Acute stress occurs when a horse startles briefly, jumps away, has an increased heart rate and breathing, and may need to defecate more. After the 'scary situation' is over, the horse goes back to its normal stress-free behavior. However, if a horse frequently experiences acute stress, or if its living conditions are not ideal, the animal can develop chronic stress. This has both psychological and physical effects on the horse. And don't forget that there may also be stress at the cellular level, an underestimated form of stress because these horses often appear very bombproof.

Signs of stress

A stressed horse can exhibit multiple signs. For example, jumping or turning around in an acute scary situation or showing large nostrils and a tense topline. Chewing, grinding teeth, snoring, swishing the tail, and shaking the head can also indicate nervousness.

A horse experiencing chronic stress often shows more subtle signs. A well-known symptom is weight loss. Stable vices such as crib-biting, weaving, and wood-chewing also indicate stress. Additionally, stressed horses get sick more easily because their immune system is compromised. Gastric ulcers are also more common in horses experiencing a lot of stress.

In cases of chronic stress due to improper housing or nutrition, stress can also occur at the cellular level. These horses shut down, appear bombproof, and act as if nothing matters. These desensitized horses often deal with a significantly disrupted homeostasis in the body. This stress disrupts the entire body and mind, leading to various physical and mental problems.

Causes of stress

Stress in horses can stem from:

• A 'scary situation' resulting in an acute startle moment
• Insufficient high-quality roughage
• Inadequate free movement
• Lack of contact with peers
• Pain from an underlying condition
• Change in living conditions, such as relocation
• Overtraining or monotonous training
• Hormonal imbalance

If you are looking for solutions to the stress your horse is experiencing, start with the conditions under which your horse is kept. Is your horse receiving enough high-quality roughage several times a day? Chewing a lot is a good stress reliever, and a fiber-filled stomach also helps to relax the horse. Does your horse have social contact with peers in a stable herd, so they can socialize and groom each other? Can your horse move freely for at least 6-8 hours a day? Are you providing your horse with varied training, enough rest days, and training at an appropriate level for its age? A suitable saddle can also prevent a lot of stress.

Once you have checked all these points and your horse is still stressed, it is a good idea to consider supporting your horse with supplements. There is also a logical order to consider when choosing supplements.

Magnesium deficiency

Depending on the region where you live and the feed your horse receives, there may be a magnesium deficiency. Much Dutch hay is low in minerals. Magnesium is an essential element for nerve signal transmission, bone building, and muscle function. Stressed horses often use more magnesium. This also applies to sport horses that are heavily trained. Since a magnesium deficiency cannot be easily detected through a blood test, it may be wise to try supplementing magnesium for your horse, especially if your horse receives little (sport) feed. It is important to balance the amount of magnesium and calcium in the diet. If you feed a lot of calcium, extra magnesium is not absorbed properly.

Absorption and effectiveness Not all types of magnesium are suitable and absorbable for horses. The best option is to feed magnesium chelate, as well as magnesium oxide (but not magnesium dioxide) and magnesium sulfate, as these can have a positive effect. If your horse does not have a magnesium deficiency, the excess magnesium is simply excreted. If you do not notice any difference in your nervous horse after a month, magnesium was likely not the issue. Moreover, magnesium is not a treatment you can administer just an hour or a day before a stressful situation, such as transportation or a competition. It mainly helps your horse become more resilient to stress by facilitating the release of tension. It also takes several weeks to see results.

Scientific research There has been some controversy in the scientific world regarding magnesium in recent years. A small study in 2015 suggested it may have a calming effect, but later research contradicted this. While it seems harmless to try the supplement, it is wise to discontinue use if you do not see any effects from magnesium. Always adhere to the dosage on the packaging, as extreme excess is not healthy for your horse.

Cannabinoids for balance

A healthy body is balanced, with the difficult term 'homeostasis'. Scientists have discovered that this balance is largely regulated by the so-called 'endocannabinoid system'. This system of receptors, present throughout the mammal body, serves as the body's signal provider. It monitors at the cellular level for any issues. When a problem arises, the system sends a signal to the brain through a cannabinoid, indicating which help substances to send where. A healthy endocannabinoid system is thus crucial for the physical and mental well-being of horses. The system can be disrupted by disease or contaminants, as well as stress or tension.

Feeding cannabinoids from plants (phytocannabinoids) can help restore balance in the body. This, in turn, improves the body's natural recovery ability, providing the horse with peace and focus. There are more than 120 different cannabinoids, with Cannabidiol (CBD) being the most well-known. Cannabinoids are found in hemp plants, cannabis plants, and various types of clove plants. The more diverse the cannabinoids, the better. However, it is essential to ensure there is no THC present. THC is only found in cannabis and not in hemp or clove plants. Based on clove, the therapeutic effect is much higher than regular CBD oil made solely from cannabis or hemp. Your horse will experience more inner peace from a clove-based supplement.

Bronnen

• Dodd, J., Doran, G., Harris, P., & Noble, G. (2015). Magnesium aspartate supplementation and reaction speed response in horses. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 35(5), 401-402. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2015.03.051. https://researchoutput.csu.edu.au/en/publications/magnesium-aspartate-supplementation-and-reaction-speed-response-i
• Scopa, C., Palagi, E., Sighieri, C. et al. Physiological outcomes of calming behaviors support the resilience hypothesis in horses. Sci Rep 8, 17501 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-35561-7
• Bartolomé, E., & Cockram, M. S. (2016). Potential effects of stress on the performance of sport horses. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 40, 84-93. doi:10.1016/j.jevs.2016.01.016 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0737080615300721
• König v. Borstel, E. K. Visser, C. Hall. Indicatorsof Stress in EquitationU. ttps://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/84144982.pdf
• Brittany P. Davis, Terry E.Engle, Jason I.Ransom, Temple Grandin. 2016. Preliminary evaluation on the effectiveness of varying doses of supplemental tryptophan as a calmative in horses. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159116303768
• Maria Groot, Gerdien Kleijer-Ligtenberg enTedje van Asseldonk. 2016. Stalboekje Varkens. Natuurlijk gezond met kruiden en andere natuurproducten. https://www.wur.nl/upload_mm/9/d/c/93395fe2-8474-4594-8a1b-ae2cb9feefec_8412101476%20-%20CS_RIKI_Omslagen%20stalboekje_varkens.pdf