Relationship between magnesium and canter

Magnesium is a mineral necessary for bone formation, transmission of impulses in the nervous system, and signaling to the muscles. It also aids in muscle relaxation. For the canter departure, signaling to the muscles is very important. But did you know that a horse cannot store magnesium in its body? When a horse is deficient, the body can extract magnesium from bone tissue. Cells in bones are regularly replaced with new cells. In this process, calcium and magnesium become available and can be used by the muscles. However, they are no longer available for bone formation. To canter well, a horse needs a good bone structure and proper signaling to the muscles.

If your horse jumps wrong, it is good to check if your horse is getting enough magnesium daily. Of course, magnesium is not a miracle cure, as jumping wrong and rhythm faults can have various causes such as your own position and correct contact. Always have your horse checked by an osteopath and have your saddle and bridle inspected.

Experience of Marjolijn - "I didn't know it had an effect on the canter departure"

My mare has been receiving magnesium for years, mainly during the grazing season to support her sugar metabolism, but also because she can be a bit explosive at times and then uses up all her magnesium. But I never really saw a difference and tried different types. Powders were never a success because they were not eaten. But even the cell salts, which were eaten (mostly), did not really make a clear difference. Last week, I had a training day with the Blue Stallion where we talked about the function of magnesium in the horse's body. As many people know, magnesium is good for the muscles and the nervous system. But what I didn't know and what came up during this training day was that horses that canter with cross canter or have difficulty with the canter benefit from magnesium. And then everything clicked for me!

Despite my mare being 10 years old, cantering has always been extremely difficult for her. She found it difficult on the lunge line, but under saddle, it was even harder. Until a few weeks ago.... Suddenly, it clicked, and she gained the strength to engage her hindquarters. It was no longer a rush to then fall into canter, but we actually "jumped" into canter. And because this has become easier for the past three weeks, I am now more actively working on the canter during riding, strengthening her hindquarters and making it even easier.

The realization that magnesium plays an important role in this was truly eye-opening for me and something I had never thought about. Of course, it is actually logical when you consider that magnesium is important for muscles and the nervous system, but I didn't know it could have such an effect on something as specific as the canter.

I knew that Magnesium Chelate is of good quality and that we really looked at the absorbability, but the clear difference it made for my mare really surprised me! So, it is now a permanent part of Floxely's diet!

How much magnesium does my horse need?

Horses already get a certain amount of magnesium through their diet. However, roughage does not always provide enough magnesium, especially for sport horses. There are different opinions on how much magnesium a horse needs. It is a fact that they need it daily. But the most important thing is to consider the absorbability of magnesium. Chelate and citrate are the most absorbable forms, but many feeds and supplements contain magnesium in oxide form which is not well absorbed. It is also important to pay attention to the calcium ratio. If you give a magnesium supplement with calcium-rich feed, the calcium will displace the magnesium and it will not be absorbed. It is better to give magnesium separately from the feed.