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Causes
These are
many and of great variety as practically any strimuli can cause symptoms in
any particular animal. Pain, disease and previous bad experience probably
head the list.
Signs
Range from
mild anxiety or reluctance to perform a given task or action through general
bad behaviour to severe anxiety and fear in any circumstance when achieving
the owner's goal is impossible.
Treatment
As in many
cases prevention of bad experience is far better and easier than cure. When
introducing a young horse to any new experience extreme patience must be
exersised by the handler. For example, when introducing travel with horse
box or trailer let the young horse take his/her own time to sniff out the
vehicle and if possible leave it open in the paddock, as long as the side
gates can be safely secured, and put the feed and hay inside for self
service. When the time comes for the first drive out, ensure that the route
is simple and short so that the experience has any problems and anxiety
making events minimised. Return home and give lots of praise and rewards
taking care that exit from the box or trailer is slow and controlled. Using
this approach as a model continue the education of the young horse to cope
with all he or she will be asked to do.
If a horse
new to you and your surroundings exhibits stress and anxiety in any situation
even more patience is needed to re-educate and rehabilitate, professional
help may have to be sought. The first cause to eliminate is any pain, then
disease and finally seasonal hormonal problems. In some cases stress
releiving compounds may be used either temporarily or regularly to ease a
horse over particularly stressful events and during re-education. Hormone
balancing preparations can aid mares.
PEGASUS
HEALTH PRODUCTS THAT CAN HELP
StressBan
an Ayurvedic herbal formula
designed to optimize normal calm on a daily basis. Containing no banned
substances under rules it is particularly useful for performance horses
minimizing fizz and maximising sparkle.
StressBan+
a consentrated version
designed for the one off situation such as travel or in the show ring.
Contains no banned substances and is very fast acting and effects gradually
diminish over about 12 hours.
MoodAid 1
for mares in season, the
active herb helps relax and balance the system.
MagnEase
a magnesium based calmer
suited to males and where muscles need relaxing.
Fertile+
aids mares coming to optimum
fertility and can help over-excitable stallions in the stud season.
Straight herbs Chamomile
for general
calming and Monks Pepper (Agnus castus) for mares in season. |