One of the many benefits of having close contact with our customers is that it allows us to gather invaluable information and data to help horse owners, like yourself. We process this data to help owners with horses that are struggling to perform, whether caused from anxiety, behavior-related symptoms, or from muscle pain and cramping.
Once in a while we get a horse with symptoms that stump us. When these instances occur, we become more determined than ever to figure out what will help the horse and its owner. We do this whether the horse is new to our products or has been using doing well on our products for some time, then for some reason backslides.
There is always a reason (usually more than one) that causes a horse’s behavior or performance to suddenly regress. I always say, “Good horses don’t stop being good for no reason.”
I’d like to share the following customer success story on “Snickers.” This story is an example of a horse whose behavior suddenly regressed due to magnesium absorption complications unintentionally caused by the use of routine ulcer medication, and how simple magnesium dosing adjustments made all the difference:
Snickers: A MagRestore™ Success Story
Names in this customer success story have been changed for customer privacy.
Snickers, a reining horse gelding, was difficult to train and ride. As a two-year-old, he overreacted to almost everything he encountered. His owner Sally was told by a trainer at a clinic that Snickers, with his breeding, would never make a show horse. She was also told that if she got him working well at home, he would never perform at a show. Sally was extremely discouraged.
After we consulted with Sally, she began supplementing him with MagRestore™ and Focus Equine right away. The changes she observed in her horse were profound. Snickers became more trainable and pleasant to work with in every aspect. Over time, Sally experimented with dosing and discovered that Snickers reverted back to being difficult within 24 to 48 hours of decreasing the dosages. She now thought understood what Snickers needed.
It was now Futurity time for Snickers. Sally brought him to the show for seven days prior which allowed him to acclimate to the arena and grounds. Snickers was very well behaved at first, however two days before their big class, Sally took Snickers out of his stall for a ride. He was hyper, distracted and, at one point, he even reared. This was not good. Eventually, he settled down and Sally was able to get a good ride in, but she was distressed by his behavior. She wondered what caused the sudden issues as he had been behaving so well.
Sally backtracked to examine and scrutinize his routine and diet to discover anything that could have caused this sudden change. After all, he was still getting the same amount of MagRestore. That’s when it occurred to her that she had started him on an ulcer paste 48-hours before the bad ride, simply as a preventative – something many owners do and a treatment that has become standard procedure in most training barns. Unfortunately, Omeprazole, the main ingredient in the ulcer paste, inhibits magnesium absorption. She consulted with us again, and we recommended she increase his MagRestore™ right away in combination with spreading Magnesium Oil all over his back for transdermal absorption. Within 24-hours, Snickers was back to being trainable and cooperative.
The day of his non-pro futurity, Snickers was ready to show. He entered the arena like a seasoned veteran. His run was dynamic and Snickers was focused and attentive the entire time. Sally won the level one and tied for first in all other levels. They earned three buckles, beautiful neck sashes, over $5,000 in earnings, and buckets of other prizes. What a run!
The take away from this customer experience is to use discretion when using Omeprazole as a preventative if your horse has no symptoms of ulcers. Also, when you withdraw Omeprazole rapidly, a rebound effect may occur, causing excess acid production. If you must use ulcer medication, be sure to taper your horse off slowly and increase MagRestore™ dosing.
Note: You can feed MagRestore™ to bowel tolerance. Traveling and showing adds more stress and therefore increases your horse’s Magnesium Burn Rate (MBR). This is also a great time to use the MagOil or MagBath. We can increase magnesium levels transdermally (through the skin) if oral absorption is compromised. We suggest using both products in a situation where the horse is being treated for ulcers and low magnesium levels, both at home or at shows.
Time and time again while consulting with our customers I find this to be a common occurrence. There is always a reason when a horse backslides. It could be due to:
- An increase in calcium content in the hay which offsets magnesium levels and absorption, like what happens during rapid pasture growth
- Use of ulcer medication
- An increase in work and/or intensity of work
- Digestive supplements that contains Slippery Elm and/or added calcium
- Relocation, as many horses become deficient as a result of being moved to a new barn or a long distance flight or haul
- Loss of a pasture mate
If your horse is behaving in ways that YOU KNOW to be contrary to his or her normal temperament, there is a reason. Low magnesium levels should always be considered. Please visit our website and take our Magnesium Deficiency questionnaire.
This is what I know.
Carla Odetto