STOCKYARD
HORSE  DISCUSSION FORUMS

madcow

Beauvelour I completely understand where you are coming from as have had many OTTB's (I've vowed never to get anther one!ROFLMO) I've also had HEAPS of foot problems LOL

Sounds like you are doing all the right things as well. I took my 14yr old TB geld out EVERY weekend for 2 years solid plus lessons and normal shows over the years etc and it made no difference. OK he initally came down from the first few shows after coming OTT after about 6 months but past that he's still a nutter LOL

And as you've also done I cut his feed right back before a show. The week before a show he lives off chaff, bran and hay (I won't even give him carrots as there's a small amount of sugar in them LOL). Sometimes working them at home before you leave can help. I also make sure I work him hard everyday in the week leading up to a show.

Personally I havn't found that Good as Gold does anything along with the other products like it. I have taken Rescue Remmedy myself and found it did nothing as well. Blitzen my Aunty is a Naturopath (sp) and recommends using it as you described for best results.

Caroline- there's no need for the thumbs down and angry faces when someone is asking a simple question.

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Stormy

i tried good as gold on two horses, one was to try and keep him calm as he gets a bit worked up at times and the other was first event back on the horse since breaking a collar bone. the horse that it was my first event back on had him falling to sleep in the yard etc, didn't do much for his dressage test as he decided to keep becoming disunited. the other horse it sent him of his rocker - he was trying to buck me of in the warm up and what usually helped calm him down was not working. but different things work on different horses

amandasmith

As far as I was aware Tryptophan is NOT swabbable - can someone clarify??? If it was then Good as Gold would be swabbable also???

I will admit I have tried Good as Gold and didn't find it really made any difference.

madcow

Trypophane naturally occurs in the horses body. There is an alert dose as far as swabbing is concerned...thus they will pick up high levels as sus LOL

I'm pretty sure Good as Gold contains tryptophane and B1 as most of them do.

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corporate pride

i totally agree with that! my horse isn't OTTB anymore....like 10 years ago maybe, i went to busso ode and it was the first time i was coming up to an event terrified with a reason, my horse was going spakko at home during the week and the ode on the weekend, i had him on liberty and he's neva had a prob b4 and the spring grass hyped him up, so i took him off most his pellets, all his minerals coz they already make him feel good, and worked him for an hour and a half in sand and jumping drums to wear him out and gave him the day off b4 the show, i gave him good as gold that night and he was perfect for dressage, unlike me who forgot the test, and he was totally relaxed, then i thought, nah he won't need it for xc (i bought 2 packets) and he went skitzo!!!! i could bearly get him near the start box and then we got eliminated coz he didn't wanna jump the 4th jump coz he was evaiding from the start!!!

anyways, it works on some horses and sometimes it's needed, that was the first time i eva used anything on any of my horses! coz he's only young and needs more experience, def cut out high grain feed and take him there on low energy levels, he'll figure out that it's not too special and he'll calm down in his own time and that'll be a big plus later on in his life coz he'll know how to calm himself down. i know u want a good ride but sometimes u need to use these experiences as a training opportunity. but if u decide to use something, first cut out his high grain or that might ovaride the calmer, i used good as gold once and as far as i could tell it worked for me

good luck...sorry it long winded

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norrishbex

Has he only had the one outing where he has had a nutter moment?

If this is the case then I would suggest not trying any calmer type product, and take him out more, they all have bad days! It could have just been an accumulation of a number of things that caused him to have an off day.

If it is happening more frequently, then before you start on the calmers, look at if there is any common denominators when he has his spaks, eg are you overly tense, is everything fitting correctly, feed to work ratio etc.

My TB is off the track as well, and the best thing I have found for him is to find a quiet corner and walk circles, or to lunge him until he settles.

Beauvelour

His tack fit. On other days he has been out he has had "moments"
[quote=Caroline;551661]Beau, the best calmative for OTTBs is further training and education!!
[quote]

Nope this isnt the case with my Mare....she has been off the track for 10yrs and i have had her for 6.....and competed her etc and she is still a nutcase....doesnt stop me taking her out tho and i have never used a calmer on her.


At the end of the day its up to me whether i use a calmer or whatever on him... and i think i will keep it to myself what i choose to do (there are always going to be people who agree or not), i was just wondering about peoples experiences. (this isnt meant to come across nasty either!)

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A good tradesman never blames his tools.....a good horserider never blames their horse

smash

beauvelour
where is my gold star for not sying a thing ????
look how good i have been
he he he

Satorii Lodge

tryptophan is swabable ...we use behave which seems to work on the boys but did nothing for my mare ...have u tried lunging at the show before u get on ...and i mean properly not just hooning in a circle

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Beauvelour

I have been waiting for your reply Smash!!!! Let me guess if you havent said anything yet....your going to tell me off?

Ihavent lunged him because that could dangerous!!!! lots and LOTS of groundwork tho.

OMG I JUST WORKED IT OUT.....HE WAS SORE!!! This was his last outing before the foot thing and about a week after this show i got him looked at and he had a sore sholdour, sore back etc etc..... Thanks smash.... i thought "now what would smash say???"

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A good tradesman never blames his tools.....a good horserider never blames their horse