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Magnesium (Mg) is a vital macromineral, and it is becoming increasingly recommended by veterinarians for
various treatments in the horse. Because one of the clinical signs of magnesium deficiency is nervousness, it
is added to many calming supplements. Magnesium helps support a normal inflammatory response.
Magnesium may play a role in insulin resistance and equine metabolic syndrome. Within the muscle calcium
and magnesium work antagonistically — calcium causing muscle contraction and magnesium inducing
relaxation. If there is not enough magnesium, muscles tend to spasm.

Thiamine, or vitamin B1, plays a vital role in carbohydrate metabolism and nerve transmission. The NRC has set a daily dietary requirement for thiamine because, unlike most of the other B vitamins, microorganisms in the intestine do not make enough thiamine to meet the horse’s needs. Fortunately fresh forage and cereal grains are good sources of this vitamin. However, hard-working horses or those on high grain diets may have reduced production of thiamine by intestinal bacteria because of stress or hind gut acidosis. Thiamine supplementation has been shown to have a calming effect in individuals displaying undesirable behavior due to a thiamine deficiency or increased requirements.

Tryptophan is an essential amino acid, which, if lacking in the diet, can cause anxiety. Serotonin is made from
L-Tryptophan and serotonin is the neurotransmitter in the horse’s brain that aids in the feelings of well-being and contentment, to calm and to soothe.

Taurine can be used alone, or with other calming ingredients, for anxious behavior or horses in challenging situations. Also supports heart and muscle function along with liver and nervous system health. It can be found in supplements for growing horses, nervous horses and horses with metabolic issues.

Tryptophan is an essential amino acid, which, if lacking in the diet, can cause anxiety. Serotonin is made from
L-Tryptophan and serotonin is the neurotransmitter in the horse’s brain that aids in the feelings of well-being and contentment, to calm and to soothe.

The Vitamin B family is made up of several compounds that serve many important roles in the body: protein, fat and carbohydrate metabolism; energy production; proper nerve cell transmission; and cell reproduction and division (especially rapidly dividing ones such as red blood cells). B vitamins include thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxine (B6), folic acid (B9), cyanocobalamin (B12), choline, biotin, inositol and others are sometimes referred to as B-vitamins. For most of the B-vitamins, microorganisms in the large intestine make all the horse needs. Only thiamine and riboflavin have NRC dietary requirements. However, research suggests B-vitamin supplementation may be beneficial to stabled horses with little access to fresh pasture, heavily exercising horses, pregnant and lactating mares, horses with GI conditions that may interfere with normal gut flora, and any periods of stress (injury, illness, shipping, old age, etc.)