Competitions and travel can be stressful for even the most stoic horses. Loud noises, weather changes, rider nerves, and other factors can distract your horse from their job, making them jumpy or nervous when you are trying to perform in the show ring.

Show-safe calmers have become a popular solution for horses that need a little help maintaining calmness and focusing on the task at hand. With so many options, choosing the right calmer for your horse and situation can be overwhelming. FarmVet carries a wide variety of calming pastes and has the expertise to help you distinguish the best calmer solution for your horse. 

Quick-Acting Calmers

B-Kalm – Horse Health Products

B-Kalm paste helps ease nerves and keeps your horse calm in stressful situations such as competition and travel. This supplement contains the amino acid L-Tryptophan to produce a calming effect and can last up to 8 hours. B-Kalm is concentrated in a smaller tube than other leading calmers for easier administration.

Administration: 2 hours prior to the event

Active Ingredients: L-Tryptophan

Chill Ultra – Omega Alpha

This calming paste uses Omega Alpha’s unique “Concentrated Chill Extract” formula as well Vitamin B1 and magnesium to reduce stress and relax muscles in nervous horses. Chill Ultra is concentrated and quick-acting for fast results when you need them most.

Administration: 1 hour prior to the event

Active Ingredients: Polygonum multiflorum, Albizia kalkora, Ziziphs jujube, Biota orientalis, Vitamin B1, Magnesium Sulfate, Glycine, Inositol

Perfect Prep EQ Extreme/Supreme – Perfect Products

The Extreme and Supreme lines of Perfect Prep pastes are quick-acting calmers for administration right before a stressful event takes place. These calmers, made with a combination of amino acids, vitamins, and minerals naturally found in horses, produce effects within 1 hour and remain effective for up to 6 hours. Perfect Prep EQ Supreme contains additional B vitamins for an amplified calming effect without altering performance ability.

Administration: 90 minutes prior to the event

Active Ingredients: Magnesium, Inositol, Thiamine, L-Tryptophan

Quia-Cal – Finish Line

This tryptophan-free calmer provides fast-acting effects in as little as one hour and lasts for up to 4 hours. Quia-Cal provides a sense of relaxation and focus without causing drowsiness or diminishing performance ability. This compact syringe packs a full punch of beneficial ingredients without the bulk of other larger tubes. Apple cinnamon flavor makes this a great choice for picky eaters.

Administration: 30-60 minutes prior to the event

Active Ingredients: Thiamine, Calcium, Magnesium

RelaxMeNow – Horse First

RelaxMeNow paste works best in conjunction with daily RelaxMe powder supplementation in your horse’s grain. This paste acts as a boost for the effects of the powder supplement version. In instances when your horse isn’t able to receive their grain early enough before competing, they may not receive the full calming effect you need. RelaxMeNow is perfect for these situations and when your horse is in a particularly high-stress environment where extra calming power is needed.

Administration: 2 hours prior to the event

Active Ingredients: Caprylic-Capric Triglyceride, Magnesium Chelate, Magnesium Oxide

STOP Crazy Paste – Essential Pharmacy Compounding

This homeopathic calmer can be used for competition, travel, or other activities that may increase your horse’s stress levels. The compact tube is easy to administer and can last up to 6 hours.

Administration: 2 hours prior to the event

Active Ingredients: Black Horehound, Henbane, Ignatia, Purple Passionflower, Jimsonweed, Zincum Metallicum, Water Hemlock, Moschus

SynChill – SynNutra

For an all-natural alternative to traditional calmers, SynChill is a great option for horses that need help relaxing and focusing. The active ingredient 5-HTP is a natural brain chemical that aids in serotonin (“feel good hormones”) production. Other added ingredients help accelerate the production process and create a pleasant, calm feeling to keep your horse’s nerves under control without decreasing mental clarity. This calmer comes in a sweet-tasting, odor-free gel.

Administration: 1-6 hours prior to the event

Active Ingredients: 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), Vitamin B6, Melatonin

Total Calm & Focus – Ramard

This calming paste uses Ramard’s proprietary ingredient Ramisol to help regulate your horse’s levels of the stress hormone Cortisol. Total Calm & Focus helps reduce Cortisol increases during work, and added Magnesium and B Vitamins have been shown to help nervous, hyper horses relax and focus on their job without causing drowsiness. This paste is mint-flavored, so it is perfect for picky eaters.

Administration: 2 hours prior to the event

Active Ingredients: Ramisol, Magnesium, B Vitamins

Long-Lasting Calmers

Equi+Calm – Equine Healthcare International

This sugar-free, amino acid-based formula helps reduce adrenaline and increase endorphins while being gentle on your horse’s stomach. Equi+Calm’s maple-praline flavor is perfect for picky eaters and can be administered orally on the back of the tongue or mixed in with grain. This product will not impede your horse’s ability to perform.

Administration: Night before and the morning of the event

Active Ingredients: Tryptophan, Magnesium, Melatonin, Arginine, Leucine, Theanine, Thiamine, Phenylalanine, Bismuth

Equi+Focus – Equine Healthcare International

When your horse needs the extra help relaxing and focusing on the task at hand, without the calming effect of other products, Equi+Focus delivers just that. This magnesium-free formula helps support focus and concentration without dulling your horse’s power and strength.

Administration: Night before and the morning of the event

Active Ingredients: Tryptophan, Melatonin, Theanine, Thiamine, Arginine, Leucine, Phenylalanine, Bismuth

Perfect Prep EQ Gold – Perfect Products

If your horse needs help remaining relaxed and focused for longer periods of time, Perfect Prep EQ Gold provides long-lasting support with the same quality ingredients you would expect from Perfect Products. The strong calming effects of this paste can be observed in as little as 6 hours and lasts for up to 18 hours.

Administration: Night before and the morning of the event

Active Ingredients: Magnesium, Taurine, Inositol, Thiamine, Metaphan, Vitamin BeHave (blend of B-vitamins)

Sane & Sound MAX – Perfect Products

For a well-rounded approach to combatting your horse’s nerves and anxiety, Perfect Prep EQ Sane & Sound MAX combines calming, soundness, and gastric support into one paste. In addition to feeling calm and relaxed, this product will help relieve gastric discomfort and general pain for up to 18 hours so your horses can focus on competing at their best.

Administration: At least 4 hours prior to the event

Active Ingredients: Amino Acid Complex, Magnesium, PP1, Inositol, Glycine, Taurine, Thiamine, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine, Metaphan, Sodium Copper Chlorophyllin

Take It Easy – Cavalor

Cavalor’s calming paste contains a high dose of the amino acid Tryptophan to produce a calming effect in nervous horses. Take It Easy is quick acting but can produce results that also last for hours. You can also combine this paste with Cavalor’s SoZen and/or Calm for optimal results.

Administration: Night before, the morning of, and 1 hour before the event

Active Ingredients: Tryptophan, Vitamins A, B1, D3, and E, Magnesium

Other Calming Options

Does your horse need help remaining calm on a daily basis? FarmVet also carries several calming supplements that can be mixed in with your horse’s daily grain meals for long-term calming effects. Shop our full selection of calmers here!

Show Safe Disclaimer

While most of these calmers state on the packaging that they do not contain prohibited substances, we highly recommend that you check your respective governing body’s regulations regarding the use of any of these products during competition before purchasing.

Learn More

Want to learn more about FarmVet’s selection of equine supplements? Read our blog on the top supplements for healthy hooves. 

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