Nervousness

Horses were designed to use any excess energy for flight which is the horse’s only defence from attack. Nervousness may simply be horses being fed in excess to their daily requirement. Energy can be retained as glycogen stored in the liver and / or muscles or else converted into fat The horse lays down fat within the muscle but rarely on the outside of the muscle. A horse away from its familiar surroundings will feel threatened and if it has been over fed then that excess energy will affect behaviour.

Causes:

These may include:

·         Excess energy in the diet.

·         Learned fear responses

·         Low levels of magnesium.

·         Low levels of the hormone DHEA which is produced in the adrenal glands, brain and skin. Normal DHEA protect the nervous system from continued exposure to stress (excessive cortisol production)

·         Neurotransmitter dysfunction caused by low levels of essential fatty acids.

·         Unpredictable noises ( air craft, bird-scarers) or events

Clinical signs:

·         An imbalance to the nervous system can affect the digestive, circulatory and respiratory systems.

·         Excessive sweating

·         Freezes and rigid tension beneath the saddle. Tension is held in the muscle.

·         Hyperactive will not stand still. May develop habits like weaving and crib biting.

·         Scours and diarrhoea. More prone to colic attack when under stress.

·         Loss of weight and coat condition.

·         Short attention span and the horse’s inability to focus on the lesson.

Treatment:

·         To address energy levels in feed. A good feed regime may include boiled barley, linseed and oils that are rich in gammalinoleic acid.

·         Ensure that the horse has the correct balance between concentrates and roughage. Cellulose is processed in the large intestine through bacterial action and enzymes to produce volatile fatty acids. This is able to provide the horse with slow release energy.

·         Ensure that the horse has adequate levels of magnesium Deficiency can lead to nervousness and excitability, muscle tremors and ill temper. 

·         Ensure that horse doesn’t have a thiamine B1 deficiency. Thiamine maintains healthy nervous system

 Alternative Preventative and Herbal Treatment.

·         The herb St John’s Wort  may be given as part of a long-term program for strengthening the nervous system. It works on the seratonin levels of the brain and is responsible for feelings of contentment.

·         The herbs chamomile, scullcap, vervain, St John's Wort, Aswagandha etc. May be suitable as a long term settling aid for retraining a horse and during the show season.

·         Chamomile flowers are  suitable for horses that tuck up when upset and travel badly.  May also be used long term for digestive nervousness.

·          Valerian tincture) may be used for its short term sedating effect. Suitable for horses that tense muscles and are generally stressed.

·          A concentrated blend of calming herbs (scullcap, ashwagandha, camomile, vervain, vincamine etc) may be used for its short term calming effect half an hour before a show. Particularly suitable for horses that tend to panic and shy and for those that find the new experience of showing overwhelming

·         Ensure that you are not feeding your horse additives and feed mixes that have molasses, lucerne and corn in them. Molasses can act like a glucose fix.

·         Omega 3 oils are essential for the health of the nerve fibres. They provide a protective layer around the nerve preventing the breakdown of the fibres. 2-3 tablespoons essential fatty acids. This will help with the metabolism of glucose.

·         Feeding soluble and insoluble fibre rich food  will maintain weight  and condition with out heating the horse.