Does Magnesium Calm Horses?

Magnesium is more than just another electrolyte; it is a key modulator of the equine nervous and muscular systems. Roughly 60 percent of the mineral is stored in bone, but the small circulating pool determines how readily a horse reacts to outside stimuli. By stabilizing neuronal membranes and acting as a natural calcium antagonist at the neuromuscular junction, magnesium helps prevent over-firing of nerves that can lead to tension, spookiness, or muscle tightness.

What the Research Tells Us

Peer-reviewed studies from WALTHAM, the University of Tennessee, and other institutions show that orally supplied magnesium can slow reaction times and lower observable stress scores in excitable horses without causing sedation. Researchers note that many performance horses fail to meet even National Research Council minimums when workload, sweat loss, and high-potassium spring grass are factored in. In these situations, supplementation is correcting a deficit as much as it is “calming” the horse.

How to Know if Your Horse May Benefit

Although blood magnesium changes little until deficiency is severe, behavior can hint at marginal shortfall:

• Over-alert expression, difficulty focusing, or startling at routine sounds

• Tight back and cramping after work despite correct conditioning

• Reluctance to stand for the farrier or clipper anxiety

• Easy-keeper body type paired with spring-grass sugar spikes

If you recognize these signs and have already addressed saddle fit, turnout, and ulcer management, targeted magnesium is a logical next step.

Bioavailability Matters

Not all sources deliver the same results. Inexpensive magnesium oxide can have absorption rates below 60 percent and may irritate sensitive guts. Epsom salts act quickly but double as a laxative, making consistent dosing difficult. Nupafeed’s patented MAH® (magnesium-aspartate-hydrochloride) surrounds the mineral with transporter molecules that ferry it across the intestinal wall, providing a fast, reliable rise in bio-active magnesium without digestive upset. The product is manufactured to pharmaceutical standards and remains legal under FEI and USEF rules.

Expected Timeline and Safe Dosage

Most owners notice a softer eye and longer stride within three to five days of a loading dose, followed by steady calm once a maintenance amount is established. A 500 kg (1,100 lb) horse typically starts at 10–15 grams elemental magnesium per day, then tapers to half that for ongoing support. Because healthy kidneys excrete excess magnesium, issues are rare when label instructions are followed, though horses with renal disease should be monitored by a veterinarian.

The Bottom Line

Yes—magnesium can calm horses when the horse in question is either marginally deficient or under stress that accelerates magnesium loss. Success hinges on choosing a highly bioavailable form at a proven dose and pairing it with good management practices. Riders from dressage arenas to ranch trails rely on Nupafeed MAH® Magnesium for exactly that reason: it delivers measurable calm without dulling athletic edge.

Feel the Difference for Yourself

Help your horse stay relaxed, focused, and competition-ready. Explore the full range of Nupafeed MAH® Magnesium Supplements and start seeing results in a single week.