Magnesium is one of the most important minerals for your horse’s health - and performance. Yet, it’s critical role in the body is often misunderstood by horse owners. In this article, we explain what magnesium is and how to tell if your horse may be deficient.

Just like oxygen, water and food, magnesium is a mineral that’s vitally important for bodily function. Responsible for regulating over 325 enzymes, magnesium also promotes normal blood pressure, strong bones, a steady heart rhythm, and nerve and muscle function.

Magnesium and Muscles

Inside your horse’s body, magnesium and calcium work together to enable normal muscle contraction and release. The calcium contracts the muscle and the magnesium releases the muscle. When magnesium is depleted, the muscle remains contracted, leading to stress.

Magnesium is often neglected in commercial horse feeds and pasture soils in New Zealand are often deficient in magnesium. As a result, many horse owners encounter stress and hyperactivity in their horses, without realising a magnesium deficiency may be the cause.

Magnesium Deficiency and Your Horse

Horses with a magnesium deficiency may present with different signs, so it’s important to be aware of the common signs of magnesium deficiency.

During times of stress, such as transport, heavy training and competition, magnesium is utilised more rapidly, and is often lost through sweat and urine. For this reason, a magnesium deficiency should be considered for any horse showing signs of stress.

To determine if your horse has a magnesium deficiency, consider if your horse shows:

• Muscle tightness or soreness
• Poor response to adjustments or massages
• Sensitivity to touch or sound
• Fearful or resistant behaviours
• Inability to relax physically or mentally
• Irregular heart rate or pounding heart rate
• Muscle tremors or skin twitches
• Low tolerance for training
• Difficulty with concentration
• Teeth grinding
• Bucking or rearing
• A history of tying up
• Resentment of touch near the spine
• Spooking or other unexpected behaviours
• Fatigue
• Painful heats in mares
• Difficulty with collection during training

Placide is the number one equine calming supplement in New Zealand. Containing organic, chelated magnesium, Placide works to relax muscles, reduce stress and support your horse’s health for improved performance in less than one week. Click here to find out more.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended as veterinary advice. At Placide, we encourage you to make health care decisions for your horse based on your own research and in partnership with a qualified veterinarian.