SmartPak SmartCalm® Ultra Pellets for Horses (7.5 Lb Bag)
Product Overview
Why SmartCalm Ultra Pellets?
SmartCalm Ultra Pellets are our best-selling calming supplement that offers:
- An herb-free formula for nervous system function
- Ingredients including vitamins minerals and amino acids to help minimize excessive skittishness
- A tasty pellet with no added sugar!
Which horses benefit from calming support?
Additionally, if you compete in rated horse shows, supplements with herb free formulation may be your best option. Unlike herbal calming supplements that often include ingredients that are prohibited by many competitive organizations, nutrient-based supplements generally focus on providing key nutrients like tryptophan, magnesium and B-vitamins that are an important part of your horse’s diet. Of course, we always recommend checking the rule books for any organizations under which you compete to confirm their individual rules and that these ingredients are appropriate.
Supplement Facts
| Ingredient Name | Amount Per Serving |
| Magnesium | 10,000 mg |
| Taurine | 5,000 mg |
| Inositol | 2,000 mg |
| Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) | 1,000 mg |
| L-Tryptophan | 500 mg |
Inactive Ingredients: Alfalfa Meal, Artificial Flavor, Beet Pulp, Corn Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles, Grape Pomace (Ground Grape Seed and Skin), Lignin Sulfonate, Stabilized Rice Bran, Vegetable Oil (Cold Pressed).
Instructions
| Horse Weight | Recommended Amount |
|---|---|
| Under 500 lbs. | 0.5 scoops |
| 500 - 1000 lbs. | 1 scoop |
| 1000 - 1500 lbs. | 1 scoop |
| Over 1500 lbs. | 1.5 scoops |
How the Ingredients Work
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Taurine is an amino acid found in high concentrations in electrically active tissues such as the brain, heart, retina and muscle. It stabilizes membranes and assists in the movement of electrolytes in and out of cells, which is critical for proper nervous system and muscle health. Taurine is necessary for the absorption of fats and vitamins and influences proper insulin and glucose levels. It can be found in supplements for growing horses, nervous horses and horses with metabolic issues.
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Tryptophan is an essential amino acid, which means that it is a required component of your horse's diet and is naturally present in certain feedstuffs. It is converted by the body into serotonin, melatonin, and other hormones that transmit nerve signals in the brain. The result of serotonin is to maintain the feelings of well-being and contentment.
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Inositol is closely related to the B-vitamin family and is found in nearly every cell in the body. Because of its location within the cell membrane, it plays two major roles: transporting fats and assisting in nerve transmission. By participating in the action of serotonin, a neurotransmitter whose brain levels are known to be a factor in excess anxiety, inositol may be helpful in overly nervous horses.
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Magnesium Magnesium (Mg) is a macromineral that serves as an electrolyte in the blood, as an activator of hundreds of enzymes, and as a participant in muscle contractions. A normal diet can meet the Magnesium requirements of most adult horses in maintenance. However, pregnant and lactating mares, young growing horses, and especially horses in moderate to heavy work have additional requirements for Magnesium. Because one of the clinical signs of Magnesium deficiency is nervousness, it is added to many calming supplements. In gastric supplements, you may see small amounts of certain forms of magnesium such as magnesium carbonate. Magnesium carbonate helps to support a normal stomach pH and may be helpful for horses with gastric stress. The amounts included for gastric support generally do not have a significant impact on a horse’s overall diet. For more information visit our page on Magnesium for Horses.
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Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) is important in carbohydrate metabolism and in the transmission of impulses along nerves (for this reason it is often used in calming supplements). 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, horses that are exercising or do not have access to pasture or fortified grains may need additional supplementation.
