RE: [RC] Magnesium supplementing...etc. - heidiI'm late into this discussion, but since the original poster asked if either Susan or I had comments about this, I'd just say that Kat has pretty well covered what I would have said, but with more detailed references. Yes, magnesium deficiency causes increased irritability. No, this isn't manifested all the time--only when stimulated. No, there isn't a good test for it--you have to consider what you are feeding, and yes, urinalysis is likely better than a blood test. I agree that any time a sensate being shows an abnormal behavior with any sort of consistency (ie does NOT respond properly to correction) one needs to look at the physical or physiological. I still remember hearing trainers of young QH futurity reiners and cutters going on and on about how doing dentistry on the younguns "eliminates 90% of the training problems." Yes, you may be able to teach a horse that you are bigger and badder than the pain--but I don't think that is really fair to the horse, and judging from Jim's posts, I don't think he really wants to do that, either. Training past physiological problems may be possible up to a point as well--but again, is that what one really wants to do? That said, I don't want to suggest that just adding a supplement will cure most training problems. It won't. But the human is supposed to be the brains of the team most of the time, and that includes consideration of physical or metabolic issues when problems develop. The one thing I would add is that some thumpers seem to be helped by addition of a wee bit of magnesium as well. Dunno if it is the nerve becoming less irritable or if it is just that the deficiency is somehow related to the permeability, but that has been the thing that has done the trick for several. Heidi =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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