Herbal Calm (vervain free) is a blend of two herbs, valerian root and chamomile flowers, which are both known for their calming effects. This is a useful blend for those horses whose anxiety is not helped by a magnesium supplement, as they are either not magnesium deficient, or their behaviour is not caused by the deficiency. This version of the blend has been made available as we are out of stock of vervain and the herb is not going to be available until October. It should be noted that Herbal Calm (vervain free) contains valerian which is banned by the Jockey Club and FEI. Therefore it is recommended that owners check the ruling on valerian with the competitive organisation when competing. Feeding Guidelines: feed 30-40g daily VALERIAN: Valerian root is ideal for helping an anxious horse to relax without causing any drowsiness, or affecting their performance. It can be helpful in particularly stressful times such as travelling, shows, box rest etc. CHAMOMILE: Chamomile tea has been used for hundreds if not thousands of years to promote calm and a good night's sleep. It is very useful in supporting and calming the digestive system. Chamomile is ideal for helping an anxious horse to relax without causing any drowsiness, or affecting their performance. It can be helpful in particularly stressful times such as travelling, shows, box rest etc. As with all calmers, it is important to also consider all factors affecting a horses behaviour, such as hard feed, turnout, fit of tack etc. Feeding as an Infusion Many herbs, including Herbal Calm, can be fed in their dried form, but this may mean that it sometimes takes a while for full benefits to be seen. There is a way to speed up the effect! By simply making an infusion with the herb, the active constituents are made more readily available and are more easily absorbed by the horse. Ideally, add a ½ litre/pint of boiling water to the herbs to be given that day. When cooled, the whole infusion (including the herbs) can be used to dampen down the horses feed. If access to a kettle is not practical, soaking overnight in cold water will also help to release the active constituents.