Science Supplements ProKalm Review

We took a review of Science Supplements ProKalm supplement into our own hands. As one of the leading and most scientifically backed calming supplements, we delved deeper into the ingredient list and what affects it may have on your horse.

Feeding Science Supplements ProKalm

Science Supplements ProKalm is available in powder form, with a scoop included for easy measuring and administration. Perfect for fussy feeders, the fine powder can be easily mixed into food or diluted into a liquid for instant syringing.

However, the bigger your horse the larger the dose. Science Supplements recommends up to six scoops per day of their calming supplement, which may be more difficult to cover the track of for those more suspicious horses.

As a BETA NOPS and UFAS accredited company, avid competitors can rest at ease when supplementing ProKalm. These accreditations mean that the product undergoes strict production so no traces prohibited substances on the FEI or racing circuit can be detected in the formula.

ProKalm Review: PROS

For horse owner’s weary of pumping their horse with an unknown chemical for enhanced performance, its good news. ProKalm is completely natural, based on herbal ingredients which should initiate a calming response.

Topping the ingredient list is Withania somnifera, also known as Ashwagandha. Trialled in horses, Ashwagandha has been shown to reduce stress-related symptoms during exercise in horses. With supplementation reducing circulation cortisol levels in the blood and lowering heart rate in relation to exercise intensity, the inclusion of Ashwagandha could see improvements in overall ridden performance as well as health.

A reduction in cortisol levels reduces stress the body is placed under. Low cortisol allows for normal body function to take place, with high cortisol suppressing the immune system and prioritising vital functions of the body. High circulating cortisol makes horses more at risk of developing illness and disease.

ProKalm also contains Passiflora incarnata, aka Passionflower. In animal experiments, the administration of Passionflower extract has shown to exhibit calming effects. It has also shown positive effects for pain relief and as an anti-inflammatory herb.

The short, succinct ingredient list has one final herb, Melissa Officianalis otherwise called Lemon Balm. Lemon balm treatments are generally associated with improvements in mood and cognitive performance, as well as reduced cortisol in humans.

A small amount of L-theanine is on the ingredient list; an amino acid found in tea leaves. Promoting relaxation by lowering levels of chemicals linked to stress and anxiety in the brain, L-theanine can help to calm a stressed-out horse. L-theanine has also been shown to boost neurotransmitters, serotonin, and dopamine – the ‘feel-good’ hormones. Helping to regulate emotion, mood, concentration, and alertness. For people prone to anxiety, attention span and reaction time positively has benefitted from L-theanine supplementation in their diet.

ProKalm Review: CONS

With all the benefits of herbs, jam-packed into just a few scoops of ProKalm, is this the calming supplement for horses we have all been waiting for?!

Whilst the ingredient list of ProKalm is full to the brim with calming benefits, these benefits have not been widely seen in horses. Ashwagandha has very few equine studies showing the calming benefits of the compound, with most research being supported by the effects we see in humans. In addition, Passionflower and Lemon Balm only have current studies investigating the calming effects of these extracts in rats and humans.

Whilst some of the effects of these potent herbs may cross over from human to horse, the way in which we administer herbal extracts can also have a massive effect on how they work. In human studies, Lemon Balm was only found to have benefits on cogitative function when intake was in fluid form. In addition, researchers have observed that higher doses do not necessarily mean better results, with an increased dose of the herbal extract shown signs of fatigue in research subjects.

When looking at the information surrounding calming research and the effect of these herbs, we must also realise that most subjects are within the normal range of anxiety, therefore herbal extracts may not induce calming effects on those who are already stressed or anxious.

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PILOT EQUINE FOCUS 

Pilot Equine’s Focus Supplement is a multi-pronged, scientifically-backed approach to tackling anxiety. Packed with Magnesium, Calcium, pre- and probiotics, as well as Fenugreek, a small dose of Focus maybe your horse’s missing ingredient to being cool and collected.

Horses deficient in it can exhibit symptoms of tension, nervousness, and muscle tremors. Supplementing with magnesium has been shown to improve not only the physical performance of the horse – but their mental state as well. Meanwhile, calcium contributes to optimal neurotransmitter release, including the ‘feel-good’ hormone, dopamine, with imbalances causing unpredictable behaviour.

Pro- and prebiotics, in the form of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Oligosaccharides respectively, have not only a positive knock-on effect on the horse’s gastrointestinal health but helps to reduce the risk of nutritional deficiencies by optimising absorption. One of many causes that lead to unexplainable behaviour changes, poor digestive health can also impact on insulin sensitivity, glucose metabolism, energy metabolism, and immunity.

With tasty fenugreek in the mix, owners of fussy feeders can rejoice as this is a supplement that horses won’t be able to resist! Research has shown that horses prefer fenugreek flavoured feed over other flavours such as vanilla and caramel, as well as unflavoured feed. 

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Conclusion

If you are looking for a natural remedy for anxiety in your horse, Science Supplements ProKalm may be the supplement for you. However, herbal supplements do not have the rigorous scientific backing in horses that some other nutritional compound may have. We would recommend ProKalm to owners who would like to trial a calmer for improved concentration and performance whilst riding, not necessarily to tackle stress.

Products such as Pilot Equine’s Focus may be a more holistic approach to tackling stress while riding and in the stable. Used in the lead up to and during stressful Focus provides a solid nutritional baseline for horses to ensure appropriate management can be used effectively to tackle anxiety woes.

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