What you said...
Dear Brinicombe Equine,
I compete regularly at affiliated Dressage Ireland events, and also competed at my first national championships (the Dressage Ireland National Winter Finals) back in April, where I was delighted to finish 6th in the Under 25's Championship class. I also do a little showjumping and hunter trialling, but dressage will always be my main passion.
I have been using Think Calm for over a year now on my horse, and I am very impressed. When I first bought my horse 3 years ago, he could be quite difficult at shows. I came across Think Calm online, and I decided to try it after reading excellent reviews. I am so pleased with how effective it is, and I credit all the improved marks and achieving qualifying scores for the Nationals down to it! Even at shows, judges, friends and competitors commented on how relaxed he had become, and I tell them that the calmer has worked miracles.
Caroline, Co. Tipperary
Dear Brinicombe Equine,
Highville has always been a little unpredictable in the dressage phase, so I was interested to try him on Think Calm. At our next competition, the Advanced Intermediate at Tetton Hall, he achieved an amazing 3rd place after dressage and with clear showjumping and cross country he went on to win, against some of the top horses in the country! I was delighted with him, and I am sure that Think Calm helped him to stay relaxed.
Amy Young, Double Gold Medallist & European Under 21 Eventing Champion
Dear Brinicombe Equine,
Inse Sparkles (Sparky) was bought as a 7 year old at the end of 2007 as a potential Grade A pony for Ros O’Sullivan. As an Arab X Connemara, Sparky had fantastic ability and agility, but unfortunately the sharpness of his Arab breeding came to the fore and it quickly became clear that he was going to be a very difficult pony, both to ride and to handle. Ros’s mum Chris tells his story. “We could tell that Sparky meant no malice, but he was scared of everything. If the grass moved he would spook, if he saw his shadow he would shake uncontrollably for ten minutes, we couldn’t wash or groom him as he was too scared of buckets and he could have a panic attack at a filler in the arena, when he’d jumped over it happily the previous day. There just seemed to be no rhyme or reason to his fear. We tried everything – homeopathy, changing his feed, spurs to drive him forwards and we even sent him away to be reschooled, all to no effect. We were distraught. Sparky had been bought as an investment pony – we’d spent a significant amount of money on him that we could ill-afford to lose and we were faced with the prospect of destroying him as we couldn’t sell him on to another family – my conscience just wouldn’t allow us to do that. I’ve always been cynical about supplements, but we were at the stage where we’d try anything. At the Dublin Horse Show earlier this year, we came across Think Calm and claimed to tackle the problem of excitability and sensitivity from different angles we gave it a shot. The effect could not have been more dramatic. In five days we had a completely different pony. He’s permanently chilled and yet still has all his jump. We took him to a county agricultural show recently and he walked passed flapping tents, tractors, billowing flags and many farm animals on his way to the show ring where he finished 3rd in his first ever working hunter class - we wouldn’t have even got him across the field 3 months ago! Sparky still has his odd moments, but they’re now once a week rather than several times a day. I never thought I’d say this about a supplement, but it really is a miracle. We now have a gorgeous, affectionate pony and can’t thank you enough. I would highly recommend it to anyone. The photo shows that Sparky is now so chilled out he can even do Fancy Dress!'
Chris O'Sullivan, Ireland
Dear Brinicombe Equine,
John Floody has been riding the aptly named 8 year old ‘Slightly Bonkers’ for a number of years now and always thought her to be ‘a decent enough horse, if she’d only listen to the rider!’. John tells her story. “We knew the mare had ability, but she was just too difficult to ever perform at her best. She was extremely nervous and temperamental; both to ride and to handle at shows and even at home in the yard, which she obviously knows quite well. When jumping a course of fences she just had no concentration and wouldn’t listen to me. The slightest distraction seemed to upset her and take her mind off the fence and she was incredibly strong and difficult to ride. When I took her on she was jumping 1.10m classes and looked like she would be stuck at 1.20m unless her attitude changed. I’d heard that a new calming product had come to Ireland and thought it sounded worth a try. Within a couple of weeks she settled a lot and became more consistent and much more rideable. Her brain started to work with me rather than just being ‘out there’ and she really started to listen to what I wanted her to do. The best thing though was that she kept all her jump and lets me ride her rather than just being a passenger. She’s now jumping at 1.40 level and about to upgrade to Grand Prix, so we’re delighted with the results.”
John Floody, Ireland
Dear Brinicombe Equine, My mare is lovely, but very sensitive to noise and nervous when she is being ridden. I decided to try Think Calm, and noticed a difference after about 2 - 4 weeks. She is now more settled to ride and not so tense. She can still be silly but I now feel that it is just her being cheeky and she settles down again straight away.
P.T. Devon
Dear Brinicombe Equine, My cob is prone to over-reacting with excessive spooking, and unfortunately I have not been able to ride her for several weeks after having a nasty fall. However, she is ridden at the yard where I keep her and they report that since feeding Think Calm there has been a big difference in her behaviour. So much so, that one of the riders feels safe to lead her 6 year old daughter from her. I don't think this would have been possible previously, and I certainly wouldn't have tried it!
R. B. E. Sussex
Dear Brinicombe Equine,
My Mare is highly strung and becomes very anxious when separated from the herd. After feeding Think Calm for 2 - 3 weeks she was generally more relaxed, calm and happy, even when separated.
N. C. Bucks
Dear Brinicombe Equine,
My horse lives on his nerves and he is very powerful. He has a tendency to bolt and get worked up at the slightest thing. I decided to try Think Calm and started to see an improvement after 2-3 weeks. He is now generally calmer, easier to control and more relaxed in himself. As we have good results we have also decided to try Think Calm on our other horse who is quite 'hot'.
H. G. Devon
Dear Brinicombe Equine,
My 14 year old thoroughbred has always suffered with severe separation anxiety - he gets so stressed when I ride my other horse, he spends the whole time bucking and rearing in his stable - by the time I return he is usually dripping in sweat and lame from kicking the walls. I started feeding Think Calm 2 months ago, and it has really made a difference. He is happy to stand in the stable and eat his hay whilst I am riding and although he neighs a couple of times, he is not getting stressed out. He doesn't even sweat up! I thought he had just learned to live with it, until I stopped the Think Calm for a week - after a couple of days, he was back to his old self, going ballistic every time I rode my other horse. I quickly put him back on Think Calm, and he is back to his quiet self again. I am amazed at this product; it has worked wonders on a very difficult horse!
B.H. Wilts