Every horse owner knows the signs: a tense neck, wide eyes, pacing at the gate, or spooking at shadows. Anxiety in horses is more common than many realise, triggered by everything from routine changes and travel to loud weather and new environments. While training and stable management are essential, many horse owners also consider botanical supplements as part of a routine supporting normal settled behaviour alongside good management.
Calming herbs are fed as gentle everyday support alongside training and good stable management, not as sedatives, and their traditional use is not evidence that they treat anxiety. This guide explores the most trusted calming herbs for horses, how they work, and what to consider when choosing the best calming supplement for your horse.
Understanding Equine Anxiety
Horses are prey animals by nature, wired to react quickly to perceived threats. In the wild, this keeps them alive. In domestic life, that same heightened alertness can translate into chronic stress, poor performance, digestive upset, and behavioural issues.
Common triggers include box rest, travelling, clipping, farrier visits, changes in routine, and competition environments. Good management and training come first. Calming herbs are traditionally fed as part of a routine that supports normal settled behaviour during everyday changes.
Key Calming Herbs for Horses
Valerian Root
Valeriana officinalis
Traditionally chosen for nervous or excitable horses as part of a calm routine.
Valerian root has a long traditional use as a calming herb. Laboratory work has looked at its constituents in relation to GABA activity, but that research is largely outside the horse and does not establish how it behaves when fed to horses. Owners traditionally choose it for horses that find travelling, clipping or a change of routine unsettling. Important: valerian is prohibited under FEI and many other competition rules, so check the current rules with your governing body and speak to your vet before feeding it.
Chamomile
Matricaria chamomilla
Traditionally fed to support settled behaviour and digestive comfort.
Chamomile is a gentle traditional herb long associated with settled behaviour, and it is also a traditional choice for digestive comfort, which is why it often appears in routines for horses that seem unsettled around change. It is commonly fed daily in busy yards. Long-term safety in horses has not been formally established, so introduce it gradually and check with your vet if your horse is competing, pregnant or on medication.
Lemon Balm
Melissa officinalis
Traditionally used where owners want support for a settled, relaxed horse.
Lemon balm is a member of the mint family traditionally chosen to support normal settled behaviour. Its citrus-scented leaves are often included in daily routines for horses that find changes in routine unsettling. There is limited research on its effects in horses.
Vervain
Verbena officinalis
Traditionally used for horses that are 'tight' or hold tension in their bodies.
Vervain is a traditional choice among herbalists for horses described as highly strung, particularly sensitive types that appear calm on the surface but feel tense to handle or ride. It is fed as everyday botanical support alongside good management; there is little published research in horses, so treat traditional descriptions as history of use rather than proof of effect.
Passionflower
Passiflora incarnata
Traditionally chosen for horses that find it hard to settle.
Passionflower has been studied for its effect on GABA activity in laboratory and human research, though that work does not translate directly to horses. Traditionally it is chosen for horses that find it hard to switch off, or that pace and call out at night, and it is often combined with chamomile or lemon balm in daily routines.
Hops
Humulus lupulus
Traditionally fed to support normal settled behaviour.
Best known as an ingredient in beer, hops have a long history of traditional use in calming herb routines. For horses, owners may choose them alongside good management to support normal settled behaviour. Check competition rules with your vet or governing body before feeding new herbs.
Feeding Guidance
Calming herbs can be fed as single ingredients or as part of a blended supplement. The right approach depends on your horse's temperament, the situation, and any competition commitments you may have.
- Start early: Introduce any new herb gradually, well before a planned change in routine, and check competition rules first.
- Check withdrawal periods: Valerian in particular is prohibited by the FEI and many national bodies. Always confirm competition rules and allow adequate clearance time.
- Feed consistently: Follow the product's feeding directions and monitor your horse alongside their turnout, forage and daily routine.
- Combine with management: Herbs support calm, but they are not a substitute for good turnout, companionship, and a predictable routine.
- Consult your vet: Sudden behavioural changes can indicate pain or underlying health issues. Always rule out medical causes first.
When to Seek Professional Help
Botanical supplements are not a substitute for veterinary care; some situations call for veterinary or behavioural professional input. Reach out for help if your horse shows any of the following:
- Sudden, severe anxiety with no obvious trigger
- Self-harming behaviours such as crib-biting or wind-sucking
- Refusal to eat, drink, or engage with handlers
- Chronic weight loss alongside behavioural changes
- Rearing, bolting, or other dangerous behaviours under saddle
Frequently asked questions
Can calming herbs replace training or veterinary care for an anxious horse?
Are herbal calmers safe for competition horses?
How long do calming herbs take to work?
Can I feed calming herbs to a pregnant or breeding mare?
Will calming herbs sedate my horse?
Looking for the best calming supplement for your horse?
We stock chamomile, one of the gentle traditional herbs discussed above, hand-finished in small UK batches. Not every herb covered in this guide is part of our range.