STRESSTONIC for Horses | Natural Support for Chronic Stress & Nervous System Health

Stress is a serious business. An ongoing stressed state is very often the underlying reason behind the root of chronic disease. The science is conclusive; unmanaged stress is the first domino that falls, creating a chain reaction of internal complications that can lead to serious health conditions.

Stress isn’t just a feeling – it’s chemistry

We tend to notice stress in the horse we can see – the spooky one, the anxious one, the horse who can’t settle.

But while some horses visibly explode, others implode. And sometimes the more important story is happening silently underneath.

A horse’s stress response is designed to be short-lived. Something startles them, the fight/flight system switches on, adrenaline and cortisol rise, the body deals with the perceived threat – and, once the danger has passed, everything settles back down again.

That’s exactly what should happen. But the problem begins when the stressor doesn’t go away.

Pain, digestive discomfort, separation, travelling, training pressure, changes in routine, lack of turnout, poor nutrition, or simply living in an environment where a horse never quite feels able to switch off can keep that survival system quietly running in the background.

And this is where stress becomes much more than behaviour.

When the body believes survival is the priority, energy is redirected away from functions it considers less urgent. Digestion changes, appetite may alter, muscles remain tense, the nervous system stays alert, and normal immune and repair processes take a back seat.

Over time, the horse can become what we often describe as “tired and wired”- exhausted underneath, yet still unable to properly relax.

Some horses show this very obviously - others become quieter, flatter or withdrawn. You might notice girthiness, fussy eating, loose droppings, loss of condition, tension through the body, or simply that familiar spark beginning to disappear from their eyes.

That’s why, when we look at a chronically stressed horse, we don’t just ask, “How do we make this horse calmer?”

We ask a different question - “Why does this horse’s body still think it needs to be on alert?”

Lasting calm isn’t about switching the horse off - it’s about helping the body remember how to switch the stress response off - so the nervous system can settle, digestion can get back to doing its job, and the horse can gradually return to a more balanced, resilient state.

That’s the thinking behind StressTonic.

StressTonic is a good fit when stress has become "chronic", i.e. a way of life.

Some horses wear that stress on the outside - they're reactive, anxious, spooky, or permanently on alert. Whereas others wear it quietly - flat, withdrawn, difficult to motivate, or worse, completely shut down.

StressTonic may be suitable if your horse:

✔ struggles to switch off, even in familiar surroundings

✔ seems "tired and wired" - exhausted, yet never truly relaxed

✔ has become unusually withdrawn, flat, or has lost their sparkle

✔ shows digestive changes that seem linked to ongoing stress, such as loss of appetite, loose droppings, fussy eating, or gastric sensitivity

✔ is coping with long-term box rest, rehabilitation, repeated travel, social disruption, or chronic discomfort

✔ seems trapped in a cycle where one stressful event simply rolls into the next

Rather than encouraging the horse to become quieter, StressTonic supports the nervous and endocrine systems involved in helping the body return to a steadier, more balanced state.

Once the body remembers it no longer needs to stay in survival mode, digestion, recovery, immunity, and normal day-to-day resilience all have the opportunity to settle alongside it.

- Building support around your horse

CalmTonic – when the challenge is short-term or situational, such as travelling, clipping, fireworks, competitions, or veterinary visits.

HarmonyTonic – where emotional upset, separation, bereavement, or major life changes appear to sit at the heart of the picture.

UlsaTonic – if prolonged stress has also affected the stomach, helping provide additional nutritional support for gastric comfort.

OptimaCARE or OptimaPLUS – once stability has returned, some horses benefit from supporting the wider gut–liver–immune connection as part of their longer-term recovery. As we often say, healing begins with stabilisation.

- Foundation support

No supplement can remove the source of stress.

Alongside any nutritional programme, look at the bigger picture - forage availability, turnout, companionship, movement, routine, pain, saddle fit, workload, and nutrition. Often it's these everyday foundations that allow the nervous system to feel safe enough to begin switching the stress response off again.

In summary

StressTonic isn't designed to sedate your horse or change their personality. It's for the horse whose body has forgotten how to come out of survival mode - helping support the biological systems that allow calm, resilience, and recovery to return naturally.

• Feed 6ml/100kg bodyweight per day, i.e. 30ml for a 500kg horse. Shake well before use.

Fussy eater?

Horses sometimes have their own opinions (and strong tastebuds!), so introduce gradually over several days. See our Fussy Eaters guide as we've many helpful tips.

♻️ Eco Note: Our packaging is recyclable and refillable.

When it comes to herbs and herbal formulations, you may have heard herbalists talk about energetics . It's simply the way we describe how a herb or formula has been designed to support the body in a balanced and purposeful way. The science helps us understand why that structure works.

StressTonic is built around one simple idea - the problem isn't that the horse experienced stress, but that the body never fully came back out of it.

When the stress response remains switched on for days, weeks, or even months, the nervous system, endocrine system, digestion, immunity, and recovery all begin working under very different conditions. Rather than returning to balance, the body stays permanently wired for a threat that has long since passed.

Think of StressTonic as supporting the systems that help the horse remember it's safe to come out of survival mode.

How the formula works

Rather than trying to sedate or suppress normal behaviour, StressTonic supports the biological systems involved in restoring resilience after prolonged stress.

1. Supporting the body's stress response - Adaptogenic herbs including Withania, Eleuthero, and Liquorice Root help support the endocrine system and the body's normal response to ongoing physical and emotional demands.
2. Supporting the nervous system - Traditional nervines such as Chamomile, Lemon Balm, Passionflower, Vervain, and Gotu Kola help nourish the nervous system, encouraging a calmer, steadier physiological state without simply switching the horse off.
3. Supporting recovery and resilience - Nettle provides mineral-rich nutritional support, while Ginkgo helps support healthy circulation, including blood flow to the brain, helping nourish the tissues involved in maintaining normal cognitive and nervous system function.

Together, these complementary herbs support the systems that allow the horse to move from surviving, back towards thriving.

Big picture

One of the things I've noticed over the years is that chronically stressed horses don't always look stressed.

Some become anxious and reactive, others simply become quiet and shut down.

StressTonic was formulated for both.

Not to change the horse's personality, but to support the biological systems that allow them to feel like themselves again. Because once the body no longer believes it's fighting for survival, digestion, immunity, recovery, and everyday vitality all have the opportunity to return alongside it.

Is StressTonic just for nervous or spooky horses?

Not at all. In fact, some of the horses we recommend it for don't look particularly stressed at all.

Owners often tell us, "He's just not himself anymore." Perhaps they've gone quiet, or lost their sparkle, or become withdrawn or difficult to motivate. Others seem permanently on edge, unable to relax even in familiar surroundings.

But stress doesn't always shout, especially when a horse is shut down in a state of chronic stress.

StressTonic was designed for both kinds of horse - the one that's visibly anxious and the one that's tired and wired, running on empty.

How is StressTonic different from a calming supplement?

This is probably the question we're asked most often.

StressTonic isn't designed to switch your horse off or sedate them. Instead, it's designed to support the nervous and endocrine systems involved in the body's natural stress response.

Think of it this way... A calm horse isn't simply one that's been quietened. A calm horse is one whose body no longer feels it has to stay on constant alert.

That's the difference.

What do you mean by "survival mode"?

Imagine your horse experiences something stressful. Perhaps pain, or travelling, long-term box rest, digestive discomfort, or simply months of never being able to relax.

The body's natural stress response switches on - exactly as it should. The problem comes when it never properly switches off again.

Over the years we've noticed that these horses often become what we describe as "tired and wired" - exhausted underneath, yet still unable to truly relax.

StressTonic was formulated to support the biological systems that help the horse move back towards balance.

Can StressTonic help a horse that's become withdrawn or shut down?

Yes - and these are often the horses people least expect to benefit, and the ones we tend to support more.

Not every stressed horse is spooky - some simply become quieter. We've learnt over the years that this can be another way chronic stress shows itself.

StressTonic was formulated just as much for these horses as it was for the anxious ones.

Can StressTonic be fed alongside UlsaTonic?

Absolutely. In fact, they often complement each other perfectly as stress and the digestive system are closely connected.

When a horse spends long periods living in survival mode, the stomach and digestive tract are affected too, as the stress hormone, cortisol, literally switches digestion off.

StressTonic supports the body's stress response, while UlsaTonic provides nutritional support for gastric comfort and the stomach's natural protective systems.

How long does StressTonic take to work?

Every horse is different. Some owners notice small changes surprisingly quickly, whereas for others it's much more gradual.

That's because StressTonic isn't masking behaviour - it's supporting the biological systems involved in recovery from prolonged stress.

If your horse has been living in survival mode for months, it's reasonable to expect that rebuilding balance will take a little time too.

Can StressTonic be fed long term?

Yes. Some owners choose to feed it for several weeks or months, particularly where stress has been ongoing rather than triggered by one isolated event or trauma.

As the horse begins to settle and regain resilience, feeding can then be reviewed according to their individual needs.

What's the difference between StressTonic and CalmTonic?

It's all about the type of stress.

CalmTonic is aimed at short-term situations - travelling, competitions, clipping, fireworks or veterinary visits.

StressTonic is for the horse whose body seems to have forgotten how to switch the stress response off.

One supports temporary challenges, while the other supports recovery from long-term, more "chronic" ongoing stress.

Can StressTonic help horses on long-term box rest?

Yes - box rest can be physically and mentally challenging with many horses find the loss of movement, routine, companionship, and freedom surprisingly difficult.

StressTonic can form part of a wider support plan alongside appropriate forage, enrichment, and careful management while your horse recovers.

Why do stress and digestion seem to go together?

Chronically stressed horses also develop digestive changes, because the nervous system and digestive system are constantly talking to one another.

When the body believes survival is the priority, digestion takes a back seat.

It's one of the reasons we nearly always look at the whole horse rather than treating stress as "just behaviour."

Will StressTonic change my horse's personality?

No - our aim isn't to make your horse quieter. It's to help support the systems that allow them to feel safe enough to be themselves again.

Many owners tell us that's exactly what they notice. Not a different horse, but their own horse coming back.

My horse isn't naughty... he just seems overwhelmed. Could StressTonic help?

We hear this surprisingly often - horses aren't being intentionally difficult - they're simply trying to cope with more than their nervous system feels able to manage.

Sometimes that's pain, or digestive discomfort, or repeated change, travel, rehabilitation, or social stress.

When we stop asking, "How do we stop this behaviour?" and start asking, "Why does this horse still feel unsafe?" the whole conversation changes.

That's the thinking behind StressTonic.