Pax - does it work?

ladywiththebaby

ladywiththebaby

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Mar 6, 2007
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Question in the title really. I've heard about it on hear before and I've just looked at it on Ebay and its fairly pricey (well maybe not but it is when you've just spent a fortune on horsey stuff!!)

The testimonials are very convincing but I know that I am very easily convinced so thought best to check REAL people's opinions!! Any opinions welcome - good or bad!!
 
No personal experience, tho people have said on here that it works. Are you nervous in one particular area eg, hacking or just wanting something to take the edge off all round?
 
Just wanted to add; years ago I used Bach flower remedy on Storm for hacking - and I "think" it helped, but then again, it could have been the placebo effect on me, believing that it would stop her being nervous!!
 
My mum has used Pax as she was getting nervous with her horse, I really believed it helped them both, they are now both so much better.
 
I used Pax when my confidence was at a all time low. It did really help. (Probably more on me then the horses). I only used two vials of it before I didn't need it any more.

Warning though it does smell a bit odd so best to be able to wash it off if you have to go to work or similar after lol. One vial lasts a very long time though.
 
It really depends on the problem.

Pax works by disguising the fear 'smell'. I tried it once with a horse that was a serious biter and kicker and had made me not want to tack him up, although once on he was a stunning ride. It didn't have much impact but I think our relationship was too damaged by that stage for anything to work.
 
That is interesting eml - about the "fear" smell. My thought is, how can a horse differentiate between the smell of fear when you sweat and the sweat that comes from either tacking up on a hot day, or after a jolly good active ride?
 
Ah, pheramones. I remember reading a lot about those in the 80's lol, they were forever going on about 'em in Women's Own and the like........
 
Ive got some pax spray, £20 off eBay and had it almost a year now using for every ride and at one point every time I took my boy for a walk in hand round the block. It's possibly just a little placebo but if that helps me feel more confident round my horse then it's done what it proclaims. Would love to do some clinical trials (right up my street!) but would be almost impossible to prove I think. It does smell, my vet thought I was using some weird cold medicine one time but who cares you get used to it and its not vile.
My horse reacts to my fear - will flee, He wouldn't let me mount, but would let others on so the pax just acted as a comfort blanket.
Its probably got some minimal affect but for the most part I think it will be psychological on the part of the wearer (you spray it on you.)
Sorry for the babble!!
 
Hmm not sure now. I do use Rescue Remedy but I don't really find that it really helps. I think I'm too much of a negative person to be affected by a placebo effect if thats all that happens - instead of thinking "oh I've taken something so it'll probably work and I'll be braver" I tend to think "oh it probably won't do anything"!!

Can't decide whether to buy any or not! My problem is that I've just got a new loan horse who when I tried her out was lovely but now she's home she wouldn't let me mount and jogged all the way round an hours hack (with company). I do think a lot of that was my nerves. I had a lesson with an IH RA this week and she was great but when I come to do it on my own I feel worried and my pony then jumps around, which worries me, which worries her......and on and on!!
 
I bought some Pax and used it maybe a dozen times when walking in hand. Im not sure if it worked on Rosie or not but it certainly worked for me. I felt more confident, behaved more confidently etc and it was only when I got half way round a perfectly well behaved walk in hand when I realised that Id forgotton to put it on and everything was fine!

You could say it's effectiveness was in my head and it was placebo effect. You could say that using it regularly and having positive experiences meant Rosie could relate to me as a calm assertive leader not as a scaredy cat.

I dont know why it worked for us, I only know it did. It was a crutch I needed at the time when I was really low. It lives in my glove box just in case but I havent even looked at it in months.
 
Strangley enough I find Rescue Remedy does wonders for me, daughter and I use it to fly, I use it whenever I feel tense ( from competitions to driving new lorry). It actually has stopped me having asthma caused by panic attacks!!

Mind you a swig of our Blackcurrent Vodka hip flask is equally effective!!
 
I use bachs as well, infact it's just part of my pre riding cocktail - bachs, kalms, pax and some chewing gum as I tense my jaw. It's stupid, it's always the anticipation, i normally find im fine once I'm in the situation! I know what the OP feels about the whole worry cycle - it feels so uncontrollable and frustrating when you know your worry is being transmitted which makes situation worse which makes you worry more! In some ways I'm still there - horse spooking cause I seem worried and that scares me more about riding him. It gets better slowly, it would be so nice to think that something like pax could totally remove that factor from the situation but we know that probably isn't the case. I think if you do get some pax you'll find yourself mulling it over while you're with your horse, wondering if it's doing anything and while you're thinking about that you won't be worrying so much - job done IMO!
 
Glad Im not the only using rescue remedy. I really think it takes the edge of my nervousness. I only get nervous before a ride. Usually during a ride, unless the horse does something stupid, I feel confident.
 
I have some, got it earlier this year when having a serious confidence crisis with my mare and her with us!

Sprayed it on my wrists and must admit she was very curious about the smell and was generally quiet and allowed me to do stuff with her. Placebo or something else I'm not sure really.

It smells of cloves, and the blurb says helps mask the pheremone(sp) smell of fear. Must admit I don't use it know as I don't have the same fear I had, which wasn't helping either of us! But I still keep it around just in case, confidence is an odd thing!

Rescue Remedy, again not sure about, I think it has more to do with the alcohol suspension than the ingredients for me LOL!!!!:giggle:

Don't know if I've helped you!
 
Used to use it in the early days with JJ, and rescue remedy, and breathing exercises.....and any other thing I could think of!:bounce:

Personally off all the stuff I thought Pax worked best - did seem to calm him down on our earlier little walkabouts - used all the stuff for awhile and then one day just noticed Id forgotten the whole rigmarole of preparation ritual and not used it since.
 
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