First things first. Take a good look at your pasture. My pasture has a lot of ALSIKE CLOVER which is a known cause of skin issues including mud fever or scratches. Identify alsike clover here… Helping your horse deal with the scratches is important. I had always used zinc-oxide (diaper cream) and it helped sooth and protect the area. You can use a product called Sugardyne – which is a mix of sugar and providine concoction. I say… make your own. Making and Using Sugardine It is easier than you think…
mix 1 part providine, (or betadine) to 2 parts plan old white sugar!
That’s it! You can adjust the mix to your preferred consistency. Add a bit more sugar for a thicker mix, or less for a runnier mix. Keep the mixture in a glass container with a secure air tight lid. Other mixtures to try You may have similar success by using natural means such as melaleuca and helichrysum. I have used a mixture I call Velvet muzzle on mud fever with success.
Sooth a sunburned muzzle
What is Mud fever? Mud Fever is a terrible nuisance for me this summer. We have had lots of rain and the moist conditions that have hastened the development of mud fever.
For the uninitiated, mud fever is a painful red rash on the back of the horse’s pasterns and can even afflict the fetlocks. I have seen it mostly on the white legs and the pasterns of the legs with white hooves. Left untreated this rash will develop into painful, inflamed cracked skin.
Once the horse’s skin is inflamed and cracked, you develop a cycle of healing, cracking, bleeding, then, dirt and mud gets into the moist cracks causing more pain, slowing the healing process. I think you get the picture. Systematic treatment is key to the healing process of mud fever.
I think, however, that some horses are susceptible to mud fever and that the bacteria that causes mud fever lives in the grass/mud or soil making certain areas mud fever ‘zones’. My farm is one of those zones. Each time a new horse, with white feet, comes on my property it invariably contracts mud fever. Even in the driest of summers, mud fever is present.
Here is the treatment I use. The treatment must be systematic and thorough. If you suspect your horse of having mud fever or cracked heels:
Do you recognize the signs of a horse with anxiety? What are some symptoms? Do these
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sound familiar: Whinnying, pawing, barging, diarrhea? or even insert other behaviors we don’t like.
I think, as horse owners, we have seen and dealt with horses which have been anxious about being alone. Or at least what they perceive to be alone.
And in the horses eyes, being alone is cause for anxiety. Horses are herd animals and when they are by themselves they perceive it as threat to their own existence. They are a perfect target, when they are alone, for attack. Horses prefer a herd to promote safety and well being.
Horses which have severe separation anxiety are dealing with a deeper seated issue. It may stem from previous abusive incident or from previous (perceived) abandonment.
It is quite beyond the scope of this document to cure your horse of separation anxiety, but with the use of essential oils and some compassion we can help.
Oils for Anxiety
Lavender – This is a must have in the house and stable. It is the most common of all
Does your horse have separation anxiety?
oils. You can purchase from the grocery store, health food store but remember the quality of the result is based on the quality of the oil.
Read the label and make sure the Latin name Lavendula Angustifolia is the only ingredient. Other oils added could be synthetic and may not have the desired effect. There are cheaper, harsher blends and even hybrids. Some oils are ‘copy-cat’ oils such as Lavandin and there are mixtures like Lavender 40/42 which has synthetic elements.
Chamomile – Chamomile is gentle and has a calming effect. You will find Chamomile is well liked by horses as it is made from the flowering buds of the chamomile plant and has a sweet earthy aroma.
Traditional uses have been for anxiety, depression, ADHD, digestive concerns as well as for skin troubles. This is a gentle oil and can be used safely with your horse.
Frankincense – Is made from the tree resin of the Boswallia tree. It has been valued and was given as a gift to baby Jesus by the three Wise Men.
It has an earthy yet spicy aroma which is found to be emotionally grounding, calming and relaxing. Frankincense is also known for its regenerative properties for scars and cuts.
Vetiver – This oil has an earthy scent and is very grounding. Vetiver essential oil is steam distilled from the roots of the vetiver plant. The grounding aspects of vetiver may assist horses with dealing with their anxiety issues.
Ylang Ylang – This essential oil has an uplifting spicy scent which has known benefits for anxiety, depression, diabetes. It has been successfully used to assist in the promotion of well being and happiness.
Peppermint…. I know this is 6. but I have to add it here. Peppermint has an uplifting yet focusing effect which may help you deal with focus issues with your horse.
Will it Work?
If you see something you are not familiar with or require assistance with, err on the side of safety and call in a knowledgeable friend or hire someone to help you. Remember you are not in this alone.
You will find your horse’s emotions may change from one day to the next and what may work today … may not work tomorrow or the next day. Also what your friend uses on their horse, may not be of benefit to your horse. Each horse is an individual and there may not always be a clear path.
If you find what you are doing isn’t having the result you would like, then change your approach. It could be you require more than just an oil (you may need to take a look at your training program) or you may need to change the oil, application or blend.
Nothing satisfies a good horse-human relationship. Essential oils will help but can not replace a bond you have with your horse. You will find once you start using essential oils with your horse you will become more appreciative with your horse and find you will become in tune with your horse’s needs.
What oils are you using? Have you found an oil which I have not mentioned or one which should be mentioned? Please email me or put a comment below. I’d love to hear from you.
~Laura
Disclaimer: Information provided is meant to be used for informational and educational purposes. I am not a medical professional and information is not intended to replace a doctor or to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. Use the information at your own risk and using the information is the responsibility of the reader. Please see your doctor or health care professional for medical evaluation.
So now you have a kit or some oils... Now what? What are you supposed to do with the oils and how do you use them?
Make a commitment to yourself and your horse to invest in the best. This means if you can get the best possible oils for yourself and your horse. There are many places to purchase oils. You can buy them at the drug store, health food store and even WalMart. But remember you want… Therapeutic grade oils. There is no regulation with essential oils so some companies dilute oils with synthetics and additives to get more volume rather than quality. Invest in quality.
Invest in yourself. Get some information.
If this means you have to contact me(by all means do! I’d love to share information thistleridge – at – hotmail.com (removespaces and -s)). There are many books, magazines and information for you out there. Inform yourself and make time to read and study the books.
Keep an note book of ideas. If you are wondering if essential oils might be good for… <fill in the blank here> jot it down somewhere. I use ‘KEEP’ and EVERNOTE on my smart phone to make notes so I don’t forget. AND by the way… there usually isan oil for ‘that’.
And if you hear of something you would like to try make note so you can try it later.
What works for you may not work for someone else. And Like wise what works for them may not work for you. Invest in yourself and keep an open mind, but on the otherhand, be mindful we are individuals and what is working for us and our horse may not work for someone else.
Keep trying.
We have been brought up, by what I call the microwave society. We expect things to happen instantaneously. We have a headache, we take a pill and expect the head ache to be gone in 5 minutes. We really have forgotten our bodies have the ability to heal themselves. And if we have a headache it is probably for a reason.
What I am saying here is if you are using essential oils to get to the root of your, or your horse’s issue, then it may take more than 1 application, for 1 day. It may require 1 application every 15 minutes for the first day and then 3 time per day the 2nd day and then every day for a month. Don’t give up and keep trying.
If you would like to contact me regarding how to use essential oils with yourself or with your horse please feel free to contact me. I would love to hear from you.
What are you using essential oils for now? do you have a favorite you would like to share with us? Please put comment below.
How do you tell if your horse is interested in the essential oil you are offering?
Horses are Intuitive
Horses are intuitive and private creatures and do not appreciate being forced to do things. When offering your horse essential oils, don’t walk up and stuff the oil under their nose. Give them a chance to come to you and decide if they would like essential oils or not.
Horses can detect thousands of chemicals in an essential oil and if given the chance, they do have the ability to choose the one THEY think is best for them.
How to Offer an Essential Oil to Your Horse
Offer the oil just under their nose – approximately 6 inches away. Keep the bottle well hidden in your hand (if you have it in ‘exposed’ you may lose the bottle!).
If the horse is interested and accepting they will look for the bottle and stay over the bottle and dilate their nostril. The horse may just simply stand and smell or it may try to ‘eat’ the bottle.
If the horse is uninterested they will look away and not come back to the scent. In some cases I have seen a horse turn totally away from the bottle.
Watch for the horse’s nostril to dilate. It may seem as though nothing is happening but they may be dilating their nostril to get full effect of the oil.
Remember when we think of oils we think of FRAGRANCE but their power is in their
Flehmen response (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
chemical composition. When your horse is smelling the oils they are getting full benefit of the oil. Also remember the magnitude of the horse’s respiratory system. It is HUGE. This means the oil is being expedited to all areas of the body through the horse’s massive lungs.
What to Expect
When offering aromatically watch to see which nostril the horse inhales with first this is a key to your horses emotions. Your horse may move one nostril over the bottle, then the other.
The horse’s right nostril is controlled by the left hand side of the brain – which govern’s the horses functions, the way it does ‘stuff’.
The left hand nostril is governed by the right hand side of the brain – which is the intuitive, creative side. Much like in people.
Your horse may product the Flehmen reaction – curling the top lip back toward the nostrils. This traps the oil’s smell in the special receptor cells in the front of the horse’s nostrils and nasal cavity.
Keep in mind each horse is different and what ‘works’ for one horse may not work for another.
Some horse’s need grounding, some horses need confidence, some horse’s need manners and training. Sometimes these different sources show as the same symptoms so we have to use a little investigation to determine what to do. All the lavender in the world will not help if your horse is just plane rude and unmanageable. here the key is key is the correct and systematic training.
I would love to know how you use essential oils with your horse. Please put in a response below. If you would like to get additional information regarding using essential oils and your horse please email me.
Using Essential Oils with Your Horse ThistleRidgeStables.com
Making and Using Sugardine It is easier than you think…
