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If you’re a horse lover who also loves to live a more natural lifestyle, this one’s for you! I have been an avid user of essential oils for a number of years. Incorporating them into my routine at the farm was a slight learning curve, but well worth the time spent gaining that extra knowledge! In this post, I will introduce you to safety with essential oils and horses. Let’s start this journey right!
Introducing Essential Oils to your Horse
It’s important to introduce essential oils to your horses before using them. Just like humans, horses have preferences to scents. I surely wouldn’t want to apply an oil that smells horrid to my horse and expect any positive changes in mental status! Introducing the oils is simple: open the bottle, and allow your horse to smell the oil. If it is an acceptable oil, you will notice that they have their ears perked, licking and chewing, expressing an interest in continuing to smell the oil. If it is a negative response, you will note their head turning away from the bottle and a look of disinterest in the oil. My video below starts with me introducing a new essential oil to my horse, Frosty. Note the responses that he gives.
Oil Quality Matters!
It may be tempting to pick up a bottle of Lavender at your local drug store or even on Amazon…I strongly advise you not to do so! Oil quality truly matters! Most essential oils currently marketed are not pure; most either have additives or fillers, or do not release their testing of the oil’s quality to the public. I surely want to know what I am applying to myself and my animals (or ingesting for that matter). We can’t expect fully therapeutic benefits from impure oils. Click here if you’re interested in trying my oils of choice…they are certified pure tested grade oils. I’d have nothing less!
I also highly recommend using tinted glass bottles with making essential oil blends. Why is this important? The tinted glass keeps the UV rays from the sun from decreasing the potency and therapeutic effects of the oil. In addition, avoid using plastic bottles…the plastic will eventually cause oxidation and deterioration of the oils. Click here to see the bottles that I typically use for my blends.
Dilute Hot Oils
Certain essential oils are considered “hot” oils. This means that if they are applied to the skin neat, or with no dilution, they can cause negative reactions. Therefore, be sure to dilute all hot oils with a carrier oil before applying to your horse (or yourself). The following oils are considered hot:
Oregano
Cassia
Cinnamon
Thyme
Clove
To avoid any topical reactions, be sure to dilute all of the above with a carrier oil. Here is a natural, non-GMO carrier oil that I like to use when diluting essential oils.
Where to Avoid Application of Oils
There are certain areas of the horse that you want to avoid applying essential oils, no matter which oil or blend you are using. Essentially, avoid application to any mucous membranes. This includes the following areas:
Inside the ear canal
In or directly around the eye
In the nose
On or in the genitals
Using essential oils in these areas can cause burns or desensitize the mucous membranes. Neither of these are desired achievements!
Enjoy Learning!
I hope these tips gave you a good base for safety with essential oils and horses! I recommend starting with one area that you’d like to enhance or treat with your horse: decreased anxiety, increased focus, skin condition, wound care, etc. Once you learn how to use an oil for that particular area, learn what the oils that you purchased can also achieve – there are sure to be many other uses for that oil! Click here to get started with quality, CPTG oils for you and your horse. As always, feel free to reach out to me with any questions.