Essential Oils for Horses

[Fiorano]

Has anyone used essential oils for their horse to help with stress or box rest? Just looking for ideas to help my boy cope with box rest as an alternative to sedation. Never used them myself or seen them being used by a practitioner so your comments would be very welcome.

 

[cobden99]

Yes I have used them (still do every now and then) on my cob who is a nightmare if he has to stay in. I have used Rose, yarrow and Lindenblossom. They all mean and should be used for different things so best to have some idea what you are trying to treat really, but even if you just offer a selection you will usually find there are certain ones they just cant get enough of

My friend has done all the training and is very good; she will assess them from some mane or tail hair. PM me if you want details.

 

[Llwyncwn]

Hope Kerilli doesnt mind, but thought I would copy and paste one of her posts which I have saved on favourites, hope it helps ...

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kerilli



Reged: 01/04/2002
Posts: 3419
Loc: South Lincs Essential Oils for poorly and depressed horses - info. (long!)
#2474979 - 08/11/2007 10:27 Edit Reply Quote Quick Reply



I typed all this out for a PM to someone with a recuperating, depressed horse, and then thought other people might be interested. So, here goes:

The best oil i've found, all horses love it, is Hay Absolute. it smells gorgeous, obv! the 10ml bottle lasts quite a while. they're really interested in it and love the taste.
Other cheering ones, or particularly good ones for patients: (my own notes in brackets)
Bergamot (refreshing and uplifting. for depression)
Chamomile (stimulates white blood cell production, to fight disease etc)
Clove (pain relieving, and 1 of only 3 oils in which no known bacteria, virus or fungus can live)
Helichrysum (known as The Magic Bullet... anti-inflammatory, analgesic, oxygenating, immune-boosting, regenerates tissue, reduces tissue pain)
Lavender (relaxing, soporific, lowers arterial pressure, good for stress, kills microbes on contact, used as an antiseptic for centuries, powerful disease-fighting properties.)
Lemon (uplifting, promotes sense of well-being, good for immune system support)
Lemongrass (anti-septic, sedative, anti-inflammatory)
Mandarin (anti-septic, promotes happiness)
Patchouli (powerfully antiseptic, regenerates tissue, relaxing, anti-inflammatory)
Peppermint (anti-inflammatory, analgesic, immune-boosting, mental acuity)
Rose Absolute (for emotional upset, anger, insomnia, balance, harmony, health)
Thyme, Red (stimulates white blood cell production, kills microbes on contact, used as an antiseptic for centuries)
Violet Leaf (painkiller, for nervousness, spookiness)
Yarrow (soothing, calming, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, accelerates healing process)
Ylang Ylang (calming and relaxing, relieves tension, calms breathing and heart rate, antiseptic)

Just pick a few that appeal to you. some are cheaper than others - depends on raw ingredient. e.g. lavender is v. cheap, rose absolute is v. expensive. 5ml or 10ml bottles should be fine.

For horses, offer one or two at a time, from about 8" from nostrils. if horse instantly turns away, gently re-present, but give up with that one for now if he doesn't want it. when he does like it, he'll have a good sniff with 1 nostril, then with the other (giving it to both sides of brain for processing), and sometimes try to take the bottle... makes sure he doesn't grab it!
any that he really wants, put a few drops on your palm and let him lick them off. he'll prob do Flehmen's posture at the strength of the taste.
Only offer a max of 3 or 4 in 1 go, then do sth else, cos they can get overloaded by the different smells.
Never mix oils for horses, let them pick out single oils to their own taste.
I'd partic. recommend Helichrysum, Yarrow, Hay, Rose (if you can afford it!) and Mandarin, i reckon. but any of those would be good.
Mandarin, Lemon and Bergamot are particularly good for depression.

Hay Absolute is available from The Fragrant Earth, 01458 831216, I don’t know of any other company that does that one.
Phytobotanica 0151 526 0139 is another very good supplier of really quality oils.
I’ve got nothing to do with either company, btw.
The oils you can get on the high street tend not to be such good quality, and aren’t any cheaper either, usually…

Btw, in case anyone doubts the efficacy of these, perfumiers, and lavender-growers and sellers, were virtually unaffected by the plague…
Certain oils will kill all known nasties.
The essential oils are basically the life-blood of the plant, which it would use to fight off moulds etc attacking it. That’s why they’re so effective.
Cool, huh?