As horse owners, we all encounter challenging behaviors from time to time. Whether it’s pawing in frustration, weaving in their stall, pacing in the paddock, or calling out when separated from their herd, these behaviors can be confusing and frustrating. We might ask ourselves: Why is my horse acting like this? What can I do to help them?
The good news is that there are many wellness tools and nutritional supplements available to help horses with behavioral issues. One of my favorites is essential oils—a natural and effective way to support your horse’s emotional and physical well-being. However, before we explore how aromatherapy can help, it’s crucial to look at the whole horse. Understanding the root causes of your horse’s behavior and addressing those first, then supporting them with the right wellness tools, will give you the best results. In this post, we’ll dive into common behavioral issues, their underlying causes, and how you can use aromatherapy along with other strategies to promote your horse's emotional health.
Common Behavioral Issues in Horses
Behavioral problems in horses can manifest in various ways, often leading to frustration for both the horse and the owner. Here are some of the most common behavioral issues that horse owners face:
Pawing: Often seen when horses are confined or frustrated, pawing is a sign that your horse is either bored, anxious, or seeking attention.
Weaving: This repetitive side-to-side head and body movement is usually a sign of stress or frustration, commonly found in horses that are confined in stalls for long periods.
Pacing: If your horse is pacing back and forth, it’s often an indicator of anxiety, particularly when confined to a stall or paddock.
Calling: Excessive calling, particularly when separated from their herd, can indicate separation anxiety. Horses are herd animals, and being isolated from their companions can be emotionally distressing.
Barn Sour: When horses refuse to leave the barn or show anxiety about leaving the stable, it’s usually linked to separation anxiety or simply an attachment to their safe space.
Each of these behaviors can have an emotional or physical trigger, and it’s essential to address the root cause in order to correct the behavior effectively.
Understanding the Root Causes of Behavioral Issues
Before we jump into solutions, it’s essential to understand what might be causing your horse’s behavior. Horses are incredibly sensitive to their environment, and many behavioral issues stem from a combination of emotional, physical, and environmental factors. Here are some common causes:
Emotional Distress: Horses are emotional creatures and are highly attuned to their surroundings. Anxiety, fear, or even boredom can lead to behaviors like pawing, pacing, or weaving. Lack of turnout or the ability to socialize with other horses can also increase emotional distress, leading to more pronounced behavioral issues.
Health Issues: Sometimes, what appears to be a behavioral problem may actually be caused by discomfort or pain. For example, a horse that is constantly pawing could have digestive issues, or a horse that is pacing may be dealing with physical discomfort such as ulcers, joint pain, or muscle stiffness.
Nutritional Imbalances: Nutritional deficiencies, like low magnesium levels, can also contribute to undesirable behaviors. Studies have shown that low magnesium can lead to restlessness, irritability, and even muscle spasms in horses. If your horse is exhibiting signs of anxiety, pacing, or other high-strung behaviors, it's worth looking into their diet to see if nutritional support is needed.
Separation Anxiety: Horses are herd animals, and being isolated can be extremely stressful for them. Calling, pacing, and even aggressive behavior can all be signs of separation anxiety. If a horse has limited contact with other horses or is kept isolated, these behaviors can intensify.
Lack of Stimulation: Horses are intelligent creatures that need both physical and mental stimulation. Without proper exercise, turnout, and engaging activities, they can become bored, leading to repetitive behaviors like weaving, pawing, or cribbing. Regular turnout and variety in their daily activities can reduce this type of behavior.
Routine Changes: Horses thrive on routine, and any significant changes—whether it's a new barn, new pasture mates, or a new rider—can cause stress and lead to behavior problems. Consistency helps horses feel secure, so sudden shifts in their environment or schedule can trigger anxiety or behavioral issues.
Once you’ve identified the potential root cause of your horse’s behavior, the next step is to address it directly. For example, if your horse is weaving, one of the first things you might want to check is whether they have adequate turnout time. Sometimes, simply increasing their time outdoors and allowing for more natural movement can correct the behavior.
Once you’ve addressed any physical or environmental causes, aromatherapy can be a powerful tool to help balance your horse’s emotions, promote calmness and relaxation, and improve their overall mental health. Essential oils work in tandem with these adjustments, helping to further ease tension and emotional distress, creating a more relaxed and emotionally stable horse.
How Aromatherapy Can Help:
One of the keys to using essential oils effectively for emotional support is to start now and make them a regular part of your horse's routine. Consistency is key, much like how a person works on their mindset every day to maintain a positive outlook—your horse can benefit from regular use to help anchor a sense of calm and emotional balance. Using essential oils during times when your horse is relaxed and behaving well will help create a lasting association with positive experiences. Over time, this regular use builds a foundation of emotional well-being that can help maintain a positive emotional state, even when your horse faces stressful situations.
Essential oils work by influencing the limbic system—the part of the brain that controls emotions and behavior. When inhaled, essential oils enter the bloodstream through the olfactory system and directly affect your horse's emotional state.
Simple Ways to Use Essential Oils with Your Horse
Here are some simple ways to incorporate essential oils into your horse’s routine:
Inhalation: Hold the bottle of essential oil near your horse's nose, allowing them to inhale the scent. Or, apply a drop to your hands, rub them together, and offer your hands for your horse to smell.
Barn Sprays: Create a calming spray by diluting essential oils in water and spritzing it around the barn. This can help establish a peaceful atmosphere.
Diffusion: If you have electricity in the barn, use a diffuser placed out of reach of your horse to spread the aroma throughout the space.
Wooden Clothespin: Apply essential oils to a wooden clothespin and clip it outside your horse’s stall. The oils will diffuse slowly, allowing your horse to inhale the aroma. With their keen sense of smell, horses can easily pick up the scent and benefit from the effects of the oils.
During Training Session: Offer essential oils before, during, and after training sessions, especially when working on an unwanted behavior. Also, be mindful of your own emotional state—remember, we are always half of the equation, and our emotions can influence our horse’s behavior.
Remember, consistent use helps create a foundation for emotional balance, so when your horse faces a stressful situation, a state of calmness and positivity is more easily accessible.
Top Essential Oils for Addressing Behavioral Issues
Some essential oils that can be especially helpful for horses experiencing behavioral issues include:
Lavender: Known for its calming properties, lavender is one of the most effective oils for helping reduce tension and worry. It’s great for calming your horse before a ride or when they’re feeling unsettled.
Roman Chamomile: Roman chamomile has a soothing, gentle effect on the nervous system and is excellent for reducing tension and promoting a sense of calm.
Vetiver: Vetiver is a grounding oil that promotes emotional stability and relaxation. It’s especially helpful for horses that are pacing or agitated.
Frankincense: Frankincense is known for its calming and balancing effects. It can help reduce tension, soothe anxiousness, and support emotional well-being.
Bergamot: This uplifting oil is great for relieving tension and boosting mood, making it a great choice for horses that struggle with emotional stress.
Cedarwood: Cedarwood is a grounding oil that promotes emotional stability and calmness. It’s especially helpful for horses that may be nervous or stressed, offering a sense of security and relaxation.
Three Blends I Almost Always Have in My Pocket:
While single essential oils are powerful on their own, there are a few blends I rely on regularly for their ability to work synergistically to provide emotional balance and calmness. These blends are part of my go-to toolkit for supporting my horse’s well-being, especially when dealing with stressful situations.
Valor™: Valor™ is a powerful blend known for promoting confidence and a sense of balance. It’s great for helping horses feel grounded and empowered, especially in stressful situations or during training sessions.
KidScents™ Sleepyize™: Sleepyize™ is a blend of essential oils developed to promote relaxation and restful sleep for kids. I find it’s very effective for relaxing horses and helping them to feel calm and centered.
AnimalScents™ T-Away™: T-Away™ is a calming blend that helps promote relaxation and ease during stressful moments. It's a blend I'm quite fond of using for horses that need support in managing tension and emotional distress.
By the way, I invite you to check out the company I use for my essential oils by clicking HERE. Quality and proper dilution are two of the biggest safety factors when using oils with horses, and I’ve personally visited the farms, helped plant, and participated in the distillation process. This transparency reassures me that I’m using pure, safe essential oils for my animals. This is an affiliate link at no extra cost to you, and your support as a small business owner truly means the world to me!
Behavioral issues in horses, like pawing, weaving, pacing, and calling, can be challenging for any horse owner. But by understanding the root causes of these behaviors and using tools like aromatherapy, you can support your horse’s emotional health and help them overcome these challenges.
Remember, aromatherapy is just one piece of the puzzle. Addressing the root cause of the behavior through consistent routines, proper exercise, and ensuring your horse has companionship and mental stimulation will make a world of difference. With patience, a calm presence, and the right tools, you can help your horse lead a more balanced and emotionally stable life.
I’d love to invite you to check out my course, The Oily Horse, designed to empower you to safely and confidently use essential oils with your horse. This course goes beyond just telling you which oils to use—it teaches you how to choose the right oil for your horse's unique needs, when to use it, and why it works. My goal is to help you become confident in making your own decisions, so you’re equipped to support your horse with oils in a way that works best for them, every time. Click HERE!
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