Drumroll.....all you have to do is wear them as a perfume!
Horses have more scent receptors than we do and that means that they are getting a good ol' whiff just from smelling you!
So what's the best way to wear them as a perfume? Glad you asked!
My 3 fave ways are:
1: Apply a drop to the palm of your hands, rub your hands together, form a scent tent over your nose, inhale deeply for 5 seconds, then rub the residual oil anywhere you'd like. I like the back of my neck. Inhaling deeply first gets the oil into the emotional center of your brain.
2: Make a roller ball. Diluting the oil In a roller is never a bad idea and a carrier oil will sit on top of the skin longer so your 'perfume' lasts longer. Roller bottles can easily be purchased from Amazon. I think 10 ml is the perfect size. Simply add 10-20 drops of the essential oil you choose and fill the remainder up with a carrier oil. I like fractionated coconut oil, it doesn't have that greasy feel and it has no odor of its own. Then roll wherever you'd like. Back of neck, wrists, and chest are my fave spots.
3: Diffuser jewelry! Let's get shopping! From bracelets to necklaces, diffuser jewelry is a great option. They usually contain a wood, ceramic, or lava bead element, that you apply a few drops of essential oils to and ta-da...easy diffusing all day long.
Now you may be asking why we want to use essential oils with our horses?
If your'e like me, I'm always striving to have that perfect partnership with my horse and my emotions can sometimes get the better of me. Sometimes its hard to shake the day off when I get to the barn. Inhaling one of my fave essential oils can really do the trick. Horses are like people too, good moods and bad, and we can positively affect their emotions just like ours by inhaling an aroma.
So go ahead and give it a try! It's easier than you think!
Wondering which oil to use? Download my free PDF Guide HERE where I list my favorite oils I use for certain emotional responses such as calming or focus, and in the meantime-Try your favorite!
Let's face it, it's hard to find all natural horse cookies...I try not to eat junk food and therefore I don't wanna feed it to my horses either...(cause I'm an all natural kinda gal) and finding a low sugar option can be hard too!
This DIY is sooo easy, even I do it :)
5 ingredients, super cost effective, and the best part....drum roll.... even my pickiest of ponies loves them!
Oh, and by the way, you can take a straw or similar instrument (cause were tryin to phase out plastic straws-but that's a different blog) and poke holes in them before baking and ya have an easy peasy 'pill pocket' for those daily pills-think pink pill that picky eaters definitely don't like....
For more easy DIY's....(cause let's face it...if it isn't super easy, I'm not gonna DIY it-lol....) Sign up HERE and I'll deliver ya a weekly recipe, tip, or trick with essential oils straight to your inbox.....
Oh, by the way, best to keep these in the fridge and use them up in a timely manner...a perk for all natural and no preservatives....which I'm sure your ponies won't mind!
Thieves™ Essential Oil Blend form Young Living™ is one of my go tos at the barn. With the essential oil powerhouses of Clove, Lemon, Cinnamon Bark, Eucalyptus Radiata, and Rosemary, ya can't go wrong!
Here are 5 of my favorite ways I use it at the barn:
By the way, if you're just getting started using essential oils with your horse.....download my free guide where we go over what you need to know to use essential oils safely and easily with your horse, including safety and dilution, click HERE
#1 Get rid of the gunk hoof spray
Add 30 drops to a 16 oz. spray bottle, add 2 TBS apple cider vinegar, (glass or stainless steel preferred, if you use plastic, use a high quality, chemical resistant plastic such as PET, as essential oils degrade plastic) fill up with water, shake well before each use, spray on bottom of hooves after picking out.
#2 Defunk your brushes
Add 10 drops to a TBS of salt in a 5 gallon bucket, fill with warm water, let the salts dissolve and soak your brushes/combs for an hour or 2.
#3 Immune Boost
Add 1-5 drops of Thieves Vitality™ to your horses grain ration or hay cube once per day. If you do a weekly mash, that's a perfect opportunity as well.
#4 Mouth Wellness
Dilute in coconut oil and rub on gums once per week. I like to add a good size dollop of coconut oil to my palm, add a drop, swirl it around, and then rub on gums.
#5 Cleanse the air by diffusing
If you have electricity, run your ultrasonic diffuser in the tack room or aisles. If not, add a drop or 2 to wooden clothespins and clip in areas, or add to cotton balls and place in strategic areas (out of reach of your horses-tho!) Add a few drops to the cardboard roll in the toilet paper in the bathroom for the freshest smelling restroom around!
If you're ready for a deeper dive using essential oils with your horse...check out my mini course "Oily Horse Intro" where we dive into the what, where, how, and why, of getting started using essential oils with your horse...safely and easily! Check it out HERE!
Here are my top 3 ways for topical application of essential oils with horses....
By the way, if you're new to using essential oils with your horse, grab my free guide to help ya get started. It'll help ya with the key things you need to know about, like safety and dilution. Grab it HERE!
#1
Create a massage rub
Simply pick a dilution you are comfortable with, and add your essential oils to a carrier oil. Then rub on any area you feel its needed...
For muscles and bones-try Idaho Grand Fir, or Copaiba
For calming-try Vetiver, Roman Chamomile, or Valerian
For circulation-try Cypress
For overall health-try Frankincense
#2
After exercise rinse
Simply add 10 drops of essential oil of your choice to 1/2 cup epsom salts in a 5 gallon bucket. Then fill the bucket with water, stir until the epsom salts dissolve, and sponge onto your horse. Then squeegee your horse off.
For cooling- try peppermint
For muscles and bones- try wintergreen
For relaxing- try lavender
#3
Spritzer
Make a spritzer by adding essential oils to water in a spray bottle. Glass or stainless steel is best but you can use a high quality, chemically resistant plastic such as PET or HDPE. Essential oils and water don't mix so you will want to add an emulsifier generally equal to the amount of essential oil you are using. Glycerin, salt, a carrier oil, or vodka all make good emulsifiers. Remember to shake well and avoid misting around the head or eyes.I generally use about 20 drops of essential oil in 2 ounces of water, and then add a teaspoon of emulsifier.
For breathing-try Eucalyptus
For tension-try Cedarwood
For grounding- try Frankincense
For skin help-try Patchouli
If you need more help using essential oils with your horses, check out my mini course "Oily Horse Intro" where we dive into the what, where, how, and why, of getting started using essential oils with your horse...safely and easily! Check it out HERE!
