Archive for the ‘Manes & Tails’ Category

Results of our new whitener formula test are IN! Meet Spirit – a 7 year old Bashkir Curly – with a manure & urine discolored tail. His owner Sherri has been using our products on him for over year and when she heard we were developing a whitener, she wanted to be the first one to test it.

Spirit - A Bashkir Curly

This whitener formula is like all our other grooming products free of nasty chemicals, parabens and silicones and contain no peroxide. It’s made with one of the most powerful natural bleach- lemons.

First we washed his tail with our Squeaky Green & Clean Deep Cleansing and Conditioning Shampoo. This “baby” itself is pretty powerful in removing yellow stains and together with the whitener they make a serious stain busting duo.

Check out the below Before & After Close Ups. We held his tail next to his hind end to show the contrast.  Sherri’s first comment was: “He’s got a Barbie tail”. That just about sums it up. What do you think?

And here is a regular Before & After Shot. As soon as it warms up a bit we will give this horse a full EcoLicious Beauty Makeover so stay tuned!

We will be launching this product next month, but before that, we will have a product naming contest.  You can help us pick the best name for a chance to win the first bottle.

Ride Green!
The EcoLicious Equestrian

Winter & early spring can be hard on tails with all the mud and ”poop soup”. To keep your horse’s tail clean you can do two things.

• Put your horse’s tail into a commercial tail bag.
• Protect it with a braid.

For lovely locks it’s important that you bag or braid a clean tail. You can safely bathe the bottom of the tail below the tail bone even in cold weather. Make sure to use a gentle shampoo without Sodium Lauryl & Sodium Laureth Sulphate (common ingredient in majority of horse shampoos on the market that is toxic to fish and wildlife) such as Squeaky Green & Clean. Always apply a tail conditioner before bagging/ braiding to prevent breakage. Go silicone free since silicone prevents hair from breathing and without oxygen the hair cannot regenerate. Try our 100% natural De-Stress Intensive Restructuring Treatment that is readily absorbed and doesn’t suffocate your horse’s tail.

Protect your horse's tail with a braid

How to Braid:

Divide the hair into three sections, wrap each section in a commercial tail tube protector (you can also use strips of torn bedsheet or an old pair of pantyhose) then braid the sections together. Once you hit the end of the tail continue braiding  for a few inches then finish off with a knot.

Ride Green!
The EcoLicious Equestrian

Check out our full line of delicious, natural and green equine care & grooming products at www.ecoliciousequestrian.com

If a spray on detangler is part of your regular grooming routine, you got to try our EcoLicious Moisture Maniac Detangling Infusion. It’s packed with 100% natural and naturally derived ingredients that condition and detangle your horse’s mane and tail without drying it out. Panthenol & Silk Powder derived from pure Silk Worm Cocoon help restore natural luminosity, retain moisture and nourish your horse’s mane & tail hair. Certified Organic Hemp Oil & Sunflower Seed Oil softens and smoothes while protecting fragile hair from breakage and the reflective properties of Silk Powder act as a natural sunscreen. It’s silicone free. Why? Even though silicone is used in majority of mane & tail products on the market, it does in fact damage hair in a long term. It clogs pores, thus prevents hair from breathing and without any oxygen, the hair cannot regenerate.

Did I mention that it smells heavenly?  Essential Oil of Sweet Orange is known in both equine and human aromatherapy for its mood uplifting properties and it also makes a great conditioner.  Warning : Horses love the scent and might try to eat the bottle, so keep an eye on it. And don’t worry! It won’t attract bugs – unlike us and our horses, the bugs don’t dig citrus scents.

Like all our products – Moisture Maniac is packaged in 100% recycled plastic and the bottle can be recycled once you’re done with it.

And now you can try Moisture Maniac Detangling Infusion for FREE (retail value $22.95), if your order $50 or more. Flat shipping fee $15 anywhere in the US and Canada. Promo code: frMM11. Promo offer will expire on February 8th, 2011.

Ride Green!
The EcoLicious Equestrian

Check out our full line of delicious, natural and green equine care & grooming products at www.ecoliciousequestrian.com

Here is our final part of our “EcoLicious Red Carpet Ready Guide”. If you follow these steps, your horse will look like a glamorous movie star at the Oscars when you’re done with him. Guaranteed. Most importantly -  have fun with your horse and make sure to have some baby carrots handy.

Step 6:  Finishing Touches

Yes, here I am working on the mane and tail again!  What kind of anal-retentive, over achiever would I be if I didn’t work on the mane and tail just once more? 

When the mane is dry, I like to wrap things up by braiding using In Control Braiding & Mane Setting Cream.  I’ve tried other products, but as far as I’m concerned this is a lifesaver if you do any sport where you have to band or braid.  Not only are hairsprays and gels toxic, sticky and smelly but they also don’t provide the subtle hold In Control gives you (OR add lustre OR restore elasticity to the hair!)  You caught me – I’m not a fan of using hairsprays or sticky short-cuts to braid hair, but can you blame me? Who wants a crunchy, sticky mane and tail after you’ve just put all that effort into getting it silky, shiny and soft?!?  Even if you don’t braid, gently smooth the settling cream along the crest of the mane to eliminate those pesky fly-a-way’s.

As I move back to the tail, I once again reach for my trusty De-Stress Intensive Reconstructing & Detangling Treatment.  I like to put a small dollop in my hand and work it through the tail, doing one last gentle finger comb as I go.  Once I’m satisfied that absolutely no raking is required, I will brush the tail with a flexible, natural bristle brush. As I gently separate every last squeaky clean, glistening strand I build show-stopping volume (a must for horses who weren’t blessed with beautiful tails and a bonus for those who were!)

Step 7:  Pièce de résistance

You didn’t think I’d ignore the hooves did you?  I leave this step until just before I go to the warm-up ring – in fact it’s the last thing I do before I get changed into my show clothes and put my bridle on.  If you are slightly less accident-prone than a certain blogger with an unhealthy finger-combing obsession I might mention, then you can feel free to do this step at any time. Although Hoof Therapy Restorative & Protective Serum is already a must-have in my grooming tote year-round, it has also become the finishing touch on my red carpet makeover.  Much like a good pair of stilettos, naturally glossy and moisturized hooves really finish the look.  No toxic paints, tars or sparkles required!  You cant’ go wrong with this product – not only does it naturally nourish and moisturize your horses hooves but I’ve found it resists dust and dirt accumulation better than most products on the market.  Bonus!  

Well there you have it folks!  That’s my sure-fire (and ever-so-good-smelling) method to transform your horse into a head turning, jaw dropping and eco-friendly show horse!  Step back and admire your work for a moment, and then go brush the hay out of your hair,  get out your Tide stick (ketchup doesn’t get itself out of white breeches!) and give yourself a makeover.

Make sure to check out Part I. & Part II.of our EcoLicious “Red Carpet Ready” Guide as well.

Naturally yours until next time!
Megan 

Check out our full line of delicious, natural and green equine care & grooming products at www.ecoliciousequestrian.com

Today we took on Cadence - a 5 year old Percheron Arab Cross Mare. This “little” redhead wasn’t sure at first about this whole bathing thing. We had to keep reassuring her over and over that the hose wasn’t a pony-eating-boa-constrictor. When she relaxed and stood still, we  slipped her some treats. She soon figured out that bathing wasn’t that bad.We love the rich red shiny hue of her coat that was completely hidden under the mud & dust. We got her squeaky clean with our 100% biodegradable & earth friendly Squeaky Green & Clean Shampoo.  She really enjoyed the intensive tail scrub and kept making really funny faces. Silky Conditioner got her coat shiny and her tail soft, smooth and free of tangles. We cut and thinned her mane and used some In Control Braiding & Mane Setting Cream to keep it on one side.

We finished off with a spritz of Glossy – Gloss Enhancing Coat Tonic with reflective Mica mineral that adds delicate shimmer and some Moisture Maniac Infusion to nourish and protect her tail.  What a gorgeous girl! Check out a couple more Before & After close ups below. All  of our products are made with natural and organic human grade ingredients, they smell heavenly (we use Sweet Orange natural scent that is know in equine aromatherapy for its uplifting benefits, but unlike horses and humans the bugs don’t dig it) and deliver amazing results.

Ride Green,

Team EcoLicious Equestrian
Your Horse. Your Earth. Your Choice.

Check out our full line of earth friendly & all natural yet effective EcoLicious equine care & grooming products at www.ecoliciousequestrian.com