Archive for the ‘TIPS’ Category

If you’ve ever showed up at your horse’s paddock to find him a tail rubbed raw and clumps of tail hair falling out, you know what it feels like. You want to cry, you want to scream, you want to be mad at him, but you know it’s not his fault, so you just quietly despair (or not so quietly, if you’re anything like me). You know how long it takes to have the precious hair grow back. FOREVER!

Spring is in full swing and if you live in an area known for ticks, guess what…The reason behind the sudden onslaught of tail rubbing might be ticks nested at the  base of your horse’s tail. Some horses have a mild allergic reaction to tick bites – like my gelding – and they get so itchy they just can’t help themselves.

Solution? No quickie here. It takes elbow grease, a wide tooth comb and a bit of time.  Especially if your horse’s tail is thick. Peeling a layer after a layer of hair and examining every bit and piece of your horse’s tail base is quite a detective work, but it has to be done (if you care about your horse’s tail enough that is). Signs that you’re getting close to finding one is a yellow like crumbs in the affected area.  Pluck the ticks you find out with a pair of tweezers.

And how do you prevent the tick infestation at the base of the tail in the first place? We’ve figured out that thorough, regular and generous application of our 100% Natural De-Stress Intensive Mane and Tail Treatment does a triple duty. It not only leaves your horse’s tail, radiant, smooth and tangle free, it also makes ticks stay away. Rubbing  De-Stress into the base of the tail also promotes healthy hair growth thanks to rosemary plant extract and Tee Tree Oil is a powerful antibacterial.

And did I mention that your horse will love you? He will make all kinds of funny approving faces and if he’s anything like my boy, he will come and stick his bum in your face to tell you : “mom can I have some more”?

Ride Green!
The EcoLicious Equestrian

When the ooh-so-hated gnats & midges leave your horse’s sensitive ears and belly covered in bites, soothe it  with EcoLicious Comfort Me Healing and Soothing Balm. It provides immediate comfort and  also leaves behind a protective film that the gnats will stay clear off. They’re not the biggest fans of essential oils.

How does it do it?

The natural antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antifungal benefits of Myrrh, Tea Tree and Lavender Essential Oils aids in healing of bug bites. Antioxidant rich Green Tea Infusion and ULTRA moisturizing Cocoa Butter help to create a barrier between sensitive skin and the environment. Allantoin and Certified Organic Hemp Oil calm skin irritations while Honeysuckle stimulates the removal of toxins. Also great to clear rain rot, scraches, minor cuts and scrapes or other skin irritations and more.

Your horse will thank you…

Ride Green!
The EcoLicious Equestrian

You know that in EcoLicious Equestrian we’re all about grooming. And it’s not just about products. Did you know that grooming time is a great way to establish a tone for things to come? I am very excited to share with you the below guest  post by Horse Listening. I’ve been enjoying this insightful blog for a while now and highly recommend it, so make sure to stop by and check it out.

Here we go:

Are You Training Your Horse While Grooming or Is He Training You?

Well, of course you are! The real question to pose might be: do you KNOW that you are training your horse while grooming?

We all look forward to grooming our horses; there is no better feeling than having a thousand-pound muscle package wriggle and writhe under your ministrations, roll his eyes, sigh in contentment and offer his mutual-grooming nose in return. It is a time of pleasure for both you and your horse, a time to connect and a chance to put your worries of the day on the back burner and simply “be” with your horse.

However, underneath that feel-good moment, there is a constantly pervasive conversation going on between you and your horse that you may not even be aware of. Horses are physical animals and most of their interactions happen in the physical realm. As humans, we are used to verbal communication and are not as “tuned in” to the physical language of horses as we can be.

Do you know what your horse is saying to you while you whisk away the grime and dirt to reveal the glossy sheen of healthy coat underneath?

HorseSpeak 101 (while grooming)

1. Stepping side-to-side/backwards-forwards: Hurry up and get over with it! He has many more important things to do other than stand around and wait for you to do you “thing”.

2. Pushing you lovingly with his nose: Well, maybe it’s not as loving as you think! He wants to get you to step out of his personal space.

3. Perky-eared cute face presented in anticipation of a treat: He is the herd leader and is demanding that you surrender your feed stuff to him.

4. Pawing on the ground: Similar to #1. He really has no time for you!

5. Tail swish/pinned ears/”the look”: Stop whatever you are doing as it is making him uncomfortable. Beware! There may be a kick or bite coming next. (Note: Horses “think” about biting or kicking many, many times before they actually go through with it; be aware and pick up on the hints before it gets to the point where someone has to get hurt.)

6. Forward pinned ears looking at an object of interest/fear: Watch out! He may jump any second, either on your lap or in the opposite direction. The only thing he is NOT thinking about is you!

What should you do?

In all of the above cases, your goal should be to assert your leadership to your horse. For the sake of your safety and those around you (the horse is, after all, at least 8 times heavier than the average human), you need to firmly explain the boundaries to your horse.

Any pushiness should be met with your insistence that he steps away from you. You may need to push back on his shoulder or hip, or hold him by the halter and swing his hind end away. If he steps in your direction, gently push him away. If he nuzzles up to you (expecting a treat?), tell him your space belongs to you. In all cases, your space is your space and he may not infringe into that area for any reason (not even to snuggle). As a herd leader, you should be the one stepping into his space, not the other way around!

For the horse that paws, move him in such a way that his weight shifts to the pawing foot. If he has to put the foot down, he won’t be able to paw!

For the horse that is giving you a warning: first, identify the source of the problem. If the horse is truly being hurt or irritated by what you are doing, then back off and desensitize him first. Be lighter, quicker, or gentler. Work up to the strength level that you want to use. On the other hand, if the horse is being truly aggressive, then he needs a quick reprimand. Push him away, again asserting your rights to your personal space.

Correctly interpreting your horse’s communications will allow you to have a much deeper and meaningful connection with your horse. If you can act as a calm but assertive leader, your horse will know he is safe with you and will happily hand over the responsibilities that come with being herd boss. He will be less likely to test (although some horses continue to test regularly) and he will be more content overall.

P.S. If you follow the above guidelines, you can set the tone for your upcoming ride while you groom, but that will be a topic for another day!

Ride Green!
The EcoLicious Equestrian

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

Snow & Winter Hoof Care

As you probably notice, your horse’s hooves grow at a significantly slower rate in the winter and start to accelerate again with longer days and more sunlight. This may mean saving on farrier and scheduling regular work further apart, but it’s a double edged sword. Cracks and any other hoof defects take much longer to clear up.

Hooves & Snow : The Good Part

Freezing temperatures are not friendly environment for bacteria and fungus. Get your leg up on thrush problems and treat regularly to make sure your horse’s hooves are ready for the oh-soo-thrush-prone spring season.

Hooves & Snow : The Bad Part

Is your horse walking on snowballs? Wet snow tightly packed in the hoof (especially shod ones) can cause tripping, pain and may lead to injury. You may consider pulling your horses shoes off for the winter. It will decrease the chance of “snow-balling” and give the hooves some time to regenerate. If your horse requires to be shod at all times, ask your farrier to apply anti-snowball pads. You can try Pam cooking spray on the bottom of the hoof as a short term solution.

TIP: For healthy hooves try our Hoof Therapy Therapeutic Hoof Serum. It  moisturizes dry, cracked hoofs, softens hardened frogs, treats contracted heels and protects against the elements. Organic Hemp, Wheat Germ, Apricot Kernel and Olive Oil are rich in the essential fatty acids vital for healthy hoof growth.

Ride Green!
The EcoLicious Equestrian

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

Spring is in full swing and we look forward to long sunny days shared with our equine companions. Unfortunately, the warmer weather also brings pesky mosquitoes, black flies, ticks and fleas. For the horse and rider, their unwelcome intrusion can take the fun out of a long ride and make it next to impossible for us to work with our horses as they are driven to distraction. And who can blame them?

Here’s a list of Green Fly Control Tips that you can implement to keep the bugs at bay.

It’s a bug-eat-bug world out there, so use it to your natural advantage! Fly predators are tiny insects that eat fly larvae, interrupting the life cycle and therefore reducing the population. You will be amazed at how well this natural method works, as long as you start early in the season. You may have to double up the use during the peak of the fly season, or if your spring and summer is wetter than usual.

Keep it clean. Not only will your shelters and paddocks smell better, but you’ll keep pesky insects at bay if you promptly remove manure. In larger areas, harrow occasionally or break up manure with a pitchfork, and rotate pastures to avoid worm infestation.

Keep it dry. The less homey you make it for bugs, the more they’ll move on! Eliminate standing water and tall grasses where flies and other insects settle. Watch out for the overlooked nooks and crannies where rainwater collects, like unused buckets and pails, and even tarps and other areas where water pools.

An apple a day…well, not exactly although your horse would like it. But adding apple cider vinegar in small quantities to your horses’ feed is a natural repellent.

Feed DE. Diatomaceous Earth is a non-toxic pesticide which can be added to food to help eliminate internal parasites and reduce manure odor. Apply it as well to manure piles to prevent flies from laying eggs. DE looks like white chalk powder but is actually the indigestible fossilized remains of single-cell plants. Since bugs can’t digest it, they die, but it is harmless to larger animals and people.

Use flower power. Planting flowers like marigolds naturally deter many insects. There are many pretty plants that are natural repellents, so you can pretty up your yard with double duty beauty.

Add some POP! These fly traps really work, and are easy to use. http://www.rescue.com/pop_fly_trap/

And the final line of defence? Leave Me Be! When you need to use a fly spray, try our best-selling Leave Me Be All-Natural Bug Spray. It contains natural ingredients, essential oils and a moisturizer that keep your horse comfortable, and his coat soft, silky and dandruff-free. Its natural blend of citronella, lemon oil, peppermint and eucalyptus smells great to us, but turns off bugs. Available in regular or concentrate form – one bottle of concentrate makes five liters of fly spray.

Ride Green!
The EcoLicious Equestrian