Posts Tagged ‘DeStress’

I’d like to share with you a latest testimonial from one our customers – Shauntelle from the Harding Heights Ranch in Trail, BC. Here we go:

“My Mom and I run Harding Heights Ranch Ltd. and we strive to provide the most natural/holistic care possible for our herd of 15 horses.  I came upon EcoLicious Equestrian while reading my online subscription of Holistic Horse.  I was immediately captured by the fact that they were a Canadian company but more so that they were All Natural.  So, I decided to try them and I ordered a couple of their products.  The De-Stress Intensive  Mane & Tail Treatment quickly became my favorite!  Not only did it work and smell wonderful, it lasted!!  Yay.  I had been struggling with other products that did a good job at first but after awhile the manes were far worse than they had ever been!  Ugg.  I try not to touch my horses manes too often but every once in awhile they do need to be managed… this for me happens about once a year.” 

Harding Heights Herd - courtesy Harding Heights Ranch Ltd.

“I was so in love with the smell of the products and so were my horses!  My Stallion, Rowan, who is a Suffield Horse from the Suffield Military Block in Alberta and came from wild stock is a fussy creature who would rather flee, while at liberty, then see me coming at him with a bottle in my hand!!  So, armed with my newest product, Comfort Me Healing Balm, I approached him to tend to a surface wound on his neck only to have him bolt away to the other end of his paddock.  What a brat!  So I quickly put some Comfort Me on my fingers and tucked the bottle away in my pocket and proceeded after him with caution!  I gently approached, keeping my distance with my fingers extended for him to smell.  He stretched his head out to sniff my hand.  As he sniffed his eyes started to calm and his body relaxed as he stepped towards me with his head down!!  Wow, I was so excited!!  He loved it!  Yay again!!  I proceeded to fix his scratches and did everything I could find searching up and down his legs to find any excuse to use the product.”

“I now have the Hoof Therapy Serum which will be a great tool for all of our barefoot horses.  I am very excited about its antibacterial and anti-fungal properties and once again it smells amazing!  I was spoiled at Christmas as one of my very thoughtful friends bought me and two of our other horse friends the Hands On which is amazing and so silky.  And all because I had been raving so much about the EcoLicious line!”

“I love the products so much that I gave it as a Christmas gift to another one of my dear friends who is also an all-natural girl with her herd of horses.  I wanted her to see what awesome products they were and I knew that she would be just as thrilled with them as I am. She now has all the products that I do!  I have added EcoLicious to my favorite web links on my website as well as continuing to promote you on my Facebook page.”

“I have dealt with the customer care team twice now, once on the phone and once via email and they were so polite and helpful that it makes me want to support them even more!!”

“Thanks for developing such amazing products that work for all of us green horse people!   I am looking forward to getting and trying the Leave Me Be this spring.”

Cheers,

Shauntelle (Harding) LeRose

Harding Heights Ranch Ltd. (Trail, BC)

Thank you for sharing with us your EcoLicious experience Shauntelle! We are excited to be part of the holistic horsekeeping approach on your ranch.

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

I’m thinking it’s time to win some free EcoLicious stuff. What do you think?

Leave a comment on our blog or our Facebook page and let us know what horsie book is currently residing on your bedside table (or any other table for that matter) for a chance to win a FREE De-Stress Intensive Restructuring Treatment  for manes & tails and our customer’s all time favorite.

I’ve just started reading a book called the Tao of Equus by Linda Kohanov and I’m hooked. “This is an extraordinarily moving account of a gifted thinker, writer, teacher and a horsewoman who dares to venture deep within to explore the truth of the connection that merges horse, human mind, emotion and spirit”.

There is nothing like curling up on a couch with a warm cup of tea and  a great horse book. The next one on my to-read-list is a book called “Dancing with Horses” by Klaus Ferdinand Hempfling.

So what are you reading right now? Let us know…

Ride Green!
The EcoLicious Equestrian

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

We all know what it’s like to stand on the rail at a horse show and ogle the fine specimens before us.  After all a horse show is one of the few places where you cannot only count on seeing impressive performances but also impeccably turned out horses. In fact it doesn’t matter what discipline you participate in – good turnout never goes out of style (and every horse can look like a winner with a solid pre-show grooming routine.)  Have you ever wondered what it takes to take your horse from shaggy pasture ornament to red carpet ready?  Let me walk you through my deceptively easy, eco-friendly makeover that will turn heads in or out of the ring!

Step 1:  Prep-work

You may be surprised to find that the first step in this makeover doesn’t include a hose!  I’m all for a good bath, but before I drench my horse I like to do a little leg work first to save myself precious energy (and valuable tail hairs!) 

I’ve learned the hard way that if you have dirt, burrs, shavings etc. in your horses mane or tail before you get it wet, there is a good chance it will be there after you get it wet.  No one actually likes a “make work” project so why not take some time at the beginning of the makeover to use an intensive detangling treatment?  Not only does this rid the mane and tail of the offending parties, but it also saves you the hassle of trying to shampoo dry, tangled hair.  Apply De-Stress Intensive Reconstructing & Detangling Treatment from root to tip on the mane, tail and forelock, being sure not to go overboard (this product really packs a punch and a little goes a long way!) 

In a perfect world, after I’ve applied the detangling product I would take some time to allow the product to penetrate the hair shaft – this will not only moisturize the hair but also prevent breakage when you are ready to shampoo. 

At this stage of the game I would begin carefully finger combing my horses mane and tail, starting with small sections at the base and working my way down.  Red carpet worthy manes and tails take hard work and patience!   One of my favourite tricks of the trade is to keep a large banana or claw hair clip with me to clip sections of detangled hair out of the way as I make my way through.   Now I know! I know!  Finger combing can be arduous (especially when your horse has a full, thick tail that forms dreadlocks easily) but resist the temptation to cut corners and rake through your horses’ hair.  That’s right ladies…back away from the comb!  Absolutely no raking allowed!  This is mission critical if you still want to have a tail after you’ve done your makeover.  For all you Friends fans out there…“If you feel resistance, pull the Q-tip out!”  

 In all seriousness though the bottom line is that it can more than a year to replace a full-length tail hair so don’t be hasty!  Combs are part of my grooming kit but the only time I run anything through those precious tresses is after I have the lions-share of the tangles and knots out (and even then I tread lightly to avoid breaking any hairs.)

 If you are a real keener like myself you may choose to take your pre-show leg work one step further and do the De-Stress Intensive Treatment the day before you plan to begin your makeover.  It really does take your horses’ tail from “drabulous to fabulous.”   If not, now would be the ideal time to move onto to Step 2.  Finally!

Step 2:  Time for a trim

It’s important to present your horse at his/her best, which I feel should align with the standard specific to you sport.  As far as I’m concerned, there is no need to present a horse that is radically shorn  – keep it neat and discreet.  Think of trimming your horse as a chance to tidy up – removing the long hairs on the heels, under the jaw line and the tufts of hair that protrude from the ears really goes a long way.  You also can’t go wrong with a modest bridle path (some breeds call for longer but just wide enough to allow your bridle to lay flat is standard.)    Whether you bang tails or pull manes depends on your discipline but I would like to offer a word of caution:  when in doubt keep all excess clipping and trimming to a minimum!   If you are naturally inclined to do “just a little bit more” like myself, you know all too well that it can be extremely tempting to get a little scissor happy!  I’ve cut my fair share of bowl-cuts and trust me, once you get started there’s no going back.  “A little off the top” soon turns into a rat race trying to even out a botched thinning job.  Shorter hair does not necessarily equate to being easier to work with.  Not only does it end up looking sloppy but can also be particularly difficult to conceal, even if you’re a seasoned braider.  Better to leave 4” of thick mane to braid than 2” of thinned out, choppy mane…even the most beautiful horse has hard time rocking the G.I. Jane look.  

It is also important to note for those of you who have horses or ponies of Baroque decent (or that participate in Native Breed classes) that you should tread especially lightly through this portion of the makeover.  Excessive trimming can spoil the natural beauty of the breed and end up backfiring in the ring.

Stay tuned for part 2 & 3 of our Comprehensive Guide to Make Your Horse Red Carpet Ready!

Naturally yours until next time!
Megan

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

“My name is Elaine Banfield I am an FEI dressage trainer, rider and coach. Also an Equine Canada certified national dressage judge and an Equine Canada high performance training coach at Elaine Banfield Equine Services.”

“ I use products from EcoLicious Equestrian in my barn. They smell great and feel better than great.  They deliver the kind of results I want for my competition horses, with no worry of compromising their health,  quality of  air around my barn or my own health. They are gentle, without any toxic ingredients, and the results are wonderful.”

“ EcoLicious products work superbly and are easy to use. I love the shiny coats and smooth silky tails. My absolute favourite is the De-Stress Intensive Restructuring & Detangling Treatment for manes and tails. It’s a great conditioner, soothes itchy tails and is the fastest way to remove burrs, stubborn tangles or shavings. The best feature is the longevity of these products. The tail is smooth and tangle free for several days.”

“I am so impressed with the quality of these products that I have been confidently recommending EcoLicious products to all my clientele. Thank you EcoLicious, it is about time someone produced truly effective and environmentally friendly horse care products.”

Sincerely,

Elaine Banfield, FEI Dressage Trainer, Rider, Couch & Dressage Judge
Anola, MB

THANK YOU ELAINE!

Ride Green,

The 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