Posts Tagged ‘grooming’

Summer Memories and the Lovin’ is Easy!

Summer holidays are over and fall is knocking on the door. We will all miss the warm, long days that gave us plenty of time to enjoy our equine companions. September is here, but summer isn’t over yet! We want you to enjoy these last summer days, celebrate it and capture the memories to last all year, so this month, we’re doing something a little different.

We’re inviting you to share your best pictures of you and your horse in the “Summer  Memories: Feel
the Connection” Photo Contest.

Take Your Best Shot!

Winners will receive a special Feel the Connection Grooming Kit containing some of the most popular EcoLicious products for the horse: SQUEAKY GREEN & CLEAN Deep Cleansing & Conditioning Shampoo, the all-natural coconut derived horse shampoo (check out before & after pics); DE-STRESS Intensive Restructuring & Detangling Treatment for mane and tail; and for the rider, HANDS ON Therapeutic Barn Hand Repair Lotion. These products are the key ingredients for your horse’s spa day, and a treat for your hands after you’re done.

Let’s face it, our horses offer us so much and ask for so little in return. Grooming time can become a ritual you both enjoy to the fullest to not only get your horse looking his or her best, but to also strengthen the bond between you. In horse language, grooming is a sign of affection and caring between horses who like each other, so the more you can replicate this in the horse-human relationship, the happier your horse will be. And that’s something that’s a win-win for both of you.

Summer Fun

Contest Rules:
Enter as often as you want by sharing your photos on our Facebook page and email a copy of  the contest entry photo to letusknow@ecoliciousequestrian.com. The deadline for entries is September 20th, 2011 at noon. The winner will be announced on the EcoLicious blog and Facebook page on September 21st, 2011 at noon. Enter now and tell your friends.

The EcoLicious Equestrian
Your Horse. Your Earth. Your Choice.

Spring is in full swing and with it comes my least favorite insect : TICKS. It’s right up there with horse flies. It’s important for our horse’s health that we check for them regularly and remove them speedily. 

Checking the base of the tail for ticks

Yesterday while brushing my horse’s tail I realized what a great tick removing tool is De-Stress – our Intensive Treatment for mane and tail. I always rub it in the base of the tail to moisturize the skin and encourage new healthy hair growth. After applying liberally and letting it soak in for several minutes I picked through his tail finding two ticks that let go. It can be often hard to find all the ticks on your horse’s thick tail dock or the base of the mane. When you apply De-Stress Intensive Treatment for mane & tail you’re not only making your horse’s tail go from dry and brittle to soft, silky and luminous; you’ll also get rid of those god damn crawling things from his tail. The fine oils and essential oil of Tea Tree suffocate the tick and the tick let’s go.I’m not a big fan of pulling out ticks with tweezers. I’m really afraid to leave the head behind inviting infection and this is a perfect way to ensure they let go head and all.

Ride Green!
The EcoLicious Equestrian

Let’s talk a little today about various benefits of regular grooming routine.  There are many and they reach far beyond the “looking good” part.

Health & Beauty

A good grooming session cleans & massages the skin, improves circulation, and more oxygen means a healthier horse. It also allows you to keep a closer eye on your horse and see if anything is out of the ordinary. Bad scrape on his leg, lost shoe…you get the idea. It also helps to warm & relax tight muscles. And we can’t forget the BEAUTY part!

combing through Lisa's tail after application of De-Stress Intensive Treatment

Relaxation & Bonding

Horses usually love to be groomed. Between horses, mutual grooming is a sign of affection, friendship & trust and it is a great way to bond with your horse. You’ll make your horse feel good and he’ll learn that it’s good to be around you. But don’t let him return the favor by nibbling on you. You wouldn’t enjoy it as much as his pasture buddies. When he turns his neck to you, gently push his head away to make him understand that this grooming session is just about him. No need to return the favor!

Tune into him, get to know him, learn where he’s ticklish or sensitive and let him help you find that ooh-so-sweet spot he loves rubbed so much. Soon your horse will show you what spot is itchy and where they need to be scratched. My horse lifts his hind leg when he needs my belly scratching services.

mutual grooming between horses is a sign of affection

Adjust the pressure of your touch to the horse’s sensitivity. Some horses love to be curried hard some need a much gentler approach. They’ll let you know. You just need to listen. Sympathetic grooming makes horses relax and more
willing to work and it is great “foreplay” before riding time.

Coming Soon :  more about grooming as an opportunity to train your horse & teach him patience. Stay tuned!

Ride Green!
The EcoLicious Equestrian

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

Does your horse look like a mud monster? Are you short on time, but still want to squeeze in a ride? If the idea of your filthy horse makes you want to  curl up on a couch with a good book instead, don’t give up.

All you need to do is focus on the areas that need to be groomed for your horse’s comfort and safety and leave a more thorough groom when you have more time.  Must groom spots include the obvious saddle, bridle and girth area as well as areas behind your horse’s pasterns, elbows and under his jaw. Dirt and debris accumulated on these areas can cause rubbing, which inevitably leads to abrasions or skin infections such as mud fever, rain scald  or bacterial folliculitis.

the dreaded mud

Ride Green!
The EcoLicious Equestrian

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

Horse Illustrated Feb 2011

Barn Buzz Section of Horse Illustrated

Ride Green!
The EcoLicious Equestrian

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