Posts Tagged ‘toxins’

We’ve got some thrilling news at EcoLicious Equestrian.  We’re honored and super excited to become a sponsor of a talented young three day eventer Lauren Kieffer from the O’Connor eventing team. Why Lauren? She understands the importance of making sustainable  & environmentally friendly choices and avoiding toxins and chemicals that conventional equine grooming products contain.

So who’s Lauren, where does she come from and what is she up to?

Lauren was born and raised in Mt. Carmel, Illinois. She fell in love with horses and began riding at the young age of six. She competed in several local hunter/jumper and 4-H shows before pursuing eventing at the age of 12, training at Susannah Lansdale’s barn in Evansville, Indiana. 

Lauren fell in love with eventing and started training with Karen and David O’Connor started in 2005 when her parents signed her up for the O’Connor Eventing Camp in Virginia. She then took up a working student position with them and then became their Resident Rider in 2008. For you who aren’t that familiar with the three day eventing scene Karen and David O’Connor are the IT and their numerable accomplishments include medals from Olympic Games in Atlanta and Sydney! Karen has been named US Female Equestrian Athlete of the Year ten times and, in 1993, was the number one ranked lady rider in the world. She received the Team Silver Medal at the Atlanta Olympics, riding Biko, and the Team Bronze Medal at the Sydney Olympics, aboard Prince Panache. David brought home the first eventing Gold Medal for the United States in more than a quarter of a century, when he clinched the individual eventing championship on Custom Made at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney with the best score in Olympic history. Alongside Karen, he and Giltedge helped the USET capture the Team Bronze Medal in Sydney, and the Team Silver in Atlanta.

And now back to Lauren. Here are some of her most notable achievements. Lauren has been named to the Developing Rider’s List every year since 2006 and was placed on the USEF B-List in 2009 after her top placing at the Jersey Fresh CCI***.  She also received the Markham Trophy the spring of 2007.  The trophy is given to the highest placed rider under the age of 21 at the USEF CCI*** Spring Championship.  She has many top placings in horse trials and FEI competitions, most recently completing the 2010 Rolex Kentucky CCI****.

Lauren is well known for her success with a variety of horses and for her natural approach in all her training techniques.

We asked Lauren to tell us a bit about her equine partners. She trains and competes about 15 horses, but according to her the two guys below are the most notable ones:

Snooze Alarm 12 year old chestnut Arabian gelding: North American Young Rider Championships team member 2005, 2006, and 2007; Named to Developing List 2007 and 2009; Named to USEF B- List 2009; 8^th at Jersey Fresh CCI*** 2009; 1^st Plantation Field Int 2009; 28^th at Rolex Kentucky CCI**** 2010; 1^st Richland Park Int 2010

 Ultra Tim 10 year old bay Thoroughbred gelding :Named to Developing List 2010; 2^nd Plantation Field CIC** 2009; Top 15 at Fairhill International CCI** 2009; Top 10 Millbrook HT Adv 2010.

We’ll be keeping you in the loop about Lauren and her accomplishments, so make sure to sign up for our blog!

Ride Green!
The EcoLicious Equestrian

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

Have you ever wondered what it is you’re grooming your horse with? What is it made of?

Certain products in our grooming totes can be outright hazardous to the health of our animals, our earth, and our health. To stop the toxic overload we need to be more aware about our everyday choices: our horses & barn included.

So… what’s in your mane & tail conditioner or coat shine?
Most likely SILICONES.

Silicones are synthetic by-products coat the skin, trapping anything beneath it, and do not allow the skin to breathe (much like plastic wrap would do.) When skin treated with silicones get exposed to sweat, it gets irritated. Surprise – horses are sweating machines! Certain synthetic emollients are known to be carcinogenic and may accumulate in the liver and lymph nodes. And they aren’t good for our earth either – they aren’t biodegradable.

Instead of silicone based products try our customer’s favorite, silicone free De-Stress Intensive Restructuring Treatment made from 100% natural ingredients.

And what’s hiding in your horse shampoo?
SLS aka SODIUM LAURYL SUPHATE

Severe skin irritant toxic to fish and wildlife that negatively effects central nervous system. Try our SLS free Squeaky Green & Clean biodegradable shampoo.

In your hoof oil  or conditioner?
MINERAL OIL

What is it? Petroleum by-product that coats hoof  & skin like plastic, clogging the pores, preventing them from breathing. And without oxygen, your horse’s hoofs won’t regenerate.  Mineral oil irritates & promotes skin disorders and  is often used in  products that suppose to help get rid of the itch. Go figure. And remember : baby oil is 100% pure mineral oil.

All of the above products usually also contain parabens. PARABENS (methyl, propyl, butyl, and ethyl) are synthetic preservatives used to extend shelf life of grooming products. It’s toxic and can cause allergic reactions. At EcoLicious Equestrian we uses rosemary to preserve our products naturally.

Ride Green,

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

Would like to know more about how you can detox your equine grooming routine? Visit ecoliciousequestrian/detox-grooming