Posts Tagged ‘treatment’

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

We confess. We’re obsessed with before & after pics. Be it in a beauty salon or in an episode of the Biggest Loser, we’re crazy about them. In the spirit of our obsession, we’d like to share with you today a story of Lisa – a Hanoverian Warmblood mare going EcoLicious.

Lisa enjoyed her spa day tremendously. She showed us where she was itchy and where she needed to be scratched. She kept sniffing our hands (yes, our products are scented with Sweet Orange Essential Oil that horses are head over heels with, but which bugs don’t dig.)  She even strutted her stuff like there’s no tomorrow when Steph – her rider – took her for a little jumping session after the bath. You know the saying: when you look good, you feel good.

So How It Went Down (EcoLiciously of course, but let’s look at it step by step)

Step 1. Before we use shampoo, we always apply DeStress – the 100% Natural Intensive Mane & Tail Treatment. Why? You don’t want to start shampooing dry, knotted tail hair. Application BEFORE also ensures that no burrs or shavings are left, which are difficult to remove once the tail is wet even if you use rinse out conditioner.

Step 2. We start with the tail – after all there’s nothing like a full flowing shiny tail. We scrub the tail base thoroughly to help a horse ease the itch. Make sure to use only quality natural shampoos that won’t irritate your horse, otherwise he’ll end up with an even more itchy tail than when you started. For a soothing yet thorough cleansing try our Squeaky Green & Clean.

Step 3. We wash out the shampoo, apply Silky – a rinse out conditioner and then we let it work its magic while we proceed with scrubbing the rest of the horse.

Step 4. Scrub & scrub. Get yourself one of the loofah mitts. They’re the best thing to bathe your horse with. Guaranteed

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Step 5. We hose the horse off & apply a rinse out conditioner. Our Silky is made to condition both coat, mane & tail. We leave it in for a bit while we gently pick / comb through the tail and rinse off.

Step 6. Final hose off. Get yourself a squeegee – it’s the best test to figure out if there’s any dirt or suds left in your horse’s coat. Once clear – we’re done. At least for a bit.

Step 7. Now the mane treatment. To shorten the mane we love to use a thinning knife. We cannot be trusted with straight blade scissors.  We didn’t try to pull the “mane-pulling” move on this girl. Just like her Daddy ( Icarus) she will have none of that. Then we finish off with a spritz of Moisture Maniac.

Step 8. Then the tail. We apply a little dollop of DeStress, comb through & bang it at the bottom to make it look full. When you do that always make sure that you have someone to put a hand under the horse’s dock and lift it to the height  the horse naturally carries it’s tail.

Step 9. We’re done! Nope. Not just yet. A little spritz of our Glossy – Gloss Enhancing Coat Tonic – it’s got Mica in it. It is a shimmery reflective mineral that also acts as a natural sunscreen. And a little bit of Hoof Therapy to make the hooves shiny & healthy.

And voila! Who would think  Lisa is such a HOT STUFF?

Step 10. We almost forgot the most important step. The “spoil-me-silly” time. Treats!!!
Lisa’s fav: black licorice.

Ride Green,

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

Check out our full line of EcoLicious equine care & grooming products at www.ecoliciousequestrian.com

We confess. We go nuts over our horses’ tails and when we find them all tangled up with burrs, caked with mud, dry and damaged; we freak out. I still remember when Durango’s new pasture mate used his tail as a chewing gum.  I cried.  We all know that a flowing silky & vibrant tail is the crown of every horse. A thin stringy tail  doesn’t only mar the overall picture, it also doesn’t serve its purpose from the practical point of view – protecting  your horse from bugs and in colder climates, protecting his nether regions from wind, rain and frostbite.

So what can we do to keep our horse’s tail flawless?

Beauty from within

Make sure your horse is on a well balanced nutritious diet. Consider a Biotin supplement known to enhance and promote a healthy coat, mane & tail quality from within.

Beauty from without

Keep It Clean

Keep your horse’s tail clean with regular shampooing. Irritated, dry and itchy
base of a tail clogged with sweat and dirt will make your horse rub his tail and break his tail hairs. Use a mild non-irritating shampoo without SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulphate) that dries the skin & hair and are toxic to fish and wildlife.  Look for shampoos containing Tea Tree known for its anti-fungal, anti-itch  & anti-dandruff properties with emollient ingredients like Silk.  Try our Squeaky Green & Clean Shampoo – heavy duty yet mild, it’ll make your horse’s tail squeaky clean and ooh-soo-soft. BONUS: It smells heavenly – like Sweet Orange – known in equine aromatherapy as an uplifting scent.

Condition & Condition

To keep the tail moisturized and prevent it from breakage, always use a rinse-our conditioner after shampooing. Leave in for several minutes, pick carefully through your horse’s tail & work through tangles and knots. Look for conditioners with emollient ingredients like Silk or Hemp Oil.  Avoid products with artificial dyes or fragrances that cause irritation. Try our Silky Rinse Out Coat, Mane & Tail Conditioner. It’s full of natural goodness and  nourishes the hair making them shiny and smooth.

& Condition….

If your horse’s tail in in real distress go with De-Stress Intensive Restructuring Treatment. It infuses the hair with moisture, essential fatty acids and other natural emollient ingredients; and makes it go from drab to fab. Use it in place of your regular conditioner or go with an EcoLicious Spa Treatment – see how to do it here. This product also removes burrs and witches knots at the speed of light and soothes the itchy “dandruffy” tail dock.

Handle with Care

Do not over- handle your horse’s tail. Always use a conditioner (try our EcoLicious Moisture Maniac Mane & Tail Infusion) and work from the bottom. Pick through the tail with your fingers or work the tangles very carefully with a comb. Always work in section and if you’re pulling any hairs out back off on the comb.

Braid & Protect

For the ultimate protection use a tail bag or braid the tail . However don’t do that in the middle of fly season where your horse  needs his tail to protect himself from the pesky bugs. Always apply a conditioner before the braiding or bagging. The hair needs to stay moist to prevent breakage. Try In Control – our Conditioning Mane Setting & Braiding Cream that’s infused with natural conditioning & moisturizing ingredients that make braiding easy.

Do you have tips on how to keep tails beautiful? Please share them with us!

Ride Green,

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

Check out our full line of EcoLicious equine care & grooming products at www.ecoliciousequestrian.com

EcoLicious Equestrian was a proud sponsor of the May Pony Club Show in MB.

Despite the dim weather forecast, the long weekend turned out to be sunny and beautiful; and the Show was a success. The winners left with a bottle of  our EcoLicious 100% natural and organic silicone free Intensive Mane & Tail Treatment “De-Stress”.

The highlight of the Sunday jump off was a couple of suicidal wild turkeys that kept strategically positioning themselves behind the jumps during the competition. One of the contestants had to stop mid-course while the turkeys were removed.

Please note that no turkeys were harmed during the removal.

Ride Green,

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

Check out our full line of EcoLicious equine care & grooming products at www.ecoliciousequestrian.com

De-Stress – our  EcoLicious Mane & Tail Intensive Treatment is not only good for transforming dry distressed tails, it also work wonders for the dreaded tail itch.

It contains Tee Tree Oil that helps to take care of the itch and the dandruff. Rosemary & Coconut Oil promote healthy hair growth and Organic Hemp Oil is full of essential fatty acids needed for healthy skin. This product, unlike majority of “tail itch” products, contains no mineral oil and silicones. Why? They coat the skin like plastic preventing it from breathing, which leads to even more scratching.

We were so glad to hear from Liz, our customer, about her experience with this 100% natural earth friendly product.

“My horse has had a dry itchy tail for years.  I’ve tried many products and home remedies and nothing has worked until I started using the Ecolicious product called De-Stress. This product has worked miracles and it smells good too.  My horse’s tail is no longer itchy and she is not rubbing all the hair off of it.  She no longer has flaky dry skin on her tail.  Her tail is smooth and silky soft.  It has never looked better.  I also love the fact that this product is made from all natural products and is 100% chemical free. Thank you Ecolicious!”

Liz Bourgoin
Anola, Mb.

Thank you Liz!!

Ride Green,

Team EcoLicious Equestrian
Check out the full EcoLicious natural horse care product line at www.ecoliciousequestrian.com