I’m currently sitting at my booth at the Horse Crazy Market at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. I’ve had a great time these last two days talking to horse lovers about the emotional well-being of their horses. 

When it comes to horses and essential oils, many people want to know how to use oils topically on their horse. That’s great! But let’s take a step back and talk about using them to support your horse’s emotional wellness.

I’m passionate about this topic for 2 reasons: 

1. Essential Oils are SO good at supporting your horse’s emotional wellness, and

2. NOBODY is talking about the emotional wellness of horses! 

I’ve written blog posts about why essential oils are so effective on horses, so check that out if this topic is new to you. 

I’ve been reminded by the conversations with all of you that horses grieve, they have their own opinions, and sometimes mini donkeys are tired of your need for validation from them (I already said I was sorry, Baxter!). 

Horses are emotional beings. Start paying attention to the emotional state of your horse. You probably pay attention to the physical state of your horse, especially if you ride him or her.  

Once you start paying attention to your horse’s emotional state, you can figure out how to best support it. 

Horse grieving the loss of a friend? Put a few drops of Frankincense in your palm, rub your palms together, and invite your horse to inhale the scent. 

Horse a little stressed out? Invite your horse to inhale Lavender from your palms. 

Horse needs a little pep in her step? Peppermint will do the trick (don’t be surprised if she wants to lick your hands). 

Start considering the emotional well-being of your horse whenever you interact with her, and you will be amazed at how your relationship grows.

In previous blog posts, I’ve mentioned the most important essential oil to have at the barn, your horse’s favorite oil, and the best oil for cleaning   surfaces and the air. This blog post I’ll talk about the most important oil to use before  you reach the barn. 

But first, did you know that horses can read your emotions? They can. They also remember  your emotions and adjust their behavior accordingly. 

Knowing this, imagine the difference between a horse who knows you as an angry human and a horse that knows you as a calm, kind human. I’m sure everyone’s had a boss whose mood set the tone for the entire day. Did you flourish working for someone like that? Probably not. Your horse doesn’t, either. 

So the best thing you can do before  you get to the barn is to manage your emotions. And Stress Away helps you do just that. 

Stress Away comprises: 

• Vanilla extract

• Lime

• Copaiba

• Lavender

• Cedarwood

• Ocotea

This blend is calming and emotionally uplifting. Here are some ways you can use it: 

• Put a few drops in your palm, rub your palms together, and inhale the scent deeply three times.

• Put a few drops on diffuser jewelry and wear around your horse

• Add a few drops to a car diffuser and diffuse on your way to the barn.

Your horse will likely enjoy the scent as well.  

• Put a few drops in your palm, rub your palms together, and invite your horse to inhale the aroma.

• Put a few drops on a cotton pad and place in your trailer when transporting your horse.

• Diffuse in the barn during stressful times, such as when new horses arrive or horses leave the barn.

I really like using essential oils to “set the mood” between you and your horse. If you show up as a calm, willing partner to your horse, the horse that “shows up” for you is more likely to be a willing partner as well. Knowing that our horses can read and remember our emotions means we need to manage them before   we show up to the barn. Thankfully, there’s an oil for that. 

Don’t be fooled by its fresh scent. Lemon is one of the best essential oils for cleaning - cleaning surfaces, tack, buckets, and even the air (when diffused, of course). The major constituent of Lemon essential oil is D-limonene, which is considered such a potent cleaner that you will find it listed as an ingredient in industrial cleaners (along with a lot of toxic ingredients).

Lemon essential oil is cold-pressed from the rind of the lemon. Here’s a fun fact: keep Lemon EO handy when using strong glue - you can use a drop or two to “unstick” your fingers or to remove labels or anything sticky.

Due to its strength, there are some safety precautions I’d like to point out:

-Citrus essential oils can cause photosensitivity when used topically (whether on yourself or your horse).

-Due to their high monoterpene content, citrus oils will oxidize more quickly than other oils. This means they have a shorter shelf-life (1-3 years, depending on how they’re stored). It’s important to always keep the cap on essential oils and store them away from sunlight and heat. You can store citrus oils in your refrigerator to maximize the shelf life. Once an oil is oxidized it can cause a skin reaction when used topically. If you think your citrus oil has oxidized, you can still use it in cleaning, just don’t use it topically.

-When adding Lemon Vitality to your water, be sure you only use it in a glass or stainless steel container.

One of my favorite ways to use Lemon essential oil? Diffusing it. I used to burn lemon-scented candles before I discovered essential oils. Now, not only does my house smell clean when diffusing lemon, but I benefit from all its mood-enhancing qualities.

There have been some promising studies on the anti-microbial actions of diffusing Lemon essential oil, so it’s a great choice to diffuse in your barn to promote wellness for all!