I think I’ve mentioned before that I have my Certification in Clinical Aromatherapy for humans and I also have several certifications from highly regarded Veterinarians in the use of essential oils with horses. In that light, I have been regularly using essential oils with my own horses for over 15 years and the results I have seen are noteworthy.
If you own horses, colic is something that is always in the back of your mind. I have seen great results using Peppermint for horses that seem to be experiencing colic so I wanted to share my protocol and the essential oil I recommend, in hopes that it might benefit you and your horses. There is NO regulation in the essential oil industry and there are good quality essential oils…and then there are the rest. My training has allowed me to determine which oils are safe and effective and that’s why I am going to share Peppermint oil from one company only with you.
It’s important to note that this protocol should not be used instead of proper Veterinary care. Proper care by your Veterinarian is essential but you can help your horse, while you wait for the Vet to arrive:
- At the first sign of colic, drop3-4 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil into the palm of your hand. Rub your hands together briefly and then gently rub your hands across your horses belly. Your horses hair acts like a ‘wick’ and will get the oils to the digestive system
- Set a timer because you can apply this oil every 20 minutes
- Call your Vet. It may be that by the time your Vet arrives, your horse is fine BUT it still makes perfect sense to have your Vet give your horse a physical exam when he/she arrives
- If Vet hasn’t arrived in 20 minutes and your horse is still experiencing discomfort, apply another 3-4 drops to the belly. You could also apply 3-4 drops inside the bottom lower lip instead of apply to the belly. Gently pinch the lower lip together creating a little pouch. Pull out slightly and put the drops inside the ‘pouch/ you have created
- Set your time for another 20 minutes
- You can repeat giving Peppermint, every 20 minutes until your Vet arrives.
- Follow normal protocols like walking and keeping a close eye on your horse, until your Vet arrives. Whenever I am dealing with potential colic, generally by the time the Vet arrives, my horse is feeling much better and typically, he/she is fine. It still makes sense to have your Vet check your horse!
- NOTE: After applying Peppermint essential oils, its essential that you keep your hands away from your horses and your eyes, face and other sensitive areas. SAFETY FIRST.
I always have Peppermint in my barn for digestive issues. If I have a horse that’s picking at his/her food, I will add a drop or two of Peppermint essential oil to my horses feed.
Peppermint is considered a ‘hot’ oil (meaning it can quickly create a burning sensation in sensitive areas) but it also has the ability to cool the body and that is true for human and equine. Keep an eye on your horses and be aware that if you’re using Peppermint essential oil on a cold day, the Peppermint can actually make your horse a little colder.
Not all oils are created the same…at all. Unfortunately, many contain peppermint ‘fragrances’, synthetics or other additives that are not safe for you or your horse. I have been using oils from Plant Extracts International for a number of years and I trust them implicitly with the safety, integrity and purity of their products. If you’re interested in other essential oil companies I recommend, comment below or email me and I’ll be happy to send you my recommendations.
Until Next Time!
Cindy
For more information on essential oils from Plant Extracts International, click here
Unless it’s sand colic – where an amount of sand is sitting in the horse’s gut, untouched by the tubing of mineral oils that just wash through the intestines and right over the sand. My horse would’ve died if it hadn’t been for an old vet (the second one I called) who tubed with Metamucil and oil/water. There are more things to consider than just a bellyache! Over the two years I’d had this horse, I had asked several vets why his manure was just one step up from diarrhea. “Oh, some horses are just like that.” But they were wrong. It was because of the sand in his gut; the manure was loose and dried out to blow in the wind. Once he was healed, I had forgotten how heavy poop can be. Now, per the vet, he gets a sand clear product 2x a week for life.