Getting Started with Essential Oils for Horses

You may have heard of the benefits of essential oils for yourself, but did you know that they can be used on horses, too? Essential oils can benefit horses in many ways, from aromatherapy to natural topical remedies. Read on to find out which oils are safe for equine use and how to incorporate them into your weekly routine.

How to Use Essential Oils with Horses

Essential oils can be a great addition to your weekly routine with your horse. While you don’t want to apply any of them directly to your horse’s skin, you can use them via aromatherapy—where your horse actively smells the oils, either under their nose or through a diffuser. Some equine massage therapists will encourage relaxation by having your horse waft some oils before and during their massage. You can also use essential oils in Epsom salt baths or with a carrier oil (like coconut oil) to reap their benefits as an all-natural topical remedy.

Are Essential Oils Safe for Horses?

The first question that horse owners often have about essential oils is whether they’re safe for their horse or not. And the answer is: many essential oils are safe when used in the right way. Essential oils are very concentrated and need to be diluted through a carrier oil or an Epsom salt bath when coming in contact with your horse’s skin. Even so, there are still some horses that are sensitive to certain oils (for example: tea tree oil), so pay attention to how your horse reacts to each new essential oil that you incorporate in your routine.

Please note that this article does not provide equine medical advice. Consult your vet before using any new product with your horse, especially if you have concerns.

Quality Matters with Essential Oils

Since essential oils are sold over the counter, there is no required standard for the oils to meet before being sold in store or online. Not all essential oils are made the same, and when it comes to both safety and effectiveness, we recommend getting high-quality oils to use with your horse (and, frankly, for yourself, too!)

For the best quality oils for our horses, we prefer Young Living Essential Oils. Essential oils aren’t just a healthy indulgence at Young Living, they’re a way of life. Because of their commitment to their customers, partners, and the environment, Young Living ensures the highest quality essential oils with their Seed to Seal® guarantee. They also produce unique lines of health products, such as Thieves Home and NingXia Red.

What Pat says About Young Living: “Young Living essential oils are exactly that - essential. For thousands of years, ancient civilizations knew the medicinal power of strong essential oils. Knowing the power of our olfactory system and the power of smell, essential oils can affect our brain and our overall health. I have experienced and seen amazing results since becoming aware of Young Living essential oils.”

Check out the full line of Young Living Essential Oils here.

The Best Essential Oils for Horses

There are various essential oils that are beneficial to horses, including lavender, tea tree, basil, eucalyptus, bergamot, frankincense, geranium, and chamomile.

Help Your Horses Naturally

Essential oils can be a great addition to your horse’s weekly routine, whether via relaxation, to aid in healing, or to keep the bugs away. What we love the most—you guessed it—is that it’s another way to help our horses, naturally.