Keeping Y
Calm Naturally D by Heathe
Stall rest is not something equestrians ever want for their horse . Horses do best , physically and emotionally , when constantly moving . So the prospect of weeks or even months in a 12x12 stall is enough to cause us stress as well . The trick is keeping our horse calm during stall rest .
* All opinions are my own and products which I feel will provide the best natural results for your horse .
Complications of Stall Rest
While stall rest due to injury is sometimes a necessity , it is usually because the positives outweigh the negatives . What are some complications that can occur due to stall rest ?
1 . Inflammatory Airway Disease ( IAD ) Inflammatory Airway Disease ( IAD ) can occur from prolonged exposure to environmental particulates dispersed from feed , bedding , or footing . This can cause inflammation and increased mucus production . The last thing we want is for our horses to get a secondary problem . Wetting the footing and soaking hay and feed is a good way to reduce dust and air particles .
2 . Colic Colic is a word that sends shivers through us all . According to TheHorse . com , “ Stall rest contributes to 54 % of impaction colic cases ”. Movement during turnout and exercise increase circulation and stimulates the metabolism . When unable to move the possibility of colic increases .
3 . Frustration and Boredom Being kept stall bound , you may find yourself with an increasingly frustrated horse . As herd animals , they do not do well in isolation and with limited movement . Pacing , stomping , and vocalizations are all the opposite of what we want for our horses on stall rest . All the exercise they were used to is now taken away and they are a pent up ball of energy with nowhere to put it .
12 • Walking On
Keeping Your Horse Calm During Stall Rest
There are a number of ways to keep your horse calm during stall rest . These options are not in particular order of priority or importance . In fact , they may be used together for the best possible results .
Essential Oils
Aromatherapy has been a proven , natural remedy for thousands of years . In fact , many current chemical medications are derived from plants . In the wild , horses choose the plants based on their need , typically referred to zoopharmacognosy . Horses are extremely sensitive to essential oils and respond very well , either by inhaling deeply , licking the essential oil , or having it applied to their skin with a carrier oil .
The beauty of essential oils is they are easily absorbed into the body , going directly to neural pathways within minutes of application .
I find that most horses prefer our Serenity Spray , which I initially used as a massage blend . Before massage with anxious horses , I apply it to my hands and give them a chance to inhale for a few minutes . It smells lovely , and is also perfectly blended to use topically on the skin .
For several months I was working with a high-anxiety therapy horse . Outwardly calm when under saddle with his special needs riders , he would hold his tension internally . This resulted in a very anxious horse while not working . It took months for me to build trust with him during massage . One day he was exceptionally head shy . Usually this notes a lot of tension in the poll , and I do not force my equine friends . Instead , I enticed him with my Serenity Spray . Even I was amazed at the results . Within a minute , his head was down , eyes half closed , and completely relaxed . Since then , I always start his massage with this blend and it ’ s done wonders for our relationship . For more information , you can read my post Building Trust in an Anxious Horse .
Other popular essential oils to naturally calm horses are : lavender , vanilla , ylang ylang , geranium , clary sage ,