Coconutoil and Teatreeoil

[Manni01]

I have a horse which is terrible sensitive about bug bites and so far every summer we ran into big issues, like summer sores and so on.
Now I found a product which consists basically of Coconut oil and Teatree oil which I use on her and now I am hopeful for the summer this year.
It heals scratches very fast and if I apply it on her mane and neck it seems to protect those areas also against bug bites. Of course I do apply additionally fly spray, but I am really hoping this will improve our situation.

Just wondering anybody else using something like this in order to protect their horses???

[JB]

I have not, but I love the idea. TTO has amazing properties of all sorts, from healing to anti-bacterial and anti-fungal, as well as repelling. Coconut oil is very soothing, and used sparingly, not disgusting.

[piedmontfields]

What’s the product?

[DunByMistake]

The mare I used to ride was insanely sensitive to bug bites and every year under her chin, she gets this open, oozing wound and for the longest time, nothing would keep the bugs off and let the wound heal. To help matters, she would rub her face on every surface she could find and rub most of the hair off her head. What I finally determined would work was putting on a thick coating of furazone then a layer of vaseline. It was the only thing that deterred the bugs so wound would heal and hair could grow back. Now we just layer it on in anticipation and she might get a few crusty bites but not the open wound it was before.

I love the idea of a more natural alternative so I’ll be interested if this works out for you. Keep us updated. If not, furazone works!

[Manni01]

Well not sure if I can post the product here, but I can PM everybody who is interested. I am very happy about the finding because so far I soaked my poor horse with MTG and it smelled horrible and I am not sure how healthy it is. this smells a lot better I will gladly update as the summer progresses. Because right now we still have spring and not too many bugs but in the past I was fighting rubs even at this time of the year and this year her coat looks better then ever !!

[Jungle_Monkey]

http://www.pleasantridge.ca/index.php/ecolicious-leave-me-be-all-natural-equine-body-spray.html

http://www.pleasantridge.ca/index.php/ecolicious-leave-me-be-all-natural-equine-body-balm.html

I’ve tried the balm and really like it, not sure about the spray. I love their shampoo.

https://ecoliciousequestrian.com/product/squeaky-green-clean-shampoo/

I’ve found coconut oil to be great at the top of the tail bone area if they are itchy.

Good luck. I know how frustrating it can be.

[JB]

Careful with that MTG now - could easily cause her to sunburn. I’d wash it off to be safe Horrible stuff :no:

[Man_in_Black]

You could try diluted Apple Cider Vinegar as a fly spray (if you don’t mind the smell). You could also see if she’ll drink it in her water.

[Manni01]

@JB I stopped using MTG. And the product I am talking about is this… http://www.cocoteasalve.com/about-us.html IMO its pretty amazing…

[JB]

Thanks for the link! I bet it’s easy to make your own :winkgrin: You’d just have to play with the ratios. And you could add some other oils too, like Lavender and Oregano for their healing properties.

[Ghazzu]

Careful with tea tree oil. Test on a small patch first. Some horses are quite sensitive to the terpenes in it.

[JB]

For sure. And while I am sure most of us never do this, a test spot with a new product on a horse should be used just to make sure. TTO is something that should really never be used neat - most EOs shouldn’t be (though I am just fine with lavender neat, and hubby can use eucalyptus neat :eek:) but TTO just shouldn’t be because it’s so strong.

[Manni01]

@Ghazzu

Careful with tea tree oil. Test on a small patch first. Some horses are quite sensitive to the terpenes in it.

Thank you for the warning and I agree, but believe me by now I am pretty desperate My horse is very sensitive against everything. She tried to kill me when I tried to put MTG on her, apple vinegar was the same. She hates it when she has anything which is hurting. But with the coconut tea tree thing she is doing better then ever. So far she even enjoys it when I rub it in… I like that better then her trying to bite and kick me…

[Dressagelvr]

How are you diluting the TTO? It can be an irritant, but diluting does help.

[Manni01]

@Dressagelvr

How are you diluting the TTO? It can be an irritant, but diluting does help.

it is in the Coconut oil… So I assume it is diluted. I am sure most of it is Coconutoil

[JB]

Yes, TTO is quite strong, so a large dilution can still be very effective. We’re talking about a dilution of the sort where it’s 10 drops in a quart of water for some prevention, to MAYBE double that for some treatment.