BY BLOG EDITOR LAUREN MAULDIN
Barn time is precious to me in many different ways, but a lot of them have nothing to do with riding. No matter how good (or bad) my lesson is, I always enjoy spending a lot of time after a ride grooming and taking care of my horse. That special time is often filled with premium grooming and horse care products, which is why I was really excited to try sampling of Equi-Spa’s product line.
With a selection ranging from sprays, washes, lotions, balms and more, Equi-Spa uses essential oils and all natural ingredients to help your horse’s skin, coat, and overall well being. My horse, Simon, is a little bit of a prima donna when it comes to grooming. He’s incredibly itchy, sensitive to flies, and prone to fungus. Some grooming products just don’t work with him, so I was excited to see how he liked Equi-Spa.
The first product I tried was their Peppermint Summer Protection spray, advertised as a long-lasting protectant against hot weather irritants. I used this spray over Simon’s coat after grooming, before my ride. The smell is interesting. It’s has a hint of peppermint, but doesn’t smell super strong of mint like I expected it to. I liked how after application, it soaked into his coat and gave him a nice shine. Sometimes when I use oilier sprays, dust immediately sticks to my horse… but not the case with the Summer Protection spray. Although it’s not explicitly advertised as a fly spray, it did a great job keeping the flies at bay.
After my ride once I hosed Simon off, I applied the second Equi-Spa product — their Cool Muscle Wash. This light, versatile wash has therapeutic grade essential oils, including witch hazel, which helps sore, overworked muscles. You can use it as a aromatherapy massage oil if bodywork is something you enjoy doing with your horse, but I just used it as a post-bath spray for his shoulders, legs, back and hind end. It smells delightful. Some liniments are harsh and can irritate my sensitive horse, but the Cool Muscle Wash is gentle and all-natural. It made me feel good to give my horse a soothing spray on his back after a long ride!
Another post-bath product favorite was the Not So Sweet Itch spray. Simon has a really hard time with fungus and excessively rubbing his face during the summer, and this spray has solved that problem for me faster than anything else. I would spray a little bit onto his skin, brush it in, and saw a noticeable difference the next time I came to the barn. Magic! I also applied liberally to the top of his tale, and noticed the next day that he was less itchy on his tail bone.
But my favorite by far is the FAIRY TALES! spray. This is, by far, the best smelling horse product I’ve ever used. A few times a week, I liberally spray it throughout his tail and it smells so good that I’m tempted to use it in my own hair! Besides the smell, the spray keeps his tail soft, shiny and less likely to break during grooming. It’s a must have for your tail care arsenal.
Whether you’re into all natural, essential oil products, or just quality grooming in general – I suggest checking out Equi-Spa.
