Competition scents for horse and rider

I thought this was interesting!

Essential oils are a tool you may not have considered to add to your
preparation before going to compete at your dressage competition. They
are something you can use, purely for their scent, to help you and your
horse maintain a calm focus and avoid the anxiety attacks.



Aromatherapy, the use of essential oils work with our sense of smell.
We get attracted to a scent, inhale and then the physiological reaction
via the olfactory nervous system suggest to the hypothalamus gland to
instruct the body to release various neurochemicals. It is the release
of these neurochemicals that make us feel happy, euphoric, focused,
stimulated or calm.



Molly was nervous during her first dressage test, so sought out Lyn Palmer to get a sniff of calming oils.



With horses, their sense of smell is keen and they operate primarily on
what we term in ourselves, the old brain. It is the old brain or our
limbic system that holds our memories and emotions and governs the
flight - fight response. By accessing this response with the use of
aromas, we bypass the conscious mind and often eliminate this response
before it becomes dangerous. Aromatherapy will not replace good
training or positive reinforcement techniques with your horse, it will
however help you bypass blocks you have previously fond difficult to
overcome.



In this article I will address the use of scent. The essential oils
also have a physical action if applied directly to the body, however
this needs to be in a carrier which is not attractive when performing a
dressage test.



To get the most out a scent from an essential oil, you can decide on
some of the qualities you and your horse need on the day and then waft
the bottles under your horse's nose. He is the best indicator. After
you have wafted the scent draw the bottle slowly away form his nose, if
he follows with a definite interest, this is the oil your horse wants.
You then place a drop or two onto the palm of your hand and warm and
allow your horse to inhale to begin the release of the neurochemicals
throughout the body.



Your Basic Essential Oil Kit



Basil



The dressage horse and rider always benefit from a quick sniff of basil
before a test, as it sharpens the mind and helps retain focus on the
task at hand. Basil is useful if you and your horse are nervous where
you both can't keep your mind on the test ahead. It is also useful if
you have scheduled a third test and fatigue is setting in. Basil will
help draw on inner strength and access your memory to help you and your
horse through your test.



Bergamot



Bergamot is a favorite for dealing with "butterflies' in the tummy
nerves. It eases away anxieties and clears the air so pre event jitters
do not incapacitate you. It encourages you and your horse to overcome
the stress of competition and allays frustration.



Chamomile



It is traditionally the 'tantrum' remedy in small children and will
calm your horse in minutes if he is being the difficult demanding
child. Chamomile gives patience, peace and calms the mind. It is highly
sedative so do not use on a mild behavior, keep it for the serious
'refusal' or difficulty in getting your horse back on the trailer to go
home.



Eucalyptus



It is also an essential oil that freshens up an environment and useful
to have around for horses that are confined in stables for long periods
of time as it lifts the spirits and creates a 'bush' feel in the
stables. For the dressage competitor it is useful to use with a horse
that performs to his best in the morning and has drawn an afternoon
test. It is believed to have an uplifting action on low biorhythm
patterns.



Frankincense



This is the 'fear' essential oil and useful when you can feel a heart
beat rise between your legs when you most need your horse to compete.
It can alleviate fear of the future and worth you inhaling if you are
prone to worrying excessively before each test. Your thoughts do affect
your horse so clear those in yourself and your horse is less likely to
show this behavior. Frankincense also clears feelings of indecision.



Geranium



This essential oil balances hormones and its moods. I like using this
on young, moody, and sometimes-temperamental fillies, though it's very
useful with mares at a dressage competition if they are on the brink of
going into season and being 'mare-ish'. Geranium is also useful when
you need to negotiate a dispute and a very useful oil for judges or
scorers to have wafting around the clubhouse if a competitor disputes
their marks.



Lavender



Lavender will take the heat out of emotionally steamy situations. When
stress is causing disruptions to preparations during a competition,
have lavender on a tissue or as a perfume, it will help minimise heated
altercations between competitors and grooms. It will calm anxiety that
expresses itself with sharp angry words. It will also calm a sensitive
horse.



Lemongrass



This oil is a favourite to burn at home when learning dressage tests,
or to sniff while walking the course the day before a cross-country
event. It helps you retain your learning. Lemongrass is a good
essential oil to have on hand if you or your horse are not a morning
person and have drawn a test at the beginning of the day.



Vertiver



Vertiver is not usually a favorite amongst riders, though horses
gravitate to it when they need a good solid grounding essential oil. It
addresses debility as well as physical and mental exhaustion. If you
are a competitor caught in the trap of using sedatives, vertiver will
help you ease your horse off them and then you will find your riding
improves naturally.



Using Essential Oils



How I have described the use of essential oils here for their aroma is
safe for you and your horse. As your horse's skin is much more
sensitive than your own, NEVER apply essential oils to his skin
undiluted.



If your horse does have a reaction to essential oils or you
accidentally get some in his eye, never use water to wash them off.
Water will increase the irritability of essential oils to the skin, use
your vegetable base oil or milk. The albumen content of milk will help
dilute the essential oils and sooth the skin.



If you are competing at a level where you are tested for prohibitive
substances some horse associations list essential oils such as
eucalyptus and peppermint as performance enhancing and do restrict
their use. When you apply a physical application to the skin of your
horse, some oils are active enough to show in urine tests within four
hours.



Your horse will be the best guide as to the essential oils that can
help him most. If he shows no interest, then he is unlikely to need
calming or to focus. If he shows a great deal of interest, allow him to
inhale the aroma until he has had enough. Sometimes this will be for as
little as four seconds, other times he will try to lick your hands to
get more. Be mindful these substances are up to seventy times more
intense than if you were using the originating plant, so don't allow
your horse to lick toxic essential oils.



The reason you are using essential oils and their aroma is to make life
easier when competing and training, so relax and enjoy them. The more
fun you have with them, the more 'good' memory associations you have to
stimulate each time you and your horse play with the scents.

You know, this is very interesting, Cindy! I have a friend that swears by Lavender. A little dab behind their ear she says works every time. Since I've got two that I've got to bring out that aren't experienced, I might just try some of that... just so long as I don't drink regular caffeinated coffee the morning of the show... good Lord! I still can't believe I did that! HA!