Guest guest Posted June 11, 2004 Report Share Posted June 11, 2004 Hi all Out of lurkdom to say *hi everyone* and just add a word of warning to the horsefly mix. >……made up a mosquito repellent concoction using Citronella, Catnip, Lemon Eucalyptus and a little Cedarwood, Atlas .. and said it worked.< Citronella can cause problems for some horses, itching skin with wealds and muzzle (nose) pealing/cracking, and in some cases respiratory difficulties have been noted. My own horse has an asthma like attack if he come in contact with it – bad enough to have to get the vet out to give steroids. In fact this is becoming so common a problem that many " natural " fly sprays in the UK now proclaim " Contains NO Citronella " or " Citronella Free " on the label. Neem oil works, with the addition of juice of garlic simmered up with rosemary and lavender stems, but need re-applying regularly – it also keeps most unwanted people away, especially the kind that feed all sorts of " titbits " over the fence - not realising that beef flavoured crisps and hard gums are not a natural choice for most horses!! Nice to be here Liz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 12, 2004 Report Share Posted June 12, 2004 Hi Pam, > ok...got my newest shipment in - the catnip oil is DEF not on my 'sweet > aroma' list! LOL ... Not supposed to be sniffed afore sleep .. its fer skeeters. ;-) > but the geranium and the rose hydrosol .....oh my! I love it!!! Good show. > I've looked thru the messages on the - and can't seem to find > any answers - have tried a search...no luck....so maybe I missed someone's > help - and apologize if someone wrote and I missed it - but I really need > some help in making up a concoction to help my horses beat the mosquitos > and horseflies!! I'm out there every night trying to kill the horseflies > off them - and they are out there bucking and rolling ... right now I'm > putting about 10 drops of catnip oil in a pint of 1/2 water 1/2 vinegar - > anything else I can add to this?? thanks! Like Chris said .. the is sorta screwed up now .. and she is gonna make a protest .. not that it will do any good. If someone put Catnip and Vinegar on my butt I spect mebbe I would do the buck and roll too. ;-) I wrote this a couple of times .. long ago and then again with some modifications in June 2003. Judy Ehrlich .. raise horses in Alaska .. and is the List Mom of the Alaska Soapers List .. wrote once that she made up a mosquito repellent concoction using Citronella, Catnip, Lemon Eucalyptus and a little Cedarwood, Atlas .. and said it worked. Carrier? I know not. And I think I would use Lemon Tea Tree instead of Lemon Eucalyptus. > Blessings, > Pam > > E Web Express - Web Design & Hosting > http://www.ewebexpress.com > TLC Naturally - Essential Oils & Home Made Goodies > http://www.tlcnaturally.com Y'all keep smiling. :-) Butch http://www.AV-AT.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 12, 2004 Report Share Posted June 12, 2004 Just like to confirm what Liz Tams said. Using citronella oil on horses is full of problems. The main one is that citronella oil is well documented as causing major skin irritation when it is used in hot humid environments. If a horse is running around a field that is exactly the conditions required to cause problems. The simple answer to this one is to try and avoid putting any blend on the skin. Perhaps smear some on its hooves or better on the top level of the harness where it will not touch the skin. It is the smell that deters the bugs and so skin application is not vital. A small amount of citronella in a blend may be ok, but many people tend to use far more than is safe. Martin Watt , " Liz Tams " <liz@h...> wrote: > Hi all > Out of lurkdom to say *hi everyone* and just add a word of warning to > the horsefly mix. > > >……made up a mosquito repellent concoction using Citronella, Catnip, > Lemon Eucalyptus and a little Cedarwood, Atlas .. and said it worked.< > > Citronella can cause problems for some horses, itching skin with > wealds and muzzle (nose) pealing/cracking, and in some cases > respiratory difficulties have been noted. My own horse has an asthma > like attack if he come in contact with it – bad enough to have to get > the vet out to give steroids. > In fact this is becoming so common a problem that many " natural " fly > sprays in the UK now proclaim " Contains NO Citronella " or " Citronella > Free " on the label. > Neem oil works, with the addition of juice of garlic simmered up with > rosemary and lavender stems, but need re-applying regularly – it also > keeps most unwanted people away, especially the kind that feed all > sorts of " titbits " over the fence - not realising that beef flavoured > crisps and hard gums are not a natural choice for most horses!! > Nice to be here > Liz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 12, 2004 Report Share Posted June 12, 2004 s. The main one is that citronella oil is > well documented as causing major skin irritation when it is used in > hot humid environments. If a horse is running around a field that is > exactly the conditions required to cause problems Glad to see this Martin, thank you, you too Liz, Coincidentally, last month,friends of mine called asking my advice on their neighbor's horse. The horse is a competition jumper and had a body wide rash. The owner was told to spray citronella (mixed in water)on the horse to keep pests away during training and competition. I recommended a good rub off with vegetable oil (big horse, did not have enough lanolin) then a bath with a mild soap. The vegetable oil 'picked up' the cironella and the bath removed some of the oil. Now he is just 'airing out'. She's glad she didn't spray 'everywhere' ;)and he is now back to normal. I am passing on this thread to her. Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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