DIY Horse Care Products: Because Your Horse Deserves That Extra Homemade Touch
We all know it, horse care can cost as much as a small country’s GDP.
But fear not, noble equestrian, because today we’re diving into the wonderful, often chaotic world of DIY horse care products. Why? Because saving money is great, and being able to say, “Oh, yeah, I made that hoof balm myself” at the barn earns you serious street cred.
1. DIY Hoof Conditioner
Let’s start from the ground up—literally. Your horse’s hooves go through a lot. They’re the equivalent of running barefoot through a gravel parking lot every day, and that’s just their warm-up.
What You’ll Need:
- ½ cup coconut oil (the magical fix-it-all of DIY culture)
- ¼ cup olive oil (if it’s good enough for salads, it’s good enough for hooves)
- 2 tbsp beeswax (because we want a nice, solid balm, not hoof soup)
- 5 drops tea tree oil (for its antifungal “I fight gross things” properties)
Directions:
Melt everything together in a double boiler (or a regular pot if you enjoy living dangerously). Once it cools, rub it on your horse’s hooves like you’re giving them a high-end spa treatment. Watch as your equine buddy gives you a look that says, “Thanks, but where’s my treat?”
2. Homemade Fly Spray
Flies are the original villains of the barn world. They show up uninvited, they harass your horse like aggressive door-to-door salesmen, and they have the audacity to be everywhere. Store-bought sprays work, sure, but they can be pricey and full of mystery chemicals that sound like rejected Transformer names. So, let’s make our own.
What You’ll Need:
- 2 cups apple cider vinegar (flies hate it, and horses tolerate it, so win-win)
- 1 cup water (because balance is key)
- 1 tbsp dish soap (helps it stick—bonus: bubbles!)
- 10 drops citronella oil (the scent of anti-fly warfare)
- 10 drops eucalyptus oil (because your horse deserves to smell expensive)
Directions:
Mix it all together in a spray bottle, give it a shake like a high-energy bartender, and spritz your horse liberally. Prepare to be judged by your horse for spritzing them with what they believe is witchcraft.
3. DIY horse care products – Mane & Tail Detangler
Your horse’s mane and tail are their pride and joy—unless they’ve turned into a matted mess of hay, burrs, and mystery debris that looks like it could house small woodland creatures. Enter: homemade detangler.
What You’ll Need:
- 1 cup water (again, balance is key)
- 2 tbsp coconut oil (because DIY law says we must use it in everything)
- 1 tbsp aloe vera gel (soothing, hydrating, and your horse will appreciate the spa treatment)
- 10 drops lavender oil (smells nice, plus it makes you feel fancy)
Directions:
Mix it, put it in a spray bottle, and unleash your inner stylist. Work through the knots, and when your horse swishes their tail dramatically, take it as a thank-you. Or an insult. It’s hard to tell with horses.
4. Natural Wound Spray
Horses are walking accident-prone disasters. If there’s a fence, they’ll find a way to scrape against it. If there’s a rock, they’ll trip over it. If there’s absolutely nothing around? They’ll still manage to injure themselves. So, having a natural wound spray on hand is essential.
What You’ll Need:
- ½ cup witch hazel (soothes and cleans—basically a magic potion)
- ½ cup aloe vera juice (because aloe fixes everything)
- 5 drops tea tree oil (the MVP of fighting gross things)
- 5 drops lavender oil (for bonus soothing properties)
Directions:
Mix, spray, and watch your horse act like you’ve betrayed them despite literally trying to help. Classic.
5. DIY horse care products – Coat Shine Spray
Want your horse to look like they just stepped out of an equine fashion magazine? (Yes, those exist.) This homemade coat shine spray will make them glow like a show pony—even if they’re just planning to roll in the mud immediately afterward.
What You’ll Need:
- 1 cup water (hydration is key, even for fur)
- 2 tbsp coconut oil (yes, again, just accept it)
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar (for that “I’m shiny and healthy” effect)
- 10 drops rosemary oil (because your horse deserves luxury)
Directions:
Shake it up, spray it on, and admire your handiwork before your horse inevitably decides to rub up against the nearest dusty wall.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, folks—DIY horse care that won’t break the bank and might even make you feel like a horse-care wizard. Will your horse appreciate your efforts? Probably not. But will they look good, smell good, and stay healthy? Absolutely.
Now, go forth, mix potions like a barnyard alchemist, and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing you made your own horse products. And when your horse rolls in the mud five minutes later, just remember: it’s all part of the experience.
Or just read this: Garlic for horses.
Best
Al
PS Please do leave a comment below – would love to hear your thoughts.