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Foal in the grass
A young foal in the grass
When using aromatherapy with foals, I like the idea of allowing the foal to bond with its mother before introducing essential oils. In my practice, I have used essential oils comfortably on foals as young as one week old, both for the scent reaction in their behavioral centers and as a physical application to muscle issues from the trauma of birth.
My main rule of thumb, if you are applying essential oils to a young horse, is: stick strictly to your 2.5% dilution, so as to not irritate their sensitive skin. Also, keep in mind they are smaller, so what enters the body will circulate more quickly; you don’t want to give their liver or kidneys any surprises to filter.
If you are not sure if you should apply essential oils to your foal, ask him or her. The foal will likely be more curious about the scent than an older horse would be, usually either breathing more intently or turning away quickly. As foals have a shorter attention span than their elders, make your selection simple, offering no more than 6 essential oils in a session.
-- Catherine Bird, www.happyhorses.com.au