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Horse Health


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Vicks Under The Nose?

Feb 22 2012 10:01 PM | Nicole&Reannon in Articles

Ok, Stallion people... does rubbing Vicks under the nose of stallions really help them stay more settled at things like horse shows/group trail rides etc?
I know obviously handling and training play the biggest roll in making a stallion behave and stay focused, but I've heard some people say that it makes a HUGE difference in how well a stallion keeps focused and on task when they use the Vicks. Any truth to this??

Nicole


38 Comments

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saarabs
Feb 22 2012 10:04 PM
I used it in the past on my old stud. He didn't care much for it. But its hard to tell since he was always so docile, especially at the shows....including right in front of the judge. He liked to yawn in halter class.....
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dragon
Feb 23 2012 01:40 AM
Have used it on studs for years and it works. Scent is very much a factor in stallion behavior. Put it just inside the nose not under it. According to my steward friend it is perfectly legal for showing.
    • ladycascabel likes this
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skymare
Feb 23 2012 01:46 AM
that has to be silly old wive's tale. think about it. how does it make sense?
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dragon
Feb 23 2012 02:14 AM
Not an old wives tale - have done it for years and it works. How much can you smell with Vicks in your nose?
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LabsChewShoes
Feb 23 2012 03:33 AM
Always have done this when hauling...
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WanderingStar
Feb 23 2012 04:24 AM
I would think that it could make sense - Vicks obviously has a strong smell. Stallions rely on their sense of smell to sniff out a mare in heat. If they can't smell a mare, you probably have their attention more.
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Arabians Destiny
Feb 23 2012 04:33 AM
Did it last year when hauling a yearling stud colt with a 3 year old filly very much in heat. He was a wild man without Vicks! With Vicks everything went smoothly. It DOES work and many others use it as well. Certainly not an "ole wives tale".
    • Lacinda likes this
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OHR
Feb 23 2012 04:44 AM
Racetrack people have known and used this for years. Yes, it works.
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ArabHrsLvr
Feb 23 2012 07:28 AM
Yes it works. I have used it on numerous stallions.

I have also used it on our other horses during hunting trips for the ones who aren't used to the scent of dead animals.
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Hoofhaven
Feb 23 2012 07:52 AM
I have used it also :) It doesnt fix them totally, they will still be stallions lol BUT it just makes it so they dont smell every little thing because the vicks masks it. There are great strong semlling essential oils (such as peace and calming) that can do the same thing AND have a calming effect on them :)
    • Moe likes this
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WanderingStar
Feb 23 2012 08:22 AM
Now this has me thinking I might use it on trail rides - Boogieman hates cows. The same pasture along our ride has always had cows in it, and he's always spooked at them. This weekend the pasture was empty but he still spooked - HARD. My thought was that he could still smell them. Now I got to try this!
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lkirby
Feb 23 2012 12:42 PM
I have used Peppermint and Lavender Essential Oil with great effect on horses on whom Vick's doesn't really work well on. Both peppermint and lavender also calm the horses down.

Lorna G. Kirby, PE
    • Hoofhaven likes this
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twarab
Feb 23 2012 12:47 PM
We always used it when hauling stallions with other horses. It works.
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ladycascabel
Feb 23 2012 01:47 PM
These essential oils work pretty good on riders, too! :)

I have used Peppermint and Lavender Essential Oil with great effect on horses on whom Vick's doesn't really work well on. Both peppermint and lavender also calm the horses down.

Lorna G. Kirby, PE

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Nicole&Reannon
Feb 23 2012 03:19 PM
good idea about the essential oils... might smell a bit nicer than vicks LOL.
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Hoofhaven
Feb 23 2012 04:17 PM

good idea about the essential oils... might smell a bit nicer than vicks LOL.


Just be careful which one you use, some need to be diluted with olive oil as they can burn sensitive skin!
    • Nicole&Reannon likes this
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Nicole&Reannon
Feb 23 2012 04:46 PM
yup for sure... some of them are very strong!
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karens
Feb 23 2012 05:39 PM

I have used Peppermint and Lavender Essential Oil with great effect on horses on whom Vick's doesn't really work well on. Both peppermint and lavender also calm the horses down.

Lorna G. Kirby, PE


Please tell exactly how you use the oils. I know that Peppermint is so strong, I don't think you could put in in the nose, at least not undiluted. Lavender is less intense. I have also used the Peace and Calming blend with good success on a horse that was overly excited, just as aromatherapy, having the oils on my hands, and putting them near the nose. You could make a salve of some kind, with olive oil and the chosen essential oils, and beeswax, then put that in the nostrils.
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secondchanceranch
Feb 23 2012 08:38 PM
I have used Peppermint and Eucalyptus oils on horses with colds and/or breathing issues. I would assume these would work well for the stallion issues also. I also swear by Oil of Oregano for many things healing. It has a strong smell so it might work well to. You can mix the oils into Vaseline and make a salve, something like Bag Balm works to, or you can use Olive Oil, Mineral Oil, Vegetable Oil ... I wouldn't put the oils directly on their sensitive skin. Vicks does work and it's basically just Vaseline with Eucalyptus in it .
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Hoofhaven
Feb 23 2012 11:29 PM
The easiest way to make a salve is to scoop vasaline (petroleum jelly) into a small old pot, and melt it on low heat. Add your oil, stir and pour back into the container to solidify. I do this with the tea tree oil salve I make for wounds :)
    • Nicole&Reannon likes this
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arabsRgreat
Feb 24 2012 05:51 AM
I have a horse that spooks terribly at certain places. Most of the time he is perfectly fine at other places. Dont know if its scent or sound tho. Tried earplugs and they didn't make a lick of difference. Do you guys think this would help him? Hard to know if its something he "sees" hears or smells.
Also I'd like to try it: what is the recipe (how much vaseline to oil) or how many oil drops to put in the nose. Also at the end of the nostrils?
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Hoofhaven
Feb 24 2012 06:30 AM
I find horses spook more when the CANT hear well.....for example a windy day. The only time I would use earplugs is during a very loud event with a big crowd, or during mounted shooting.

The recipe depends on what you are mixing it with, with the tea tree oil I use about 20 -30 drops in a large sized tub of vasaline. With something for scent, it would just be enough to have a good scent to it...

You might try then peace and calming oil, perhaps that will put him at ease? Or seme rescue remedy :)
    • karens likes this
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WanderingStar
Feb 24 2012 06:46 AM
Do you ever find that a horse that's particularly sensitive (not skin sensitive, but sensory sensitive) ever has a negative reaction to this?

Interestingly enough, the guys at work were just talking about good hunting horses, and that if they spook at blood (scent) you can rub the blood on their nose and just like anything else you smell constantly, after a few minutes they don't notice it anymore and calm down.
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arabsRgreat
Feb 24 2012 08:35 AM

I find horses spook more when the CANT hear well.....for example a windy day. The only time I would use earplugs is during a very loud event with a big crowd, or during mounted shooting.

The recipe depends on what you are mixing it with, with the tea tree oil I use about 20 -30 drops in a large sized tub of vasaline. With something for scent, it would just be enough to have a good scent to it...

You might try then peace and calming oil, perhaps that will put him at ease? Or seme rescue remedy :)

Thanks! The places he tends to spook are where other horses spook. It may even be something "electric" that we can't feel between them. (their way of communicating to each other) I don't know: other times its alone where deer tend to pop up: so don't know if he can hear or smell them or just on edge as its happened before. I have done many training techniques to get thru this and none work. Have had 2 pros help and they were not able to make a difference either. He is fine in our arena w/tarps, etc.
I always wish John Lyons or Monty Roberts were there with me. LOL!
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SportArab
Feb 24 2012 08:47 AM

Ok, Stallion people... does rubbing Vicks under the nose of stallions really help them stay more settled at things like horse shows/group trail rides etc?
I know obviously handling and training play the biggest roll in making a stallion behave and stay focused, but I've heard some people say that it makes a HUGE difference in how well a stallion keeps focused and on task when they use the Vicks. Any truth to this??

Nicole


I've used it before when shipping a stallion with mares. It makes a big difference in that situation, esp. if any of the mares are in heat.

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