This past winter, Tonka and I had a terrible time with static electricity, which culminated in a disaster in the cross-ties. He got shocked, pulled back, panicked, pulled back harder, and flung out of the broken cross-ties like out of a sling shot. It took me a couple of weeks to get him to simply stand without fear in the aisle by the cross-ties. I’ve been working on getting him comfortable being restrained in an aisle (essential when you’re at a boarding barn) but that’s another story.
This story is about how I had to find a way to touch Tonka when the air is crackly with static. I tried commercial sprays on his blankets. That helped, but didn’t solve the handling and grooming issues. I’d purchased an anti-static spray at Equine Affaire, and it worked (somewhat), but wasn’t available locally. I decided to make my own. The ingredients that I settle on were: witch hazel, aloe vera gel, and glycerin. Simple. It was a matter of getting the proportions right.
By the time that I’d perfected my recipe, static season was over, so I thought I’d wait to share this with you when the cold weather rolls around again. However, I find that I’m using it daily for reasons other than static shocks.
Tonka says that Maine is a very itchy place. The bugs are different. He hasn’t had a severe reaction, but Tonka has never been so enthused about me scratching his mane. He’s never been a horse that likes a vigorous currying, but lately, he’s been leaning into the grooming.
The sensitive area behind his ears went bare and the skin went flaky.
His neck also had more dandruff on it that usual. My anti-static spray became a soothing spray.
I spritz it on the brush as I groom.
It makes Tonka feel good. I can practically hear Tonka say, ahhhh.
It’s been chilly and wet here. Not good weather to bathe a horse. After I ride, if Tonka is a tad damp where the saddle was, I spray this concoction directly on him. It cleans off the sweat and salt, which keeps Tonka’s skin and coat healthy. The witch hazel dries quickly, so he’s not standing around wet.
I’m also using it on stains. No need for soap!
From this:
To this:
Shiny and comfortable!
Here’s my soothing anti-static grooming spray for horses.
2 cups witch hazel
1 tablespoon aloe vera gel
1 tablespoon glycerin
Try it and tell me what you think!
Brilliant. I’m making this TODAY 🙂
Let me know what you think!
Thank-you for sharing this! I’ve never had a problem with static electricity (we’re usually mild and damp in the winter), but Lance IS a very itchy horse and rubs out part of his mane every spring and summer. I’ll see if this helps.
It can’t hurt. He’ll be shinier. 🙂 But if it helps his itchiness, let me know!
This sounds like it would be a great spray for any climate.I plan to make some before I go out to the barn. The links don’t work, just wanted you to know about that.
IT Guy fixed the links. Thanks!
This looks like a great recipe – I plan to try it. My itchy horse D’artagnan may well benefit from this 🙂
In fact I was thinking of you this morning when D’artagnan escaped from the barn – this is his difficult time of the year with his allergies and the insects really set his brain to a crazy state. I had let him into the aisle to put ointment on his facial abrasions (from rubbing) and put his fly gear on. I left for a minute to put a fence up and heard a crash. He broke through the wood barrier at the front of the barn, somehow the wood itself was not broken, the hinges were intact and the stops were still in place!! He must have pushed it out somehow?! He was galloping about in a frenzy and my other giant horses Lyle and Tank were bucking and galloping in the paddock. I was horrified because my boyfriend has been digging holes for new wood fence posts and D was running behind the paddock where the holes are. After 3-4 mintues he ran down to the grassy field and was a little bit calmer. Still trotting but stopping for a second to take a bite of grass. I called “D!” and he looked at me. I said touch and put my hand out. He locked right on to my hand and came directly up the hill to touch me. I had a carrot and he followed me right back into the paddock!!!!!!!!
It was quite a moment! And we have you to thank! He still gets in a crazy state at times but we have tools to refocus him and my bond with him remains good!!
Your comment made my day. You put a lot of effort to fill up his trust account with you, and it paid off!
I am going to make the spray. Where did you get the aloe gel and the glycerin?
I got it off of Amazon. Take a look at the recipe on the blog. The highlighted words are direct links.