08/14/2025
Iโm always fascinated by the process of watching horses choose their own essential oils. Itโs a quiet, intuitive ritual that tells you so much about what they need in the moment. I use doTERRA oils exclusively because I trust their purity and the care taken in their sourcing.
In the wild, horses naturally seek out different plants throughout the seasons. These plantsโoften potent and aromaticโare thought to address both physiological and psychological needs. By offering essential oils, we give domesticated horses a way to tap into that same instinct.
I typically carry six different oils with me to each session. At the start, I let the horse explore the options. Sometimes theyโll choose more than one; other times, theyโre not interested at all. Certain oils even seem to be seasonal favoritesโCypress and Lavender often make the shortlist during particular times of the year.
Horses experience smell in a very different way than we do. They must smell through each nostril, and unlike humans, their olfactory bulbs donโt cross over. This means they process scents uniquely, and the subtle differences matter to them.
When offering oils, I look for three possible responses:
1. No โ The horse turns away after sniffing, clearly declining.
2. Neutral โ The horse accepts the scent but shows no strong reaction. Itโs fine to use, but not essential for them at that moment.
3. Yes โ The horse tries to take the bottle right from your hand. Hold on tightโthis is their way of saying, โI need this!โ
In todayโs session, Cloud demonstrated all three responses perfectly. The last oil he tried earned an emphatic โyes!โโWild Orange, one of his absolute favorites.
Itโs moments like this that remind me how deeply intuitive and self-aware horses are. All we have to do is offer the choice and pay attention to their answer.
Enjoy!