Sugar River Equine, LLC

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Bodywork, Fly Spray & Neurotoxins and the Horse: What We Should Know

Most horse fly sprays work because the chemicals are neurotoxic to insects—they interfere with the insect nervous system. The interesting part is that insects, horses, and people use many of the same basic nervous-system mechanisms. What differs enormously is the dose, route of exposure, metabolism, and sensitivity.

Many common equine fly sprays contain pyrethrins or synthetic pyrethroids such as permethrin, cypermethrin, or related compounds.

Pyrethrins are insecticidal chemicals derived from chrysanthemum flowers. Pyrethroids are synthetic compounds designed to behave similarly but often remain active longer.

They work primarily by interfering with voltage-gated sodium channels in nerve-cell membranes. Normally these channels open and close very rapidly, allowing a nerve impulse to travel and then stop. Pyrethroids keep the channels open longer than they should.

In an insect, that can produce:

nerve hyperexcitability → tremors and spasms → loss of coordinated movement → paralysis → death.

So describing many fly sprays as neurotoxic insecticides is accurate.

Why doesn’t the same spray normally poison the horse?

The target is not completely unique to insects. Horses and humans also have voltage-gated sodium channels.

The safety margin comes from several differences. Mammals are generally less sensitive to these compounds, have a much larger body mass relative to the amount encountered, and can metabolize and eliminate many of them more efficiently than insects.

That means “toxic to insects” does not mean “harmless to mammals.” It means the dose required to seriously affect a mammal is generally much higher.

A horse can still react to a fly product. Depending on the active ingredient, formulation, concentration, and exposure, problems may include skin irritation, itching or sensitivity, eye or respiratory irritation, and, with significant exposure, neurological signs such as tremors, muscle fasciculations, weakness, incoordination, or seizures.

There is another wrinkle: the active insecticide is not the entire bottle. Fly sprays may also contain solvents, fragrances, preservatives, synergists such as piperonyl butoxide, and other ingredients. A reaction may therefore be caused by the formulation rather than the insecticide itself.

For equine massage therapists and other bodyworkers, there is another consideration: repeated occupational exposure.

A horse owner may spray one or two horses and move on. A bodyworker may spend 45–90 minutes with their hands and forearms moving continuously across a treated coat, then repeat that process on several horses in a day throughout fly season.

That is a very different exposure pattern.

Dermal exposure is especially relevant because pyrethroids can cause temporary tingling, burning, itching, or numbness of the skin. Bodyworkers may also transfer residue from the horse to their face, eyes, or mouth without realizing it, and inhalation becomes another concern if horses are being sprayed in enclosed areas.

This is why it is reasonable to ask that fly spray and other topical products not be applied immediately before a massage whenever possible, particularly over the areas being worked.

And “natural” does not automatically mean harmless.

Some natural fly sprays contain pyrethrins—the same class of insecticidal compounds derived from chrysanthemum flowers. They are natural in origin, but they still work by affecting the insect nervous system.

Other products rely on essential oils such as citronella, eucalyptus, cedarwood, peppermint, clove, geranium, or lemongrass. These do not all act in the same way, and their effectiveness varies, but they are still biologically active substances. Depending on the oil, concentration, and individual sensitivity, they can cause skin irritation, sensitization, eye irritation, or respiratory irritation.

So the more useful distinction is not:

chemical = harmful
natural = harmless

It is:

What is the active ingredient?
How concentrated is it?
How much exposure is occurring?
Through the skin, lungs, or eyes?
And how often?

That matters especially in massage, because bodyworkers are deliberately creating prolonged contact with the horse’s coat and skin. Hands move repeatedly over large areas, friction and warmth increase during the session, and whatever residue is on the coat is also being repeatedly contacted.

None of this means fly spray should be treated as inherently dangerous. The important distinction is between hazard and risk.

A substance may have the ability to affect a nervous system—that is its hazard. The actual risk depends on the amount of exposure, the route of exposure, how frequently it occurs, and how the body handles it.

For equine bodyworkers, that makes simple precautions worthwhile: know what has been applied to the horse, avoid working immediately after heavy application when possible, wash hands and forearms between horses, and pay attention to products that repeatedly cause skin tingling, irritation, headache, or respiratory symptoms.

Fly spray is designed to affect biology. The dose matters—but for people who spend hours every day touching treated horses, so does repeated exposure.

Thoughts?

https://koperequine.com/?s=Bugs

The ladies are laying like crazy! 🐓 🥚 💛
Free ranged eating bugs, grass and anything else they can find, also fed organic SOY FREE grain.

Let me know and I will bring some to our appointment!

📣 Multiple Announcements 📣
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✨ Now Offering Equine Craniosacral Therapy as a stand-alone service ✨

I recently completed my craniosacral module through the Vluggen Institute and am now offering Equine Craniosacral Therapy (CST) as a separate service.
As I continue refining my assessment skills and flow within this modality, introductory pricing will be available for a limited time.

🐴 What is Craniosacral therapy?? 🐴

Craniosacral therapy is a gentle, hands-on modality that works directly with the central nervous system. It focuses on the relationship between the cranium, spine, sacrum, fascia, and the cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord.

Every horse has a measurable craniosacral rhythm created by the production and reabsorption of cerebrospinal fluid. Restrictions in fascia or membranes — whether from injury, repetitive strain, training pressure, ill-fitting tack, stress, trauma ,etc — can influence this rhythm and contribute to nervous system dysregulation.
When the nervous system remains in a protective state, the body cannot fully release tension (even if they have received previous bodywork!).

CST uses extremely light touch to assess and support the release of restrictions affecting the craniosacral system. Rather than forcing change, the technique facilitates the horse’s own self-regulating and self-correcting mechanisms.

Craniosacral therapy is quiet work. It requires patience and observation, but the shifts can be profound when the nervous system is given space to recalibrate.

This is extremely light-touch work that addresses:
• Nervous system regulation
• Cranial and sacral mobility
• Membrane, dural, and suture restrictions
• Deep protective holding patterns

Common responses during sessions:
• Yawning, licking, chewing
• Head lowering
• Softening through the eye and jaw
• Deep sighing
• Fascial unwinding
• Full-body relaxation

⸻

💲Pricing

Since opening in 2019, I’ve continued to expand my education, skill set and experience.
I incorporate advanced deep tissue, myofascial work, basic acupressure and Masterson method techniques, BEMER sessions, stretching, and I am starting to include osteopathic-based principles into every session as I continue my final full year of equine osteopathy at the Vluggen Institute of Equine Osteopathy and Education.

Due to my increasing education and the level of therapeutic work provided, my session pricing will be updated effective immediately.

Standard bodywork session rate to be increased $10: new price $110 per horse

Equine Craniosacral Therapy (60–75 minutes):
✨ Introductory Rate: $85
(Regular rate will be $110)

3-Session Craniosacral Package:
✨ Introductory Rate: $240 total ($80 per session)
(Regular rate will be $300)
Recommended for horses needing regulation support or chronic pattern work. Package sessions should be used within 6–8 weeks for best results.

❤️ I am deeply grateful to my long-term clients and will be reaching out directly regarding loyalty pricing. ❤️

⸻

🚗 Travel

Because my business is my sole income, and to account for gas, vehicle wear, and time away from my son, I will be implementing travel fees for everyone effective immediately.

Within 15 miles – No travel fee
• 16–35 miles – $15 travel fee
• 36–45 miles – $25 travel fee
• 46+ miles – Custom quote
Travel fees may be split between multiple horses at the same barn.

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If you’d like to discuss whether craniosacral therapy or massage therapy would be appropriate for your horse, feel free to message me.

Thank you for trusting me with your horses’ care, I look forward to expanding the depth of support I can offer for your horses ❤️— I truly appreciate each and every one of you.

How to get your bodyworker to come out in the New Hampshire winters:
1) have a clean and dry horse
2) own a solarium
🤣grateful 🙏🏻

🌿 Why I’d Choose Herbs Over Another “Gastric Support” Pellet

I came across a new gastric support product today.
Looked at the label… and straight away I saw:

• Magnesium oxide (cheap, poorly absorbed)
• Buffers that only work for minutes
• Binders and fillers
• Artificial flavouring
• Pellet carriers with no nutritional value

👉Nothing in it actually heals the stomach.
It just buffers acid temporarily and masks symptoms.

Horses don’t need more processed pellets,
they need to be fed like horses.

Forage first. Fibre first.
The stomach should never be empty, or left empty for long.

And when a horse truly needs gastric support, you can do so much more with real herbs:

🌿 Marshmallow leaf/root – coats & soothes
🌿 Plantain leaf – heals the gut lining
🌿 Meadowsweet – natural anti-acid
🌿 Chamomile – settles nerves + digestion
🌿 Linseed (soaked) – forms a protective gel for the gut
🌿 Liquorice root (cycled) – supports mucosa & adrenals
🌿 Fennel / Mint – ease gas & tension
🌿 Psyllium husk – gentle hindgut support

Correct feeding + herbs = long-term gastric health.
A bucket of fillers will never replace a forage-based diet and real plant medicine.

Herbs work with the horse’s body.
Pellets just try to imitate what nature already does.

It’s officially stick season! ❤️🍂🪾

‼️ Heads up friends! My November calender is fully booked and December is almost full too! 😲
I am so grateful!! 🙏🏻
Please don’t hesitate to make your appointments! Reach out so I can get you on my schedule asap

It’s was a beautiful day to work on some beautiful ponies! 💕

I have almost 400 bulbs of garlic!
Organically grown by yours truly
7 different varieties, mostly hardneck
$14/lb-good for eating or seed!

If anyone is interested in some please let me know and I will bring it to our appointment! 😊