October 2004

Liniments Are Barn Necessities

So much so that you may need more than one type on hand to combat typical injuries.

Most liniments can be used with wraps, but watch for irritation.

Liniments have been used in barns for as long as horses have been worked hard. In fact, some liniment formulas are over 100 years old, having undergone few if any changes. The fact is, liniments work. They’re a vital part of caring for horses.

Most liniments work on the counterirritant principle. The major active ingredients have a somewhat irritating effect on the tissues, which increases blood supply locally. The most familiar of these are eucalyptus, menthol and camphor, which produce the familiar cold-then-warming sensation on our own skin. …