Our Story
And it's a long one so get yourself a cuppa and get comfy.
Firstly, the founders of Fire Horse Botanicals are owners of real horses and livestock, including goats, chickens and also dogs. They have real, hands on experience of livestock and equine ownership and as quite a few of their animals were rescued they often arrived with both physical and psychological baggage.
In the meantime, Charlotte, Fire Horse product creator spent many years researching and studying various ways to help and heal the animals under her care. Already armed with a Batchelors in Botany and a lifelong fascination with the medicinal and therapeutic properties of plants, she then went on to qualify as a canine behaviourist, canine holistic therapist, canine nutritionist, human aromatherapist, animal aromatherapist and gained a Masters in conservation. Throughout the many years spent on studying and using home made remedies on her own animals there was a clear theme that all of the qualifications and experiences had in common, the incredible healing power of plants.
Fast forward to the present when after almost 30 years of horse and livestock ownership, animal rescue and conservation work Charlotte decided to bottle what she had learnt by creating a range of products that are based on the ancient knowledge of the healing properties of plants and fungi. Fire Horse Botanicals was born. The resulting botanical remedies are highly effective and treat the animal holistically (both mind and body) for amazing results without artificial ingredients.
The brief was simple, to be brilliant in every way with the best ingredients sourced from across the globe, from the tropics to the temperates whilst protecting the planet and its people by buying from sustainable suppliers. Each and every ingredient is chosen for its specific properties in relation a specific condition, with some ingredients organically grown at our Dorset farm such as the calendula in the top photo.
Read the list below to see for yourself how we are Unashamedly Unique and why we are so proud of it!
· NO added water. There are few things more annoying than spending a fortune on “Aqua” and if it’s the first ingredient it’s also the largest.
· NO ZINC of any description. Zinc sulphate and zinc oxide are commonly added ingredients that are highly toxic to ecosystems, especially aquatic ones and animals in high dosages. Young stock such as foals are especially sensitive.
· WE USE UPCYCLED ingredients as much as possible. Giving waste products a whole new purpose.
· NO ADDED ARTIFICIAL CHEMICALS. Our products are entirely free from added artificial preservatives, perfumes and other additives such as formaldehyde, alcohol or petrochemicals.
· NO UNNECESSARY PACKAGING. Paying more for nice packaging (that your horse really couldn’t care less about) is a complete waste of your money and the planet’s resources. We encourage you to wash and use your own old spray bottles to use with our concentrates.
· 100% either REUSABLE OR COMPOSTABLE packaging. Recycling is the last resort. Even our bottle and tin supplier is ethical and striving to be carbon neutral.
· NO SINGLE USE PLASTICS. Whilst the spray and pump nozzles are plastic we encourage you to reuse them time and time again. They fit on to all of our 500ml and 250ml bottles and that is why there is a small additional charge for them.
· CONCENTRATES AVAILABLE where possible so that you can dilute it using your preferred oil. There is a minimum dilution to ensure safety but after that you can add as much extra oil as you want. See individual products for more info.
· MULTIFUNCTIONAL PRODUCTS some of our products are multifunctional (detangler or hot oil for example) and many can be used alongside each other to enhance effectiveness (for example sole survivor, hoof clay).
· We use HUMAN GRADE ingredients chosen for their effectiveness to treat physical conditions and also calm the mind. Animals have a much greater sense of smell than us, a fact often overlooked when synthetic perfumes and chemicals are added to other products.
· We harness the power of ADAPTOGENIC MUSHROOMS in addition to powerful plant botanicals in some of our products.
· HANDMADE in small batches to maintain freshness and potency.
· Proud to support LOCAL, ETHICAL BEEKEEPERS by using their beeswax and honey.
· We DONATE to animal and conservation charities. We believe that business can be a force for good.
And if all of that isn’t enough for you, our products smell bloody gorgeous!
We hope that you enjoy using our fabulous botanical blends as much as we do. Here's to happy animals, happy people and a healthy planet!
A message from Charlotte, founder of Fire Horse:
Hello and a warm welcome to Fire Horse Botanicals. I can honestly say that these products are a result of years of caring for various creatures that have come into my life, some with complex conditions such as trauma, various skin and hoof issues, parasites etc. Donkey, one of our much loved cobs, for example, has CPL, mallenders, sallenders, lots of hair and one eye. He came from the back of a lorry heading to slaughter as a youngster. He was so traumatised that he was shut down towards humans for literally years after. Many of these products were developed to help him both mentally and physically to heal. He is now the most laid back happy chappy. Yes, he will always have skin issues, CPL and one eye but these products really have worked wonders in keeping on top of his various afflictions and have made his life so much more enjoyable and considerably less itchy.
So from Donk and I, we sincerely hope that you find these products as life changing as we have.
Much love,
Charlotte x
Charlotte Russell-Bartlett MSc Bsc Hons Adv Dip CanBhv
