Ingredients That Matter in Everything We Do.
Just purposeful, transparent formulations for your horse’s well-being.
Ingredients That Matter in Everything We Do.
Just purposeful, transparent formulations for your horse’s well-being.
We believe real care means full transparency.
Ingredient Use & Background
The information below is provided for general education and transparency. Many of the ingredients we use have a long history of use in traditional grooming and skincare routines, with properties that are widely studied or recognised in their natural form. While we select each ingredient carefully and formulate with intention, the descriptions provided are not intended to diagnose, treat, or guarantee outcomes for specific skin conditions. This content is shared to help you understand the traditional roles and qualities of each material, and why it was chosen in the context of our formulations.
This page is long and that’s a good thing. It breaks down every ingredient we use across our core products, with clear explanations of why it’s there and how it benefits your horse’s health and recovery. We don’t hide behind “natural” labels or vague promises. Every material we include serves a purpose and we’re proud to show you exactly what that is.
Scroll through to explore each product’s formula in full. You’ll see how our ingredients work together to clean, condition, protect, and restore the Ironhide way.
What's Inside RinseCore?
Aloe Vera Juice (Inner Leaf) — Traditionally Used for Skin Softness and Hydration
Aloe vera has long been valued for its naturally occurring polysaccharides, vitamins, and amino acids. When applied topically, the inner leaf juice is often used to leave the skin feeling soft and moisturised. In traditional care routines, aloe vera is favoured for its refreshing feel on the skin after exposure to heat, friction, or environmental buildup.
Chamomile Hydrosol – Distilled Floral Water with Calming Properties
This gentle floral water is created through steam distillation of fresh chamomile. It is commonly chosen in natural care for its mild scent and traditionally soothing feel on the skin. Chamomile has been associated with calming properties in both human and animal grooming routines and is often used in rinses to help soften and freshen.
Apple Cider Vinegar (Raw, Unfiltered) – Naturally Astringent and Clarifying
Raw apple cider vinegar has a long history of use in grooming and coat maintenance. It is typically chosen for its natural acidity and is traditionally used to help remove product residue, sweat, or environmental grime from the coat. In rinse formulas, it contributes to a fresh, clean finish.
Vegetable Glycerin (Palm-Free) – Plant-Derived Moisture Support
A natural byproduct of vegetable oil processing, glycerin is widely used for its ability to attract and retain water. In topical formulations, it is commonly added to help keep the skin feeling supple and smooth, especially after rinsing.
Vitamin E Oil (Natural Tocopherol) — Antioxidant Defense
Vitamin E helps support skin barrier recovery and defends against oxidative damage from sun, sweat, and environmental stressors. It also promotes coat softness and luster.
Peppermint Essential Oil – Traditionally Used for Cooling and Post-Work Comfort
Known for its invigorating scent and cooling effect, peppermint oil is traditionally used in grooming for its refreshing feel and support post-exercise. It’s also selected for its ability to promote a clean, uplifting finish.
Lavender Essential Oil – Traditionally Used for Skin Comfort and Calming Aromatics
Lavender is well known in both human and animal care traditions for its soothing scent and gentle feel on the skin. It is typically selected for its association with calm, focus, and relaxation during grooming, and is often used to help create a more settled, comforting experience.
Phenoxyethanol EHG — Safe, Modern Preservative
This ECOCERT-approved preservative (blended with Ethylhexylglycerin) ensures the formula stays stable, effective, and free of microbial contamination, crucial in natural water-based products. Without it, RinseCore wouldn’t remain shelf-stable.
Colloidal Oat Flour — Barrier Support + Itch Relief
Finely ground oats offer skin-conditioning compounds like beta-glucan and avenanthramides, which help calm itching, reduce inflammation, and restore skin resilience especially helpful for horses prone to dry patches or midline irritation.
10. Magnesium Flakes (Magnesium Chloride) — Muscle Relaxation + Recovery
Absorbed through the skin, magnesium supports healthy muscle function and helps relieve tension after exercise. It’s also known to calm nerve activity, which can be useful for horses prone to stress or sensitivity.
11. Sodium Hydroxide (1%) Solution — pH Control Agent (Carefully Formulated)
RinseCore includes a precisely diluted sodium hydroxide solution (1g in 100ml deionized water) to balance the pH of the entire formulation. This ensures the rinse matches the horse’s natural skin pH, reducing the risk of irritation while enhancing absorption of beneficial ingredients. Without it, natural acidity from ingredients like apple cider vinegar could disrupt the skin’s acid mantle.
What's Inside Our Olive Oil Infusion
Herbal Infused Olive Oil
Base: Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Infused with:
Marigold Flowers (Calendula officinalis) – Whole
Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) – Fine Cut
Comfrey Leaf (Symphytum officinale)
Why We Use It
Our infused oil is the foundation of several Ironhide Equine products. By slow-infusing extra virgin olive oil with whole medicinal herbs, we extract their beneficial compounds into a rich, skin-friendly base that supports recovery, hydration, and protection — naturally.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Carrier + Nourisher
A gentle, non-comedogenic oil rich in antioxidants, vitamin E, and oleic acid. It moisturizes, softens, and supports skin repair — all while carrying herbal actives deep into the skin or hoof wall.
Marigold (Calendula) Flowers – Skin Soothing + Repair Support
Calendula is known for its calming properties. It’s often used to support the skin’s natural healing process and reduce visible irritation, dryness, or inflammation. Whole flowers contain more active resins than powdered versions, which makes your infusion more potent.
Chamomile – Anti-inflammatory + Sensitivity Support
Chamomile contains azulene and apigenin — compounds that help reduce signs of irritation and redness. It’s a gentle, calming herb ideal for horses with sensitive or reactive skin.
Comfrey Leaf – Regenerative Support + Conditioning
Comfrey is rich in allantoin, a compound known to help support tissue repair and skin renewal. While not used on open wounds, comfrey is ideal for promoting skin strength and resilience post-wash or during dry, cracked phases.
Each herb was selected based on its known effects on skin barrier function, hydration, and recovery. The infusion process follows a controlled, low-heat protocol to ensure maximum extraction of active plant compounds into the oil base. Every inclusion serves a specific function — no fillers, no shortcuts.
What's Inside Forge Clean?
Babassu Oil – Lightweight Cleanser + Lather Booster
Babassu is similar to coconut oil but gentler on equine skin. It provides excellent cleansing without over-stripping and creates a rich, stable lather that rinses easily.
Olive Oil – Moisture Retention + Skin Softening
A mild, nourishing oil that helps keep skin soft during cleansing. It supports the skin barrier and prevents post-wash dryness.
Castor Oil – Draws Out Impurities + Boosts Lather
Highly viscous and cleansing, castor oil binds to dirt and oils, helping lift them from the skin. It also adds a slick, creamy texture to the lather.
Shea Butter – Nourishing + Protective
Packed with natural fatty acids and vitamins, shea butter helps protect the skin from drying out during use. It also adds a smooth finish to the coat.
Sodium Hydroxide (Reacted with Distilled Water) – Soap Structure
Essential to cold-process soapmaking, sodium hydroxide reacts with oils to form the bar. After curing, no lye remains — only a safe, balanced soap.
Clay & Charcoal Detox Blend:
Bentonite Clay – Deep Draw Cleansing
A powerful detoxifying clay that helps remove embedded dirt, sweat, and grime by absorbing impurities from the skin and coat.
Kaolin Clay – Gentle Refiner + Skin-Calmer
Mild and fine-particle, kaolin softens the skin and provides a smooth finish without stripping oils. Balances the strong pull of bentonite.
Activated Charcoal – Dirt Magnet + Coat Clarifier
Highly porous and absorbent, charcoal binds to unwanted residues and toxins on the skin, helping lift them away with the lather.
Essential Oils:
Peppermint Essential Oil – Traditionally Used for Cooling and Post-Work Comfort
Known for its invigorating scent and cooling effect, peppermint oil is traditionally used in grooming for its refreshing feel and support post-exercise. It’s also selected for its ability to promote a clean, uplifting finish.
Tea Tree Essential Oil – Traditionally Used to Support Cleanliness and Skin Balance
Tea tree oil has a long history of use in natural skin and coat care. It is commonly chosen for its clarifying properties and is often included in rinse or balm formulas to help maintain a fresh, balanced feel. Its crisp, herbaceous aroma also contributes to a sense of overall cleanliness after grooming.
What's Inside Forgeseal?
Babassu Oil – Lightweight Emollient + Skin Softener
Offers the silky feel of coconut oil without its heaviness. Absorbs quickly into the coat and skin, leaving behind a soft, non-greasy finish.
Herbal Infused Olive Oil – Skin Conditioning + Repair Support
Infused with calendula, chamomile, and comfrey, this olive oil blend delivers botanical compounds that help support skin strength and calm minor irritation. Acts as a nourishing base and delivery system for plant-based benefits.
Shea Butter – Moisture Lock + Barrier Support
High in stearic and oleic acids, shea butter adds rich, lasting moisture and supports the skin’s natural barrier. Particularly useful post-wash when the coat is more receptive to absorption.
Kaolin Clay – Polisher + Skin Soother
Fine-particle kaolin gently refines the coat’s surface while soothing the skin. It balances out richer ingredients like shea butter and adds a soft, velvety finish — making ForgeSeal feel light and luxurious, never greasy.
Castor Oil – Glide Enhancer + Moisture Retainer
Castor oil gives ForgeSeal its smooth glide, helping it spread evenly across the coat while locking in moisture. Its natural viscosity binds to oils and dirt, making post-wash application easy and effective without any drag.
Mango Butter – Smoothing + Shine Enhancer
Adds a soft, protective layer and improves coat feel without clogging pores. Naturally rich in antioxidants and plant sterols.
Neem Oil – Skin Integrity + Insect-Disrupting Aroma
Traditionally used to support skin health, neem oil contributes to barrier function and leaves a naturally earthy scent that discourages insects.
Beeswax – Moisture Seal + Protective Layer
Creates a breathable barrier on the skin and coat that locks in hydration while helping shield against mud, rain, or dryness. Adds structure to the balm.
Natural Skin Soothers:
Arrowroot Powder – Dry Finish + Anti-Tack Feel
Reduces greasiness and creates a dry-touch finish that’s more comfortable under tack or rugs. Helps balance the richer butters and oils.
Colloidal Oats – Skin Comfort + Softness
Helps relieve dry, irritated skin and supports skin softness through beta-glucan compounds.
Zinc Oxide (Non-Nano) – Coat Defense + Environmental Barrier
A gentle mineral often used in skin creams for its soothing and protective qualities. Non-nano grade ensures it sits safely on the surface to help shield vulnerable areas.
Finishing Actives:
Vitamin E (Natural Tocopherol) – Antioxidant Stability + Skin Support
Protects oils in the formula from oxidation while offering antioxidant benefits to the skin itself. A small amount goes a long way in enhancing product integrity.
Essential Oil Blend – Lavender, Myrrh, Tea Tree
Lavender brings calm and skin support
Tea Tree adds a clean, sharp note while supporting product freshness and microbial balance
- Myrrh Essential Oil – Traditionally Valued for Skin Conditioning and Grounding Aromatics
Myrrh has been used for centuries in skincare and natural preparations. It is typically chosen for its resinous depth and historical use in supporting dry or weathered skin. In equine grooming, it adds a deep, earthy base note while contributing to a conditioning, protective feel on the coat.