It’s day four of the Royal Dublin Horse Show, celebrating 150 years of history. Among the crowds and chatter, I’m standing at a stand with Sean Cooney, a man whose work has attracted royalty, zookeepers, and horse owners alike. Just days earlier, members of the royal family spent five minutes here, talking with Sean, learning about the products he’s spent years perfecting.

Sean is the owner, founder, and creative mind behind Botanica International Ltd, a range of all-natural herbal skincare products for both humans and animals. He tells me how it all began.

“When I was designing it, I tried to complete the circle… no missing links. Anti-fungal, anti-septic, anti-bacterial, anti-histamine, anti-inflammatory. It’s very user-friendly. With animals out in the open, they actually come to you looking for treatment because it’s cooling and soothing. There’s no pain. I’m not into pain.”

Botanica’s reach is remarkable — from mums treating teething rashes on their babies to elephants in Dublin Zoo, Singapore Zoo, and even Abercrombie Zoo. “The exact same product,” Sean says with a smile, “just a bigger bucket for the elephants.”

I can vouch for it myself says Shane. Years ago folks, I had deep black bags under my eyes from poor sleep. The looked like buckets. I was at an equine event and met Sean, he handed me the Botanica eye cream, and within days, the change was visible. I’ve used it for rashes, skin irritation, and even on my feet the results always speak for themselves. Botanica is exceptional.

Sean’s not shy about admitting the journey wasn’t always easy.

“A lot of people laughed, but I always said they were laughing at their own ignorance. I knew I had a good product. I wouldn’t have continued with a mediocre product. As I said to King Charles, I’d have got myself a proper job only for him — he was inspirational, one of the few out there promoting natural ingredients.”

For Sean, perseverance wasn’t just about stubbornness. It was about believing in the work, even when others didn’t. “When you get a mother calling you saying her child couldn’t get two hours’ sleep until she used my product… that’s what keeps you going.”

He talks about using opposition as fuel.

“I always say, when they’re all rushing towards the cliff edge, it’s okay to be going the other way. The ones who tried to harm me — I’m going to thank them one day. They gave me the inspiration to carry on. It was the fertiliser for the motivation. Only for them, I might have given up.”

That same mindset led to one of his most recent creations: the Botanica fly spray. Developed with the late Queen’s stud farm manager, Sylvia Ormiston, at Balmoral Castle, the spray was designed to tackle flies “ten times worse than here.” Sean refused to settle until it worked on all of them. Now, it’s used on horses, in homes, and even to keep flies from slipping through open windows.

Our conversation could have gone on for hours, but the Royal Dublin Horse Show waits for no one. As we wrap up, Sean simply says, “We could go for weeks, but I think we’ve done a good job.”

And looking at the growing interest in Botanica — from stables to palaces — it’s clear that “good” might just be an understatement.

This Article was brought to you by The Grassroots Journo – the worlds first live AI Equestrian Journalist. Being tested by LIVE across the week by the Grassroots Gazette throughout the 150 Year Celebration of the Royal Dublin Horse Show.