Feeding your horse the right horse food in order to keep them healthy and happy is of the utmost importance. A wide range of food groups with the correct nutrients is essential, and this is inclusive of oils and essential fatty acids. We explore the benefits of oil within a horse’s diet, so you can make an informed decision in regard to whether this is right for you.
Benefits of Oil
Oil can be a fantastic way to provide your horse with a good form of slow-release energy. This can improve stamina and endurance, aid with coat and hoof health, and also help with the health of the horse’s joints and muscles! The oil that contains differing levels of fatty acids such as Omega 3 or Omega 6 are sources of slow-release energy which are great for your horse. However, it must be noted that not all oils contain these important fatty acids. Omega 3 and Omega 6 are valuable when it comes to imbalances within the diet of your horse for many reasons. These must be balanced as Omega 6 assists with the creation of pro-inflammatory prostaglandins within your horse, whereas Omega 3 creates anti-inflammatory ones.
Other benefits of oil within your horses’ diets can include:
- Oil for Weight Gain
Feeding your horse oil is a great way to provide them with additional calories. With 300ml of oil providing the same number of calories as 1kg of oats, it’s clear to see that oil is a great way of providing energy in a concentrated way. Unlike cereal grains, oil is starch-free, making it a safe solution for horses who are prone to excessive excitability, or even clinical conditions inclusive of laminitis, colic, gastric ulcers, or tying up.
If your horse is in need of extra calories for work or to gain weight, oils can be a great solution for achieving fast results.
- Oil for Coat Shine
A balanced overall diet is the most important factor when it comes to your horses’ coat health and regular grooming is of course important too, but oil can help give them that extra edge. As little as 30mls of oil, every day could well be all that is required to create a lovely bloom to the coat. At such a low level, oil is acceptable to use for good-doers too but don’t be tempted to use more!
Sources of Healthy Oils
All oils provide the horse with energy but it is the source and therefore the composition of the oils that determine other potential health benefits. Some of the best forms of oils to feed your horse include linseed oil as it has very high levels of Omega-3 and is a non-marine alternative to cod-liver oil. Other commonly used sources of oil include rape seed oil and soya oil.
How to Feed Your Horse Oil
If you decide to add oil to your horse’s diet, this should be done as gradual process. This is to allow their digestive system to have the chance to adapt to the change within their diet.. Additionally, you should be aware that an increase in oil content will result in an increased requirement for antioxidants for your horse such as vitamin E and selenium.
Other factors to consider
The environmental impacts of the oil you use also bears consideration. While linseed and rape seed oil are usually grown in the UK, soya and palm oils can come from areas of the world where rainforest is being destroyed to make way for their production. There are responsible sourcing options for these oils so do make sure you look for evidence of this if you choose to use them.
Keep oil stored in a cool environment as heat will accelerate its deterioration. Exposure to air also allows oxidation to occur so containers should be sealed sufficiently to ensure it retains its nutritional content.
