Although Fat only makes up a small percentage of the horse’s diet, it is a crucial component necessary for overall health in your horse’s body. Fat is a transporter for fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamins A, D, E, and K, and is the precursor to many hormones. It is also needed to provide structure to cell membranes.
Fats also pack more punch than carbohydrates or protein, with 2.5 times more calories per ounce.
Fatty acids are the basic building blocks for fat in your horse’s body. There are saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids that make up fats and oils. Of the polyunsaturated fatty acids, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are the two essential fatty acids, meaning that they must be provided by the diet to meet the body’s requirements.
Bodily Functions that Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids Affect:
- Brain function
- Vision
- Skin and hair growth
- Bone health
- Hormone production
- Normal growth and development
Balance of Omega-6 to Omega-3 is Key
A proper balance of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids is key for your horse to achieve optimal health. In general, omega-6 fatty acids are pro-inflammatory, whereas in contrast, omega-3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory. It is important to have a good balance of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids in the diet to help protect the body by producing adequate amounts of inflammation to fight off attacks and heal the body, however, we don’t want unneeded inflammation in the body.
The omega-6 to omega-3 ratio in horse diets is crucial. A horse's diet consisting of almost all fresh grass receives an omega-3 fatty acid-rich diet, with a ratio of approximately 4:1 omega-3 to omega-6. However, when grass is cured and baled to put up into hay, the omega-3 fatty acids oxidize and are destroyed. In addition, cereal grains are very high in omega-6 fatty acids. A horse's diet consisting of hay and cereal grains, or a grain-based commercial feed, has almost 18 times as much omega-6 fatty acids as omega-3 fatty acids, which creates an unhealthy balance.
Excessive inflammation in the body for extended periods has been linked to most equine health concerns, such as arthritis, Cushings, insulin resistance, allergies, laminitis, breathing issues, and obesity.
Omega-3 Supplements for Horses
How can you offset the high levels of omega-6 fatty acids? You could provide an omega-3 supplement. When you think about omega-3 fatty acids, the first thing that probably comes to mind is fish or fish oils. But fish oils aren’t very palatable to your horse or what your horse would naturally eat. So your best option for omega-3 fatty acid supplementation is to offer flaxseed.
Benefits of Flaxseed for Horses
Flaxseed contains high levels of plant-source omega-3 fatty acid, and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). The anti-inflammatory properties of omega-3 fatty acids provide a long list of benefits to the body, such as:
- Alleviating allergy symptoms
- Relieves skin conditions such as Sweet Itch
- Mitigating the pain from arthritis
- Supporting thyroid function
- Aiding in glucose metabolism
- Boosting immunity
- Easing breathing issues
- Supporting healthy hair and coat
- Promoting circulation and vascular health
- Aiding in gastrointestinal function
- Promoting healthy joints and soft tissues
- Supporting hoof health
These benefits highlight the importance of omega-3 supplements in a horse's diet, especially when their natural dietary sources are limited.
Using Flaxseed Oil for Horses with Specific Issues
Fat is a great energy source for horses that are sensitive to carbohydrates. Whether it is a horse with Cushings, EMS, or PSSM, these horses need diets that are low in starch and sugars. Fats help to limit anaerobic carbohydrate metabolism during exercise, which results in less lactic acid production and better muscle glycogen utilization. In addition, fat has been shown to reduce cortisol levels, suggesting that stress is being handled better. Finally, in these horses with metabolic issues, when fat is broken down by the body, there is a more moderate response to blood glucose and insulin when compared to non-structural carbohydrates being broken down in the body.
Providing flaxseed oil ensures that your horse is getting healthy fat. Corn, soy, and canola oils are very high in omega-6 fatty acids. Whereas flaxseed oil contains 55% of the omega-3 fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acid. This helps promote all the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids and helps to offset the typically high omega-6 diets from hay and grains.
Horse Guard’s Flaxseed-Based Products
Horse Guard offers a great lineup of flaxseed products. Flaxen Flow is 100% flaxseed oil, which will provide you the highest level of omega-3 fatty acids per ounce. Flaxen Flix treats are a healthy treat made of 100% flaxseed cake with no added sugars. Flaxen Eas-E Guard has a 100% flaxseed base with 1000 IU of natural vitamin E per scoop. Flaxen Flex Guard is a great joint supplement to help ease the pain and slow the progression of arthritis. With the combination of flaxseed cake, glucosamine, MSM, HA, chondroitin, and antioxidants it can help put your horse at ease.
By incorporating these omega-3 supplements into your horse's diet, you can ensure they receive the essential fatty acids needed for optimal health, supporting everything from cardiovascular health to skin health and overall well-being. These supplements will also ensure that your horse is receiving the proper balance of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids with regular supplementation, helping to address potential omega-3 deficiency and its associated symptoms.
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