Although Fat only makes up a small percentage of the horse’s diet, it is a crucial component that is necessary for overall health in your horse’s body. Fat is a transporter for fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamin 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
A Balance 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 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.
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 of time has been linked to most equine health concerns, such as arthritis, Cushing’s, insulin resistance, allergies, laminitis, breathing issues, and obesity.
So, 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 to your horse, fish oils aren’t very palatable, or what your horse would naturally eat. So your best option for omega-3 fatty acid supplementation is to offer flaxseed.
Benefits of Flaxseed
Flaxseed contains high levels of the plant-source omega-3 fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acid. The anti-inflammatory properties of omega-3 fatty acids provide a long list of benefits to the body such as:
- Alleviating allergy symptoms
- Relieving skin conditions such as Sweet Itch
- Mitigate the pain from arthritis
- Support thyroid function
- Aid in glucose metabolism
- Boost immunity
- Ease breathing issues
- Support healthy hair and coat
- Promote circulation and vascular health
- Aid in gastrointestinal function
- Promote healthy joints and soft tissues
- Support Hoof Health
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 Cushing’s, 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, or canola oils are very high in omega-6 fatty acids. Whereas, flaxseed oil contain 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 Line Up
Horse Guard offers a great line up of flaxseed products. Flaxen Flow is 100% flaxseed oil, which will provide you the highest level of omega-3 fatty acids per ounces. Flaxen Flix treats are a healthy treat made of 100% flaxseed cake, with no added sugars. Flaxen Eas-E Guard has the bases of the 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 the flaxseed cake, glucosamine, MSM, HA, chondroitin, and antioxidants it can help put your horse at ease.
