Flax Seed Oil – 5L

Fourflax Flax Seed Oil will provide fantastic results in terms of soft, shiny coats and the energy provided, but the key advantage of using Flax Seed Oil over other readily available oils is the Omega 3 content.

Flax Seed Oil provides the richest (almost 60%) natural source of Omega 3, an essential fatty acid (EFA) which is not generally present in equine foods. Like all animals, horses cannot manufacture this essential fatty acid which is so important for their overall health.

Grain is a common ingredient of many modern horse feeds, and contains high levels of Omega 6, another Essential Fatty Acid. Many other oils such as Hemp and Soy Bean Oil are also much higher in Omega 6 than Omega 3. Every horse (and any other mammal) needs to obtain both Omega 3 and 6 in the diet, as they cannot be produced by the body, hence the term ‘Essential’. However, very few horse feeds contain sufficient amounts of Omega 3, and it is this lack of Omega 3 and too much Omega 6 that is often cited as the cause for several inflammatory conditions such as laminitis, arthritis and skin problems.

Supplementing your horse’s daily feed with Flax Seed Oil can help to rectify the imbalance of Omega 6 and 3, and help to avoid all sorts of inflammatory conditions, as well as supporting the immune, circulatory and digestive systems. On top of this, their coats will become soft and shiny, their skin will be healthy, their joints will be supported, muscles will repair quickly and their hooves will become strong and less prone to cracking! And as an energy source, Flax Seed Oil is second to none, with the equivalent amount of energy being provided in one cup of oil as four cups of grain. It is therefore ideal for race horses and endurance events, with the added advantage of muscles recovering quickly after exercise due to the high content of Omega 3.

Research also suggests that feeding a diet rich in Omega-3 fatty acids can help to improve semen quality and its tolerance to freezing and thawing. Below are some of the key benefits of adding Omega 3 rich Flax Seed Oil to your horse’s diet:

• Dry, itchy skin conditions and hair loss issues can be improved naturally
• Can reduce the risk of allergies and allergic reactions such as Queensland itch
• The anti-inflammatory nature of Omega 3 can combat inflammation and inflammatory conditions such as laminitis
• Joint pain, reduced mobility, tying up and muscular cramps can be reduced, and recovery times following exercise are decreased, as the high Omega 3 content aids the breakdown of lactic acid
• Horses can become less ‘fizzy’ when the oil is used as an energy source, due to the oil being a fat source of energy rather than a carbohydrate source
• Hooves become stronger and less prone to cracking
• Coats become incredibly shiny and soft – perfect for showing your horses!
• Gastrointestinal disorders can be treated and digestion is helped

Dosage Rate: It is suggested a daily feeding rate of 30ml-70ml of oil as a starting point. This will help your horse to adjust to the oil, and is a perfect amount for general health and conditioning. You should see results within 10-14 days, as long as the oil is fed every day.

The coat and hair will be softer and shinier and you may notice a difference in mobility and general behaviour. If you have a miniature horse, you should be feeding roughly 30ml per day, a pony should be fed around 40ml per day, upwards to a horse of 17hh should be fed around 60ml per day.

If your horse is suffering with a specific inflammatory condition, such as a skin problem, arthritis or allergies, then you may wish to increase this amount, as the amount can depend on the severity of the condition and the individual.

If you are an endurance event rider or race horse owner and you wish to use the oil as an energy source, a daily feeding rate of between 130-200ml per day is suggested. Remember, the key is to feed the oil every day for results to be measurable.