Should you feed oils to your horse?
Stance Equitec has provided some of the content for this post.
What are the benefits?
Feeding oil to horses is now a widely recognized practice, however, not all oils are created equal. The properties of different oils vary and it is important to know the properties of whichever oil you choose to feed your horse.
Overconsumption of hydrogenated and PUFA vegetable oils (eg. Soybean oil, maize oil etc.), in combination with grain, can cause imbalanced Omega 3 and 6 levels. This may contribute to inflammation and increased circulating free radicals. These oils may also cause cellular acidity. Together this may impact the efficiency of energy utilisation for performance, and also compromise the overall health of the animal long-term.
In general, oils are used when horses have a higher energy requirement than normal.
Whether that be due to increased workload, breeding or need for additional body condition. In the past grains have been used to meet these increased energy needs in horses, it has now become evident that an excess of grain in the horse’s diet can cause a range of associated health problems. Some of these grain related issues can include colic, hindgut acidosis, tying up and loss of appetite.
People are now becoming aware of the benefits of adding oils to a horse’s feed. Some of these advantages include:
Reduced dependence on grains, therefore avoiding potential health concerns
Keep horses cooler and less excitable
Less chance of going off feed as oils are fed at a lower volume than grains
Helping conserve fuel or glycogen in the muscles for high impact exercise
Provision of essential fatty acids (omega 3,6 and 9) for weight gain and overall coat health and shine
Less of a heat load on working horses and reduced electrolyte losses in sweat
These oils contain a blend of cold-pressed rice bran and flaxseed oils, along with coconut oil and are included for their balanced levels of omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids.
EquiPower Maintenance
Provides non-glucose energy
Provides Omegas 3, 6 & 9
May assist post-event recovery
Helps support stamina and endurance
EquiPower Performance
Omegas 3, 6, 9 & coconut (MCT) oil support aerobic performance
Supports muscle recovery
Supports lactic acid levels
Supports performance and endurance
SO WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
EquiPower Performance includes:
Added MCT oil for extra energy
Medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil contains medium-length chains of fats called triglycerides. Due to their shorter length, MCTs are more easily digested than longer-chain fatty acids.
MCTs easily enter your cells without needing to be broken down, which means they are an immediate source of energy for the body and brain. EquiPower Performance has added MCT oil, derived from coconut oil.
EQUIPOWER MAINTENANCE - A Testimonial
“I just wanted to thank you for recommending the Equipower Maintenance oil to me. I run a team of eventers at various levels who are all shapes and sizes. The amount of copra and type of hay I feed varies but I have been feedIng them all the oil consistently for over a year now and since doing this I have been so pleased with the energy (cool energy) and stamina of all my horses. I always felt like the higher level he faded a little on the second half of cross country before introducing this product whereas now they are all coming home really strongly. I think they recover better too. Another bonus is they all look absolutely fantastic. They are shiny and so dappled! Thanks for another amazing product!” — Asha
PLANT-BASED OMEGA 3
Farmers Own cold-pressed, organic, nutrient-packed premium flax oil is specifically formulated for your beloved horses.
Rich in Omega 3’s
Anti-Inflammatory
Healthy Skin and Coat
Enhanced Energy Production
Improved Joint Health
PROUDLY CANADIAN 🇨🇦
