"We're already using sunflower oil" ... we hear this argument daily, but how do the inexpensive supermarket oils differ from the pricier ones from specialty stores?
Expensive doesn’t always mean better. We can say that upfront. However, a closer look at the composition of oils shows that investing in high-quality fish or linseed oil can pay off.
There’s often a question of whether horses can even digest oil. According to rumors, it’s hardly possible because horses lack a gallbladder. Indeed, horses don’t have a gallbladder. The reason is that their diet, which is typically low in fat, doesn’t require a large store of bile acids. Instead, they store bile in their liver. Horses also have fat-digesting enzymes in their stomach, small intestine, and liver. So, horses can indeed digest oil, but it’s important to ensure that daily intake remains moderate. Just 60 ml daily is enough for high-quality fish or linseed oil to provide its positive effects.
With this fundamental question answered, the next step is determining which oil is best suited for horses. Feed oils should contain a high proportion of unsaturated fatty acids. These cannot be produced by the body and must be absorbed through food. Unsaturated fatty acids include Omega-3 and 6 fatty acids. Since Omega-6 fatty acids typically predominate in regular feed, an oil with a high Omega-3 fatty acid content should be selected. Fish or linseed oil is particularly suitable. However, due to the low acceptance of fish oil, linseed oil is the best choice for horse feeding. But how does linseed oil differ from regular supermarket oils? While linseed oil is very high in Omega-3 fatty acids, sunflower oil has too dominant a proportion of Omega-6 fatty acids. To achieve a nutritionally positive effect for the horse’s overall health, a balanced composition of essential fatty acids is required. For example, while sunflower oil is easily digestible, its Omega-3 to Omega-6 fatty acid ratio is very unfavorable (0.5% Omega-3 / 70% Omega-6). Additionally, it lacks the valuable vitamins and minerals found in fish or linseed oil.
The right oil can bring various benefits to the diet. Oil can meet increased energy needs and have a positive nutritional effect on overall well-being. As a feed supplement, oil can improve coat, skin, and hoof structure. Horses with arthritis or skin issues particularly benefit from its anti-inflammatory properties.
So, it’s the small - but important - differences you should pay attention to when purchasing.
Our product recommendation for linseed oil:
Hestevard Linseed Oil.
