Confused about linseed...

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midnight mayhem

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I've decided to feed my horse linseed so instead of buying it in oil I have bought a small bag of it from tack shop which are in the form of seeds, but I'm confused, is this micronised? And now what do I do with it? Boil it? Thanks in advance :-)
 
Didn't the tack shop give you instructions. I have always bought micronised linseed, because, I think, the seeds can be (very) bad for the horse if you don't prepare them properly?

So beware and check out any advice very thoroughly - or better still, ring the tack shop and double check.
 
just found this on the internet. If you google, you will find even better instructions : Sounds a faff to me though!


"Linseed must always be cooked before feeding as the boiling inactivates the poisonous hydrocyanic acid which is present in the seeds.

Linseed seeds must be added to boiling water to make sure the enzyme linase is destroyed b4 it can release the hydrocanic acid. it is important you use plenty of water. when cold this will turn to linseed jelly.

Linseed will burn and boil over easily so needs to be watched. once seeds are boiled the heat must be reduced & seeds simmered for 4-6 hours.?
 
Micronized Linseed looks like this -
HPIM1848.jpg


Seeds -
linseed2110200563052.jpg
 
piebaldsparkle said:
Yup that's about right and it does burn and boil over VERY easily - utter faff
Click to expand...

and............it sticks to the hob, spits and pops gunk up the wall behind the hob and resulted in a smack round the ear off my mother many decades ago when I decided my pony needed cooked linseed and I set about cooking it when she was out.

She never did forgive me for burning the bottom of her huge saucepan and still mentions the ill fated boil up of thirty years ago.
 
Also, you need to soak the seeds first for 24 hourrs. Change the water, then bring to boil and simmer on a slow boil until gelatinous.

Your horse will love you for it.....your hob won't if you allow the gloop to boil over! I still maintain that the home prepared linseed produces better coat and condition than anything else I've tried and I have a linseed pot especially for it!

I have a friend who microwaves it, but not too sure for how long.
 
I asked if the linseed was micronised at the tack shop and the girl said yes but the look she gave me told me she didnt have a clue but I bought it anyway as it only cost £2.75. but looking at the pics piebald sparkle provided its not micronised but the seeds beneath...I knew you guys would be helpful :-D Seems I bought the wrong thing though but going to follow everyone's advice about the boiling it (and braving the mess) eek!! Hopefully I won't get a smack round the ear from the OH like adorablealice with her mother! Lol and thanks victoria1980x for that link-at least I know where I can get the right stuff now. X
 
I use the micronised one, they have brilliant coats on it! I used to boil it but don't really have the time nor inclination after the last lot boiled over and I had a hob full of what resembled elephant snot with the bonding capabilities of super glue!! Charnwood milling for me £22 ish for 20kg- lasts me about 4-5 months!!
 
Lol Maisie06...I'll look forward to that very sticky elephant snot. Ha ha so..when I get it right and buy the micronised linseed Can I feed that as it is and why are the recommended amounts?
 
I used to boil linseed for some hunters I looked after. It used to be soaked overnight, then put into fresh water in a large old pot with whole barley, brought to the boil and simmered for 4 - 6 hours. This was done in an outhouse over a gas burner, so spills/mess didn't matter. I had never come across this before, so was instructed how to do it by my old fashioned boss. Actually it smelt delicious, I could almost have eaten it myself. The horses loved it - fed with bran in a mash. (As I say, old fashioned - 40 plus years ago!)
 
There are people in France and Ireland who can't get micronised who just grind the raw seeds in a coffee grinder before feeding.
 
Oberon said:
There are people in France and Ireland who can't get micronised who just grind the raw seeds in a coffee grinder before feeding.
Click to expand...

I also feed the raw seeds freshly ground in a coffee grinder, there is now not thought to be any danger from cyanide poisoning, in fact, some people think there is more danger of poisoning yourself during soaking/boiling than there is of poisoning your horse!! Its much cheaper to buy the whole raw seeds, but you must grind it fresh each day or you can keep it ground in the fridge for up to a few days. Its goes rancid quite quicky once ground, so its really important to keep it correctly. My horse has been on it for ages with no problems. Hope this helps. :)
 
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