Dry skin - which oil??

Django Pony

Django Pony

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Hi,
I've read that adding oil to a horses feed can help with skin and coat condition? I've also read that oil can be quite high in energy/calories?
My boy has quite dry skin, flaky bits at the base of his mane and I'd love to add a nice gloss to his coat, so the question is which oil should I use, and how much as I don't want to add too many extra calories and energy (he's a good doer)?
If I am barking up the wrong tree could anyone recommend an alternative?
confused.gif

Thanks
 
oil is energy - its slow release energy - good for stamina or weight gain if given in suffieient dose - it will put weight on though if you not doing enough work.

you could feed herbs? - calendula is good for anything skin wise (get if off ebay or herb stockist)
 
NB - as oil is a fat, it is the most energy dense (or highest in calories for each gram) available; however this energy is released slowly, thus being suitable for good doers that need to gain weight or condition. However considering your reasons for wanting to use oil are to improve his coat quality and not to encourage weight gain, you need only add a small volume - say, 50 mls - to his feed each day, so as not to encourage weight gain. A significant amount - half a litre or more - would need to be added to see significant weight gain. However, particularly with the summer months coming up, it would be wise to closely monitor his weight ever 2-3 weeks with a weight tape, just to be safe.
However, if your horse is on a small volume of feed (i.e. less than the recommended volume of a mix or cube to discourage weight gain) then this may be the cause for his poor coat quality. Make sure that, if you are not feeding the recommended levels of a mix or cube, or if he is on a forage-only diet, that you add a broad spectrum vitamin & mineral supplement to make sure he is receiving everything he needs. Good doers often are deprived of essential nutrients as they are almost permenantly on a "diet" so it's important to top up on these.
 
I found my fell used to get very dry skin as well. Have had her on soya oil for over a year now and it seems to have really helped her dry skin and helps to keep her coat shiny. As she is a good doer as well, I only add a small amount in each feed and she hasn't seemed to put on weight.
 
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