Feeding oil

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Tamski

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I want to start giving my horse and pony a bit of oil to supplement their feeds now that it's bloomin freezin!

So what oil should I get, thinking supermarket type, and how much to feed a 13hh and 16.2hh?

Thanks!
 
Oil is fattening, so it is a cheap way of getting calories in. But it is not a magic way to keep your horse warmer. The process of digesting food keeps your horse warm, so if that is what you are trying to achieve, give them a nice big pile of hay to munch.
 
Ditto tracey. Digesting fibre releases more heat than any other feed source. So if its warmth youre after feed plenty of hay.

But if you do want to feed oil then first consider the health of the two horses. If there is any type of inflammatory condition (e.g. arthritis, sweet itch) then avoid soya or corn oil as they are pro-inflamatory. Linseed oil is anti-inflammatory, so much better, although it would be cheaper from a feed store than the supermarket.

You also have to consider balancing vitamin e if you are feeding in large quantities (100ml +) for weight gain, as opposed to just a few tablespoons for coat condition. When digsting oil free radicals are produced and vitamin e cannot be synthesised in the body, so it needs to be supplemented to balance the free radicals. If they arent balanced they can enhance disease processes and cause other damage to the body. If you are unsure about balancing with vitamin e then buy a branded high oil feed, which should be balanced with vitamin e accordingly.

Oil should also be introduced gradually and it takes many weeks for the digestive system to fully adapt to utilising oil as an energy source.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Oil is fattening, so it is a cheap way of getting calories in. But it is not a magic way to keep your horse warmer. The process of digesting food keeps your horse warm, so if that is what you are trying to achieve, give them a nice big pile of hay to munch.

[/ QUOTE ]Yes, the microbial breakdown of the cellulose produces a huge amount of heat, Its like a big internal hot waterbottle.I would add that woody late cut hay is not so good,because the cell walls in the grass have become lignified, and are far harder to breakdown.Good hay adlib,will keep a horse warm .
 
I buy Lidl oil which is Rapeseed oil, have built up gradually to feeding about 300ml per day in three feeds. Have heard that it's ok to feed up to 1ml/1kg of body weigth so for an average horse this is 500ml. Depends what your horse will tolerate
 
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