If I grind linseed instead of boiling...

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PennywithHenry

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...does it still have the same effects?

ie the vet has recommended it after my mare suffered impaction colic, as a fortnight later her stools are a little hard, so I assume it has a mild laxative effect, will grinding it have this effect too?

Many thanks
 
Somewhere in the dark corners of my mind i seem to remember something about having to soak linseed because if you dont it either swells in their stomachs or releases toxins or something equally nasty!
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I could be very wrong and probably need to do a google search, but please check before you feed it to your horse!
 
I know it needs to either be soaked and boiled/simmered or ground but I was asing if these methods caused any differences in the way that it effects the horse.

Never mind!
 
IIRC the outer shell of the seed becomes mucilaginous when it absorbs water. It absorbs quite a lot of water to do so. That extra slippery stuff going through the gut would tend to soften stools.

However, if you grind the linseed and feed it dry then as it goes through the gut it would absorb water, contributing to impaction colic.
 


I don't think you can just grind raw linseed up and feed it like that. it's poisonous in it's raw form.

People are taking time and effort to respond to your post, no need for sharp replies!!
 
QR

That wasn't intended as sharp or abrupt in the slightest. It was meant in a "never mind I'll stick to boiling" type thing as I'm recieving conflicting advice re: grinding it. Unfortunately though it's virtually impossible to convey tone and emotion through the forum, so of course I have been misunderstood.

I was actually given the idea by an American lady who runs a rescue, she said to avoid faffing around boiling it it was much easier to just grind it and it oxygenates (or whatever the word is) and is totally safe for them. I was thinking maybe she was offering the advice in terms of weight gain as opposed to helping to avoid another impaction.
 
i think i'd stick to boiling it at home, raw linseed is supposed to be poisonous to horses.
i grind up linseed for myself but tbh it's really expensive and i think for horse quantities it'd be ridiculous... the linseed might already be cooked though, not sure?!
btw, i have a lycra shoulder cover thingy you can have for Boo, might be a bit big but will prevent rubbing, will fish it out tomorrow!
 
That's what I've decided to do K, safest all round methinks...Lovely American lady though, showed me lots of pics of horses that she's rehabbed, really gave me a boost when my optimism was flagging a little, as it does every now and then when I look at the skinny little wench! My laptop froze when I clicked send yesterday so have no idea if I replied to your second PM or not, tried PMing you to ask if it had sent then the laptop froze again, so gave up!

I have a recent Boo condition pic here to send, have you seen the first one yet?

That's great re: the lycra shoulder thingy, thanks, let me know what you want for it and I'll pop it in.

Oh and tell people I'm not mean as I worded my reply wrong and have upset people!
 
If it helps, I find a slow cooker very good in the preparation of raw linseed, first of all I put about a mug full in a large microwave jug and cover it with water then zap it for about 4 mins, transfer to slow cooker with more boiling water, then cook for about 4 hours, saves the mess if it boils over on the cooker.
 
[ QUOTE ]
If it helps, I find a slow cooker very good in the preparation of raw linseed, first of all I put about a mug full in a large microwave jug and cover it with water then zap it for about 4 mins, transfer to slow cooker with more boiling water, then cook for about 4 hours, saves the mess if it boils over on the cooker.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's super helpful! Thanks! I don't have a microwave, so would you say that in the 4 minutes in the microwave it's brought to the boil? Do you think I'd be able to recreate this on my cooker? (I have a huge pan to put it in so am not worried about it boiing over) then transfer it to my slow cooker?

Also, you said raw, so do you not soak it before hand then? I've found all sorts of soaing advice, from 2-3 hours to overnight to 24 hours and my head's going to explode at this rate! I've had mine soaking since this morning and some of the seeds have popped out of the outer brown husk and the water is gloopy, so is this ready to cook?
 
Regardless of weither it's safe or not - surely grinding up linseed would take 10x more effort than just boiling it?

Incidently you could just buy linseed oil
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Much less effort all round. Think Gold Label do it.
 
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