Feeding oil to your horse - what kind, how much?

[equisician]

Did a bunch of reading today about adding oil to feed and all the benefits especially if you are trying to keep or put on a little weight.
Many said that corn oil added too much sugar/energy and was a poor choice. Most suggested Canola from Costco when on a budget (I don't even know what a canola is?) or rice bran oil from feed stores if you have unlimited funds. A few articles talked about soy and flax oils but said they can go rancid quickly. 2-4oz per day seemed good for maintaining weight and 4-8oz for gaining. Your comments and input greatly appreciated!
Happy Sunday,
Adriana/Equisician

[SaddlebredShowMom]

I'm not a fan of feeding oil.  It can make them hot and give them runny poop and stomach upsets. I would increase their hay first and add rice bran or beet pulp if needed.

[EquineAddict]

I have some experience with feeding corn oil and rice bran oil, and my horse never had any stomach upsets nor did it make her hot. I will say corn oil didn't do much for weight, only made her coat look nice. The rice bran oil made a difference, but not enough to be worth the expense, in my opinion. I've heard of people having success with feeding rice bran "pellets," Grand Prix Feed carries it. It makes a difference with weight gain, and much more economical than the oil since they're sold in a large bag (Maybe 35-40 lbs?).

I'll also say that one thing that's made a HUGE difference in keeping weight on my hard keepers if you'd rather not deal with feeding oil is Ulser Shield, by Choice of Champions International. Whether the horses had ulcers or not, on this supplement they both had great looking coats, and there was such a difference in their weight in just a week! It's also very cost-effective.

I'm sure you've been doing lots of research of the different options, and you'll find the right product for your guy! Hope he's settling in well! 

[kona]

I feed soy oil and get it at Costco. I love it. I have a hot hano and his energy level never changed but his coat did get nicer and I do think it helps with weight. I also did research on feeding oil and studies actually showed that horses fed it recovered faster after a tough workout then horses that did not. Good luck, let me know what you find

[equisician]

Thanks so much everyone for all the great advice! Its been a super fun (and exhausting) week. Every day is a new adventure - I still don't have a girth that fits so all we've done so far is ground work but we are going to On Course in the morning and hopefully will get it right this time. He has calmed down a lot and likes his new schedule, animal friends, is totally used to the noises, all the changes, doesn't even blink an eye standing and grazing in the middle of a game of frisbee! We aren't sure what to do about turn out yet. He wants to be with another horse instead of alone but I'm worried that the only super safe one that we can put him out with will spend all night feeling annoyed and put upon since he's very mature and stoic and our guy is playful and clingy like a toddler that makes the babysitter earn her money..."its time to play hide and go seek for the 97th time or else I'll cry." I can't believe how similar the overwhelming-ness of new horse ownership is to having a newborn baby. I wake up in the middle of the night worrying about all the "what ifs." There is even a little bit of a depression stage where you wonder if you can do it, provide enough, be there as much as you need to be and still have some of yourself left. Its sooo important to be able to talk about it so you don't go crazy - I'm more grateful than ever before for the support of this wonderful board and its members!!! 

[Classic2011]

I know exactly how you feel.  I got my stallion when he was a year old.  I researched what food to give him and wanted the most nutritious.  I enjoyed the process and learned a lot.  I learned about rice bran and ultra bloom.  Another interesting oil I personally take myself is coconut oil.  They are even sell something for the horse with coconut oil in it at the Red Barn.  But call Holly at the Grand Prix ans she can set you straight about what to give your youngster.

[8Belles]

A lot of people like the Cocosoya. Feed/tack stores carry it. About 22 dollars, one or two "pumps" a day (one pump = one oz).

Whenever I fed oil, I did corn or veggie oil. One pump usually, two depending.

[SaddlebredShowMom]

I can't believe how similar the overwhelming-ness of new horse ownership is to having a newborn baby. I wake up in the middle of the night worrying about all the "what ifs." There is even a little bit of a depression stage where you wonder if you can do it, provide enough, be there as much as you need to be and still have some of yourself left.

Join the club - we've all been there and it is a big responsibility to take on, and even though we've owned our guy for a couple years now and leased 2 others for multiple years before that, I still get the worries about it (especially in this lousy economy).  You can't help it, you love them like you love your newborn baby and worrying comes along as part of the package.  Just like your new horse has to settle in with you, you have to settle in with him too, and you will.  Just do your best and use the many resources you have available to you -- your vet, farrier, horsey friends, and this great forum -- and everything will be fine.

[ck]

Just a word of caution, horses don't have gall bladders so be careful when feeding oils.  If you're looking to increase the omega 3 intake, there is flax seed, chia seed and even black oil sun flower seeds that, in my opinion, are better options than oil.

[equisician]

Can't believe you mentioned that ck, just read an article about it this morning - chose to add maxi-glow rice bran + black sunflower seeds and a little more hay. I am super thankful for everyone's input!!! BTW I got on him for the first time since he's been home - SOOO fun; can't stop smiling 

[miss m]

I bought a very sick looking,skeletal, ulcer ridden race mare...I treated her with Gastor Max 3....Ultium and 2 onces of DAC oil a day....its been 45 days and her rain rot is gone shes at weight and shinning like shes been polished...hasnt had one bath....as soon as I added the oil to her feed she ate like a good horse...I got the oil from Dustin Jacobs who just happened onto my farm a few days after she arrived....www.feeddac.com....2 plunges from the gallon jug a day will last over 2 months...I cant wait to try some other DAC products when I put her back into training in 60 days. Dustin 754 214 6424

[Jeny]

If  you are looking for a good combination of Omega 3, 6, 9 try Omega Fields "Grande" an all in one supplement or "Horseshine". I stopped using oils 20 years ago. For one, they are not good to feed horses. Second, they are not cost effective for me. Third, they are messy and go rancid.
If you ask ten different horseman their feeding rations, you will get ten different answers. Do your homework. Keep it simple. You might want to read Succeeds web site on research they have done also. Succeed-equine dot com.

[Shalom]

Oil does go bad/rancid unless refrigerated.  I take flaxseed oil and have to refrigerate it.  It says so on the bottle. And it goes the same for even horses.  I see everybody who squirts the oil in the feed and the oil stays in the barn in the heat.

[Claudius]

I soak a cup of flaxseeds in his beet pulp and it does the trick.  flaxseeds are full of oil, the seeds dont go bad....and the dapples are amazing!!!

[equisician]

I've been using black oil sunflower seeds (1 cup per feed baggy) and he is VERRRRY glossy and happy 

[No scoops]

One of my horses has skin allergies. I use Healthy Coat and have not had the itchy scratchy skin problems like she had in the past. My other horse is a bay, you can see his shinny coat from a mile away. They both look great. Love the product, it has a lot of vitamins and supplements. I but it from Silver Spur because they get it in the 2 1/2 gallon size for me.

Love it!

[equisician]

Thanks no scoops - great advice!