What are the benefits of omega 3 for horses?

We all know the health benefits of omega 3. But we know less that they can also be very interesting for our horse. And yet, this polyunsaturated fatty acid can do much for its physical and mental health, not to mention the beauty of its coat.

To understand the role and what are the benefits of omega 3 for horses, Here we take stock of its action and the different natural sources that you can give your animal.

Small presentation of omega 3

Before you understand why they are so important to your horse, let's try toLearn more about omega 3.

It is a lipid, more precisely a lipid.polyunsaturated fatty acid. It owes its name to the double bonds of its hydrocarbon chain located on the Carbon. The main omega 3 are

• eicosapentaenoic (EPA),
• Docosahexaenoic (DHA)
• and alpha-linolenic acid (or ALA).

Without going into details, omega 3 are part of the large family of essential fatty acids. They are considered to be such because the organism (ours as the one of horses) cannot produce it alone. It is therefore necessary to draw them from the diet to cover our daily intakes and avoid the risk of deficiency.

An omega 3 deficiency may indeed prove dangerous to the health of your horse. His body uses them to produce very important molecules, including those classified in the category of signal molecules. This is the case, for example, of prostaglandins, which control certain physiological processes vital to our body, such as the inflammatory reaction.
 

A balanced omega 3 and omega 6 ratio

Beyond the omega 3 contribution of your horse, it is also important to monitoring its omega intake 6.

The balance between the two is essential to the good health of your horse because if omega 3 are mainly converted into a molecule blocking the inflammatory reaction, omega 6 are considered pro-inflammatory.

The optimal ratio between omega 3 and 6 was not determined for the horse. But data available in humans and other animals can be used. It is certainly so between 1/4 and 1/6.

Horses that consume a lot of fresh grass and few cereals will usually not have a very important supply of omega-6. It's a good thing, because although an excessive inflammatory response is bad for her health, she remains in some cases, such as healing a wound.

By adding omega 3 to your horse's diet, you will help restore the balance between anti- and pro-inflammatory compounds.

The health benefits of omega 3

Now that we understand better the role of omega 3 in your horse's body, we will be able to dig thea number of benefits that a fatty acid intake can have on its health.

The natural properties of omega 3 many. Here are the most interesting for your pet:

1. Omega 3 reduce horse stress

One of the main benefits of omega 3 for horses is their calming effect. Horses that are supplemented with essential fatty acids are indeed generally quieter due to lower resting heart rate and decreased cortisol levels.

Your horse can be easier to handle, especially if you have to carry it. A good amount of omega 3 would also reduce some of the behaviours associated with containment in a box, such as supporting tick.

2. Essential fatty acids promote respiratory health

It is also considered that an omega 3 intake can help to reduce cough In the horse. More generally, it is a good natural way to improve lung function (especially by reducing inflammation of the lungs in horses suffering from asthma or emphysema).

3. Omegas 3 improve joint health

If your horse suffers from arthritis, an omega 3 little supplementt relieve pain by reducing inflammatory markers. You will see that he will be less reluctant to go out to exercise and that his strides will gradually lengthen.

One study It was also shown that an omega 3 (especially DHA) intake reduced the inflammatory reaction and lameness.

4. Improve hair quality and reduce skin allergies

Omega 3 also have benefits for the skin and coat of your horse. Higher levels of omega 3 fatty acids result in a healthier, lustrous and shiny hair. 

But omega 3 strengthen the skin protection function, helping to maintain hydration and counter irritants. This is particularly interesting for horses who are hypersensitive to insect bites and who will develop allergic reactions like the dermit. 

A diet rich in ALA (e.g. in flaxseed) will reduce this sensitivity and skin allergies.

5. Omega 3 facilitate digestion

An omega 3 addition also allows‘increase digestibility Power supply you give to your horse. Essential fatty acids will regulate and protect the stomach by reducing gastric acid production.

The latter causes too fast fermentation of sugars and starch and therefore causes acidosis in the large intestine of your horse.

In addition to facilitating digestion, omega 3 supplementation can also be beneficial for horses with equine metabolic syndrome, or too much sensitivity to insulin. It reduces the formation of fatty deposits and reduces the risk of fencing and obesity.

6. Essential fatty acids improve endurance to horse effort

Among the benefits of omega 3 for the most interesting horse, you should also mention their effects on the physical shape of your animal. The latter allow better store glycogen, an important source of energy for horses. An increase in essential fatty acids will therefore prevent them from exhausting too quickly.

More generally, omega 3 are known to improve exercise tolerance and horse performance. They prevent muscle damage by reducing the level of creatine kinase in the blood. Not to mention that by increasing the production of antioxidant enzymes (including glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase), omega 3 l will help to recover more easily.

7. omega 3 and horse reproductive health

Finally, omega 3 are recognized as an essential supplement to the reproductive health of mares, But also standards. A diet rich in DHA will indeed improve the quality of their semen. Indeed, it allows an increase in the number of sperms of good morphology and improves their mobility.

In mare, omega 3 also increase egg quality. In addition, they boost the immunological quality of the colostrum and hence the immunity of the foal. Studies have also shown that an omega 3 intake (especially DHA) during pregnancy facilitates new tasks of foals, such as deburring. Vegetable oils are also used in the lean horse to make it fat. This avoids giving too much concentrate.

How do I boost my horse's omega 3 inputs?

Omega 3 is found in many foods or supplements for horses.

They are for example tPresent in seeds andFlax oil, but also in algae and crustaceans. To facilitate the omega 3 intake of your horse, and gradually introduce to its ration, we recommend you to opt for fish oils.

The sea omega 3 are richer in EPA and DHA omega 3 of plant origin but they are fatter. 

Our laboratory offers an omega 3 rich cod liver oilbut also vitamin D. It will be particularly effective for older horses who lack appetite and energy, and will help improve their condition and facilitate moulting. It is also advised in case of cushing syndrome.

We also proposeSeaweed oil which represents a sustainable and contaminant-free alternative, providing essential fatty acids directly from their primary source.

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