Why Feed Fat To Horses?

Feeding fat to horses has often been a topic of heavy debate. Current research indicates that supplementing essential fatty acids to horses is not only useful, but may very well be a requirement in certain circumstances.

The question becomes, when should someone feed their horse a fat supplement?

Well, there is not a clear cut answer to this question. Actually, almost anyone could justify feeding essential fatty acids to their horse for their health promoting benefits. Horses on pasture eat plants that are living. Living plants contain fatty acids as a part of their cell wall structure.

Horses on pasture also eat seed heads of grasses and other grains that also contain a large amount of essential fatty acids. Unfortunately, typical equine diets today lack essential fatty acids as grains are processed and hay is dried damaging the natural fatty acid content that was once abundant.

Essential fatty acids (EFA’s) are important for many biological processes in the body. They are critical for the production of hormones and cell membranes. As well as absorption of fat soluble vitamins, A,D, E, & K. They supply energy (calories) and have numerous other functions. The body metabolizes essential fats in the small intestine, converts them to another fat substance known as a tri-glyceride, which can then be stored for energy or used as an immediate source of fuel.

Feeding fat to your horse can help in several aspects of his diet. First, the obvious, feeding fat is important for your horse to have a healthy, shiny hair coat. Many individuals overlook all of the other benefits of feeding fat because they simply like the way it makes their horses look. Yes, feeding essential fatty acids can give your horse a beautiful, lustrous coat. Secondly, and more importantly, fatty acids provide a dense source of calories.

Calories from fat are 2.5 times greater than that of protein and carbohydrates. Feeding fat as a source of calories provides for a sustained source of caloric energy. What is fed early in the morning is slowly metabolized and utilized throughout the day. Horses are very efficient in utilizing and digesting fat as a source of fuel.

Because essential fatty acids are so efficient in providing calories to the equine diet, many horses that are considered “hard keepers” benefit greatly as it slows gastric emptying and stabilizes blood sugar as well as being a dense “calming” energy source, this results in stable weight gain while preventing blood sugar related mood swings.

Thirdly, essential fatty acids produce anti-inflammatory substances in the body. These substances are important for proper immune function, the prevention of arthritis, proper collagen formation, etc…. A fourth reason to feed fat – it may enhance feed palatability. Feeding unprocessed (unrefined) oils provides a pleasant aroma and taste to the horse allowing you to blend supplements, reduce dust and reduce the amount of molasses you have added to your horse’s feed.

Another popular aspect of feeding fat is the anecdotal evidence that it may reduce the incidence of colic since oil works as an intestinal lubricant. There are plenty of reasons to be feeding your horse EFA’s. Most horses, if not all could greatly benefit from the addition of essential fatty acids to their diet.