Chia Seed for horses

[jm2]

Here is a really good informative video about chia and other fat sources: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVGjDTDw1YY&feature=related

According to Tigger (the lady in the video) we should only feed chia from Mexico, Bolivia and Ecuador. We also should be feeding it wet (gel).

Feeding rate is 2-4 TB. per feeding. 1/3 of a cup for metabolic horses.

Here is their website for BioStar EQ - I had never heard of them until someone sent me this video: http://www.biostareq.com/ Lots of interesting stuff on there about feeding whole foods. BTW - they offer a 5 lb. bag for $46. Organic.

I’d love to try chia, but I’ve got to find a source I can afford. I currently feed NutraFlax and go through 40 lbs. in about 5-6 weeks with my 4.

[JusticeDraft9875]

I found it at costco for 3.30 a pound. It really is great stuff. I started feeding it to my epsm guy because of the great omega ratios and now everyone gets it. Coats and feet have never looked better! I feed it in paste form and it is supposed to help prevent sand colic. We have a total sand base here and makes me feel better!

[maryleecurtis]

Can you still find them at this price?

[Nanerpus]

I drink a bottle of water with chia seeds in it everyday…it has really helped my digestion! I do want to mention though, that they recommend you don’t eat it/drink it without giving it time to soak up the water - it will pull H20 from your digestive tract if not as it’s very absorbant - hence instead of hydrating you it can make you dehydrated…so let it soak up water for about 5 minutes first. My dogs get a small teaspoon of chia “gel” once a day as well.

[Nanerpus]

[QUOTE=Nezzy;6087439]
lol, i call them Tadpole eggs. Yes they form a gel around each individual seed.[/QUOTE]

Haha! My parents take it now too and we all refer to it as “frog eggs”…“Did you take your frog eggs yet today??” :lol:

[ponysize]

Horsetech has a new performance vitamin called Fuel that has Chia seed in it. They don’t have it on their website yet, but you can order it over the phone. It contains a full dose of the Highpoint grass or alfalfa, depending on your version, plus added fat, flax, and chia seeds. My performance ponies love it.

[Belg]

chia seeds remind me of tobiko… minus the orange dye, of course… been taking them for a week or so now, and soaking them overnight to make a good slime first.

Not yummy, but not repulsive either. do feel positive benefits almost immediately.

Was considering it for hrose health, too… glad someone had a thread on it. I’d be a little leery of doing unsoaked seeds for a horse though… it absorbs moisture, right? That would seem like a bad thing to me… but I’m sure soaked would be just fine.

[wineberrywillie]

Chia treats

I just found a great chia treat called Mrs. Tullamore’s Treats. A friend gave me a bucket as a b-day gift. She said they are homemade by a lifelong horse owner…all I know is my horse loved them! Jasper is almost done the bucket & I can’t find them in the PA area, so I guess I have to order from a tack shop from the GA area.

They are worth it!!!

www.mrs.tullamorestreats.com

[Samotis]

Just wanted to see who out there is feeding chia. I just put my 4 year old on it again. He had been on it when he was a baby but not since.

I found it fairly cheap, and equine chia gave some good info on it.

I just put mine on his feed with a couple of drops of water to get it to stick to the feed. He eats it fine. He would not eat the blue pop rocks. At all. :sadsmile:

My guy had a very stressful last few months and now that he has a break before the next shows, I wanted to see how he does on the chia.

I actually made great horse treats with chia seed, licorice, fenugreek, apple and molasses. My horses loved them, wish I had the money to develop a brand for them, I think they could be a great stomach soother treat for horses at shows!

[cloudyandcallie]

Cloudy and Hattie eat their human grade (since I eat some of theirs) getchia.com seeds daily. Chia seeds were in short supply this past summer. I buy the 3 big bags (12 pounds total) at a time to save shipping. I feed it for the omega3’s, not for the “shine.” And if you google chia seeds, you’ll see where the Indians out west used them for hydration.

After i read about chia seeds on coth a few years ago, I went to ebay and found getchia.com. Now I order direct from them. Coth is a great source for info. Someone on here had posted that her vet told her t o use chia seeds to help prevent colic.

[kwilhide]

I order from here:
http://www.nuts.com/cookingbaking/chia-seeds/premium.html

Very reputable, and they come in one day. They have delicious stuff, and very high quality.

[TBRedHead]

Chiafarms.com

Total for 5# w/ shipping to CA was $37… You’re welcome. I’m now worshipping my girlfriend who just told me about them!

[nasalberry]

Here is where I’ve been buying mine for the last 4 - 5 years. Food grade; I eat it as well as my horse.
They frequently run sales - FREE (and fast!) SHIPPING!
http://www.chiaseedsdirect.com/

[ActNatural]

I put them in my overnight oats and let them suck up moisture from the milk and applesauce. Yum!

[Bogie]

[QUOTE=Melyni;4039092]
Do have any actual digestion data for that claim?
I’d say that they had about the same digestibility as flax and flax will do the same job if you feed it whole.

Very little actual research data on chia, lots of anecdote.
Yours
MW[/QUOTE]

I tried Chia and went back to feeding whole flax. It’s so much less expensive! And no, I do not have a lot of sprouts in my manure pile. I’ve been feeding whole flax for many years.

[rasowy]

I have been feeding chia seeds to my OTTB who has terrible seasonal allergies that trigger photo-sensitivity and headshaking. He is usually so bad he is un-ride-able in the summer. However, this year he’s doing great! He’s a little sneezy, but no headshaking and he’s not running for the shade every time the sun comes out! I was a huge skeptic … but I’m a believer now.

[sassy45]

This must be the day of dragging up threads form years ago…This is a 8 year old thread.

[ASB_Stars]

So, we have someone with their first post saying that the Chia is amazing, and cures all manner of ills- any updates from when this was first posted?

[cloudyandcallie]

Well Cloudy and Hattie are still eating their chia seeds from getchia.com.

[rollingabout]

http://www.beachbody.com/beachbodyblog/nutrition/how-to-make-chia-pudding

I made this and it was fantastic!

http://www.beachbody.com/beachbodyblog/nutrition/chocolate-chia-pudding-with-dried-strawberries-recipe