Omega/EFA Supplement Opinons?

[Jersey_Fresh]

@horsegurl

Yes to all! Extra cool calories. Want her to fill out a bit more–if possible. Her “thoroughbed is showing” (1/2 Hanoverian). She came in with a shitty coat, but our good hay has helped. Inflammation mitigation always popular, but not really a problem right now. TC has other products besides the ground flax that look good. Need to call and get their sales pitch on that.

Honestly if you just want a shiny coat and a bit of weight, I’d just get some canola oil and call it good. Its O6FA:O3FA ratio is 2:1.

No shame in adding extra calories, especially when you have one that is tougher to keep weight. You can safely add up to 2c/d of oil to a ration and would be just straight calories. I would honestly try that before any of the more expensive supplements unless you are specifically looking to add EPA/DHA to the diet (and in that case, you need a O3FA supplement that is fish oil based). My older horse is a bit tough in the winter, so on top of a high fat feed, he gets a big glug twice a day. He is one that in the summer he will look like a round WB if I am not careful, so I have change his diet seasonally (he is 19 so I tend to keep him on the lower end of ideal BC during the event season).

My younger guy is an easier keeper, but he gets oil as well because it makes his coat super shiny.

[Palm_Beach]

@horsegurl

Hi PB,
Not doing much outside of hay–Hay pellets (mix including alfalfa) morning and noon, hay at nite. 1/2 scoop Ultium (probably not even necessary if only 1/2 a scoop!!) and 1/2 scoop 30% Ration Balancer (Triple Crown). Ration balancer helped a lot. I just want her to fill out in the rump and neck/whither/top line a bit. She needs more muscle on that top line too, and that’s going to be work, not feed…
She looks good, but I think can look better. Other horses in the barn look great (we are an Equine Omega barn, extra $$ but I am concerned about the O3 to O6 ratio–still considering though), so I don’t think we have a “poor feed” problem.

Do you know how much hay she is getting? I’d put her on free choice hay to start off with, that will be the healthiest and least expensive way to put good weight on her. I would choose either the Ultium OR the TC30, but maybe not use both at this point. Ultium is a premium feed and meant to be fed at aminimum of 6 lbs a day. You are probably only feeding 1.5 -2 lbs a day. And you do need feed to build muscle - specifically a feed with quality protein. Both the Ultium and TC30 have this. Progressive loading will build muscle, but the horse needs energy to get through the ride and build muscle as well.

I don’t think you have a poor feed program, but you may be underfeeding your horse. I don’t think you need an expensive supplement. I would not hesistate to feed this horse 20 lbs of hay a day if she will eat it and it’s good hay. If you still want her to gain weight, I’d increase the Ultium, and consider feeding 6 lbs of Ultium and ditch the TC30. The fewer things you feed, the easier it will be to balance the diet. If you want a fat suppement for shiny coat and hoof quality and you are concerned about the omegas, I’d feed flax.

[horsegurl]

Thanks Palm Beach!