As you look at your horses’ diet, it is important to remember that horses need a balance of both omega-3 and -6 fatty acids for optimal health and performance. One isn’t necessarily better than the other; they simply have different roles in the body and must be in balance with each other for optimal health.

As herbivores and nomadic grazers, horses are naturally adapted to a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids (ALA) compared to omega-6 fatty acids (LA). The little bit of fat found in forages, particularly fresh pasture, is naturally high in ALA whereas oils from grains and seeds tend to be higher in LA.

Diets that include supplemental fat along with grain concentrates may have a skewed ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids, and might not be as beneficial as a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Dietary supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids has been shown to provide numerous benefits to horses, pets, and humans including:

• Improved skin and hair coat quality;
• Decreased joint pain in arthritic individuals;
• Improved bone formation;
• Reproductive benefits;
• Prevention of gastric ulcers;
• Anti-inflammatory effects;
• Alleviate allergic hyperactivity;
• Support horses in heavy work; and
• Reduce exercise-induced bronchiole constriction.

Unfortunately, scientists have not yet pinpointed the ideal ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids for horses; however, fortifying a diet with these fatty acids to achieve a ratio of 2 to 5:1 omega-3 (ALA, EPA, and DHA) to omega-6 (LA) could provide some key benefits to your horse