Horse breeding from planning through foal care

Prevention and treatment for problems of the equine foot

Proper feeding practices for foals, adult horses, and older horses

Discussions about the welfare of our equine friends

Horse-heath-problem risk factors, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment

How to care for the basic health needs of horses

All aspects of caring for performance horses

Design and maintain a healthy horse operation

Prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of leg lameness

News and issues for equine health professionals

Cover Story

The Many Faces of Equine Metabolic Syndrome

Unveiling what EMD and ID really look like.

Also in this Issue

Post-Foaling Red Flags
HERDA 20 Years Later
Strangles: An Old Disease in a Modern World
Before She Foals: Managing Broodmares
Beneath the Hoof Wall: Soft Tissues Injuries of the Equine Foot

Latest Q&A

4 Ways to Boost Soil Health on Horse Farms

April 22, 2024

Q&As

Equine Behavior

Our animal behavior experts field your questions about why your horse does XYZ.

Horse Nutrition

Equine nutritionists respond to queries about forage, grain, supplements, and other related topics.

Performance Horse Health

Veterinarians and researchers tackle questions about equine athletes.

Featured Podcasts

Navigating Skin Problems in Horses

Can PPID or EMS Affect My Horse’s Joints?

Podcasts

Ask 'TheHorse' Live

The Horse’s experts answer your questions during a monthly live audio event.

Equine Innovators

Join us as we interview leading equine researchers from the University of Kentucky.

Fact Sheet: Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID)

Fact Sheet: Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) in Horses

Free Reports:

View All Free Reports

Quick referenced of horse conditions, diseases and health topics

Forms

Checklists and identification forms for horse owners

The Best Form of Flax for Your Horse

September 23, 2019
Posted by Clair Thunes, PhD

Do you want to give your horse the benefit of omega-3-rich flax but aren’t sure if you should feed it whole, ground, stabilized, or as an oil? Our nutrition expert helps sort through the differences.

Topics: Article, Commentary, Horse Care, Horse Nutrition Commentary Series, Nutrition, Other Supplements, Supplements

Favorite

No account yet? Register

Flax is a good source of plant-based omega-3 fatty acids and has become a popular supplement for horses for improving coat quality and as a way to support a healthy inflammatory response. | Photo: iStock

Q. I’d like to start supplementing my horse with flax to improve his coat quality. My friend recommended that I buy ground stabilized flax. I went to the feed store and found it had flax oil. Additionally, the feed store sells whole flaxseeds that are far cheaper than the ground or the oil. I’ve read that horses cannot digest whole flaxseed. Is that true, and which form of flax should I buy?

A. Flax is a good source of plant-based omega-3 fatty acids and has become a popular supplement for horses for improving coat quality and as a way to support a healthy inflammatory response.

Whole Flaxseeds

Flaxseeds are small and hard, and if you’ve ever had them in your breakfast cereal or in whole grain bread, you know they become slimy once in contact with saliva. This is thanks to the mucilage that forms when they become wet. They can also be tricky to chew

Create a free account with TheHorse.com to view this content.

TheHorse.com is home to thousands of free articles about horse health care. In order to access some of our exclusive free content, you must be signed into TheHorse.com.

Start your free account today!

Already have an account?
and continue reading.

Favorite

No account yet? Register

Written by:

Clair Thunes, PhD

Clair Thunes, PhD, is an equine nutritionist who owns Clarity Equine Nutrition, based in Gilbert, Arizona. She works as a consultant with owners/trainers and veterinarians across the United States and globally to take the guesswork out of feeding horses and provides services to select companies. As a nutritionist she works with all equids, from WEG competitors to Miniature donkeys and everything in between. Born in England, she earned her undergraduate degree at Edinburgh University, in Scotland, and her master’s and doctorate in nutrition at the University of California, Davis. Growing up, she competed in a wide array of disciplines and was an active member of the U.K. Pony Club. Today, she serves as the district commissioner for the Salt River Pony Club.

3 Responses

Kailani Farm says:

August 27, 2023 at 1:21 pm

What type of Flax is used in horse products? blue, yellow, Red? Perennial or annul type?
lisa rappleyea says:

August 25, 2023 at 7:23 am

Can Flax seed help with respiratory allergies in reducing inflammation in the lungs?
Cheryle Poddubiuk says:

September 30, 2019 at 9:59 am

Micronized linseed can be fed at 1 cup per day for a horse and 1/2 cup for a pony. It has the advantage of a long shelf life, provides fibre as well as oil and doesn’t leave an oily residue in the feed bowl like the oil does.