Hemp oil for horses - is it healthy?
Everyone who behaves horse or is behind them knows that their health is extremely important. Whether it's the whole immune system, horn growth, or the support of joints and ligaments, horse is the first place for us. Can hemp oil naturally help and support his body?
Hemp oil actually enriches its diet
If, for example, a vegetable oil is not added to the feed for horses, it is very low in fat. Typically, they contain less than 3-4% by weight.
A little fat is needed to promote the absorption of fat soluble vitamins - A, D, E and K. The horse also needs a small amount of essential fatty acids called linoleic and alpha-linolenic acid. Biochemically, linoleic acid is called omega-6 fatty acid and alpha-linolenic acid omega-3 fatty acid. The difference between omega-6 and omega-3 is in their chemical structure and in the double bond position in the fatty acid carbon chain. The mutual interest of both fatty acids attracts great interest; above all, that diets are more preferred, that contain more omega-3 fatty acids than omega-6 because they are supposed to have greater health benefits.
Hemp oil dosage
The digestive tract of horses is able to digest a fairly large amount of fats, although digestive problems (diarrhea) may appear after the rapid addition of large amounts of fat to the feed. In general, oil should be added to the feed in a gradually increasing amount for two to three weeks.
Hemp oil and its effectiveness
Adding fat (and sources of highly digestible fiber such as fodder beet) to the feed ration will, to a certain extent, reduce the amount of kernel (and starch) delivered. This approach can help stabilize the environment of the intestine and prevent digestive disorders. First point for fats.
If we talk about "hot-blooded" horses, it is well known that nervous temperament is one of the factors contributing to tying-up episodes in recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis (RER), which is a genetic condition of recurrent skeletal muscle disease with a physical load of horses), a disease known primarily among racehorse and trotters. It is also confirmed that diets rich in fats and fiber (as compared to core-based diets) help manage horses affected by RER, perhaps because they have a "soothing" effect due to higher fat content.
A diet rich in fats and poor in starch and sugars is also essential for managing horses affected by myopathies from polysaccharide deposition.
Eventually, the oil added to the feed can positively affect the appearance of the skin and hooves. Clinically, hair and hooves will get a shiny, healthier look when the horses are fed with a fat-based diet. Another point for fats.
How to build the right feeding dose
Hemp oil can be used all year round to improve the quality of hair and skin in dermatological patients, especially the mosquitoes, to support the energetic metabolism of horses of all categories, to protect tissues from oxidative stress, for sports horses in stress, for high-quality overcoats, suitable for horses susceptible to solidification of muscles (tying-up).
