Feeding Linseed to benefit your horse's energy
Feeding your horse involves balancing the energy required for fitness and the level of work they are doing. There needs to be a combination of feeding the necessary amounts of nutrition, whilst avoiding excess fizz and not enough stamina. There is a balance between feeding enough for the physical demands, but also using a controlled energy source which allows the horse to stay focused.
Slow-release energy
Energy without the fizz is a much used and recognised expression and to achieve this, a horse will need a feed which consists of energy sources that release energy over a prolonged period of time. This is in essence a high fibre diet which also needs to include super fibres as well as oil but should be low in starch, so less cereal based ingredients are recommended. Too much energy can cause the horse to lose concentration, not enough can result in them lacking in power and impulsion.
Developing horses also require protein for crucial growth and repair of muscles as this in turn increases strength and builds topline which can then assist with the prevention of injury. Research shows that 50% of the amino acid ‘building blocks’ of protein a horse requires needs to be provided through diet.
How should you feed for energy?
When considering what to put in the feed bowl, it’s important to note what your horse actually needs, what it can digest and absorb (digestible energy), and what it can tolerate. For example, as a horse can only tolerate medium levels of starch and sugars (less for compromised horses) oil can be an important energy supplement. Utilising oil as an energy source, to supplement energy from fibre can reduce overall starch intake.
Micronised Cooked Linseed, apart from its many benefits as a conditioning feed, being rich in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids among many other benefits, is also an excellent source of oil, with up to 40% content, giving the product a Digestible Energy of 22 Mj/kg. It consists of mainly long chain fatty acids which are very readily absorbed, and either go to storage (as does glucose if in excess) or enters the TCA cycle. The energy flow from oil is greater than starches and sugars and so less needs to be fed.
Micronised Cooked Linseed is not only an excellent product to supply slow-release energy, but also provides the omega fatty acids that contribute to skin and coat condition, general well-being and regulatory mechanisms which are responsible for maintaining the core body temperature of a horse.
British Horse Feeds’ Cooked Linseed is an ideal product. With 39% oil, almost a half of which is as omega-3 fatty acids, it provides a protein source rich in components that help provide the right kind of energy, maintain musculature and recovery, is easy to feed. Cooked Linseed provides the energy, simplicity and versatility of a complementary feed for the competition horse. Ready to feed straight from the sack, Cooked Linseed is a good nutritious feed for energy, performance, condition, skin and coat and wellbeing and is also suitable for those prone to laminitis.
Don't just take our word for it...
Well-known event rider and young horse producer, Heidi Woodhead has a yard of talented youngsters based near York. Heidi and her husband Ian’s horses always look in the best of health with the support of sponsor British Horse Feeds.
“At DHI Event Horses, we feed British Horse Feeds Cooked Linseed as a staple part of our horses’ daily diets, alongside Fibre-Beet. It is fed to all of our horses from the very youngest up to top level competition. I am delighted with how well the horses look. Fibre-Beet is fantastic for helping to keep the horses in excellent condition and since adding the Cooked Linseed their coats have definitely improved to another level.
“The feed is great for adapting their diets whether a young horse just starting out and needing extra condition to the horses that are fit and out eventing, that need to have plenty of stamina for the cross-country but be calm and focused for the dressage.”
