Oils are a highly debated topic in equine nutrition, and their use in horse feeds can divide people.
The type, quality and quantity of oil, along with the state of your horse’s gastrointestinal health and body condition, should all be considered before adding oil to your horse’s feed.
However, if you feed your horse oil of any kind, there is another important consideration that is often overlooked:
How are you storing it?
Oil exposed to heat, light and air can rapidly oxidise (become rancid). And importantly, this process can happen long before we can smell or taste that something is ‘off’.
Why does this matter?
Rancid oil is not harmless.
As oil oxidises, it produces oxidation products that can contribute to oxidative stress and inflammatory processes in the body.
This is particularly important because many people feed oil with the intention of supporting their horse’s health and, in many cases, specifically to help reduce inflammation.
If that oil has been poorly stored and has oxidised, you may be inadvertently feeding something that works against the outcome you are trying to achieve, by potentially exacerbating inflammation.
So, if you feed oil, there are several simple things you can do to help preserve its quality:
- Store it in an opaque, light-proof container. No clear bottles, particularly if the oil is exposed to light.
- Always keep the lid well screwed on. Only take the lid off when pouring out oil for feed time.
- Don’t add oil to horse feeds ahead of time. Add it at the time of feeding.
- Store oil in a cool, dark place. Keep it out of direct sunlight and out of sheds or feed rooms that become hot.
- Use it as quickly as possible after opening. Don’t use oil that has been sitting open for months (even if it has been stored in accordance to all the previously mentioned factors).
It’s easy to overlook how we store oils, but if we are feeding them for their health benefits, we need to make sure we are looking after the oil properly too.
Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.
As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.
