Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of fat in a horse's diet?

Fat has two functions in our horse feeding programs. Fat provides essential fatty acids that are needed for vitamin absorption, skin and hair quality. We include low levels of vegetable oil in horse diets to make show horses' coats shiny. Most horses need only 3 or 4 percent fat in the diet to meet these needs. Fat is also used by the horse as an energy source. The addition of fat to concentrates increases the energy density of the diet and will allow you to meet the horse's energy needs with less feed. Fat addition also allows the reduction of starch in the diet, which can make some horses more manageable. Corn oil, soybean oil, flaxseed and stabilized rice bran (20percent fat) are the most popular choices.