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- Omega 3
Omega 3
Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids must be provided through diet, and they have a number of important functions in the body, but unless a horse has access to fresh pasture year round, then it is highly unlikely that he is receiving adequate Omega-3s.
In the past, supplementing horses with Omega-3s has been a tricky or time consuming business. Supermarket vegetable oils have had their molecular structure altered to prolong self life, so they are not a viable option, and fresh options such as ground linseed are messy and time consuming. Alternative equine supplements are available in liquid form, but they usually need to be kept refrigerated, which can be a nuisance if a customers’ feed shed is nowhere near their kitchen fridge! Our OMEGA-3 supplement overcomes all of these problems: the essential fatty acids are encapsulated in an outer starch coating, resulting in a dry powder supplement that is easy to use and easy to store.
Whilst all horses can benefit from the health benefits of supplementary Omega-3s, this product is particularly beneficial in the following circumstances:
Osteoarthritis and Lameness
Omega3 has direct anti-inflammatory actions that can be helpful in the management of osteoarthritis and lameness. Increased concentrations of Omega3 compete with the pro-inflammatory effects of Omega6 reducing the amount of inflammation in joints.
Performance Horses
The positive effects of Omega3 on joint inflammation is also beneficial to performance horses subjected to high-impact, high-stress training. In exercised horses Omega3 has been shown to decrease heart rate and lower blood pressure. With Omega3 supplementation blood viscosity is reduced, improving blood flow to muscles which in turn helps reduce muscle damage during exercise.
Breeding Animals
Supplementing stallions with Omega3 results in increases in sperm volume and percentage of normal sperm. For broodmares, supplementary Omega3 increases concentration in plasma and milk which may confer an improved immune response for mare and foal. Testimonial evidence also suggests improved conception for supplemented mares.
Insulin Resistance
Research in other species has shown that Omega3 can improve insulin sensitivity, and in particular Omega3 from marine sources improve glucose transport from the blood into cells.