flax seed

[Equitating]

I read that flax seed will put a super bloom on the horse's coat. It is heating like oats? I need some type of grain to mix my horse's fly control pellets with but sweet feed makes her very hyper.

[lisae]

I was feeding flax seed (ground in coffee grinder fresh every day) for allergies and it worked great and added a shine to the coat. However, I never fed more than a half-cup at a time and added it to other feed - some horses don't like the taste.

[Wally]

It should be boiled before giving it to horses as it is toxic raw!

Veg. oil has the same effect, but only a few spoons a day as horses cannot absorb much more.

[Equitating]

WOW...toxic??!! Glad I asked first! Thanks, Wally.

[lisae]

I recently was given a horse care manual published out of the UK that says the same, boil first. However, I had never heard that over here in the States, and had no trouble with the horse that needed the flax as a supplement. www.flax.com has a FAQ section that says it's alright to feed as long as your selenium levels are OK. We have to supplement selenium for broodmares in our area, there isn't much in the soil. The omega 3 oils in the stuff are supposed to be what's so good for the allergies and coats.

[Mehitabel]

some of our liveries use linseed pellets for coat shine - about a handful in each feed. it makes a real difference, and you don't have to worry about boillling and all that nonsense! they're £1.50 for a bag about half a carrier bag size from our local feed merchant.

[Wally]

Go and buy cattle cake linseed by the 25kg sack. Share amoung your friends, it's much cheaper! It has been treated and can be fed as a pellet.

Linseed is wonderfull stuff, soak overnight and boil for an few hours, it comes out the consistency of snot! the horses love it though.

[Danae]

Hmm I've never heard of boiling/soaking flax. The recommended amount is feed 2 ounces for the first week to really build your horse up and then 1 ounce a day. I feed it to Hopi to blossom her out. They also use flax for strangles. I also feed Empower. It is a supplement made by Nutrena feeds. It has rice bran, flax, and linseed I believe. I've just started feeding it so I have not seen a different yet, I will update you on how it does.

[Cathy Reynolds]

I've just bought some linseed oil (NAF) for Henry. Thanks for the tip about cattlew cake linseed. The fram next door make loads of cattle feed so I shall 'enquire'!