Rapeseed oil for horses – benefits, dosage and good advice

Rapeseed oil for horses – stable energy without anxiety

When feeding horses low in sugar and starch, oil is an important source of energy.
One of the most available and used oils is rapeseed oil - but what can it actually contribute to your horse's feeding?

Energy from fibers and oil

Many horses can actually cover 60–70% of their energy needs by converting fiber into short-chain fatty acids, which are absorbed in the large intestine. In addition, you can supplement with common cooking oils such as rapeseed oil or hemp seed oil as an additional and gentle source of energy.

Why rapeseed oil?

Rapeseed oil contains approximately 2.5 times as much energy as starch and sugar, but without causing large fluctuations in blood sugar (Harris et al., 2017; GEH, 2020).
This means that your horse can get stable and calm energy that can be used for work, without the horse becoming "hot" or restless.

Benefits of rapeseed oil in horse feed

• Stable energy for the muscles → can improve endurance and performance (GEH, 2020)
• No blood sugar fluctuations → contributes to calmness and concentration (Harris & Ellis, 2017)
• Gentle on the metabolism → stress from grains and starch is avoided (Ralston, 2017)
• Easy to dose → easy to mix into mash or crib feed

Omega-3 and omega-6 in rapeseed oil

Some people believe that rapeseed oil contains “too much omega-6” compared to omega-3. But this is a misconception.

Rapeseed oil consists mainly of omega-9 (oleic acid) , which is neutral in the body, and has a ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 of approximately 2:1 . This corresponds largely to the body's own natural ratio. Therefore, rapeseed oil can be called body-identical .

On the other hand, RC O3 Algae Oil is used to correct when there is a major imbalance, where the horse gets too much omega-6 in relation to omega-3 - a situation that can promote inflammation in the body.

👉 Also remember that horses actually need a certain amount of omega-6 – especially their skin. Horses with itchy and dry skin can benefit from the omega-6 in rapeseed oil.

The unbalanced ratio that you should be wary of is found especially in oils such as sunflower, safflower, corn and grapeseed oil.
Rapeseed oil and hemp oil, on the other hand, have a more balanced ratio of omega-3 to omega-6.

Where does the horse get omega-6 from naturally?

Horses naturally get omega-6 fatty acids through their feed. Grass and hay contain small amounts, but it is especially grains (oats, barley, corn) and vegetable oils with a lot of omega-6, such as sunflower, safflower and corn oil, that contribute large amounts.

If the horse gets too much omega-6 in relation to omega-3, it can create an imbalance in the body and increase the tendency towards inflammation.

Something similar applies to feeding with high levels of sugar and starch. Here the problem is not the fatty acids from the oils, but that large amounts of sugar and starch can cause fluctuations in blood sugar and stress the hormonal system. This can increase the risk of obesity, insulin resistance and, in the worst case, lameness .

Therefore, it is important to choose the right sources of both fatty acids and energy – for example, rapeseed oil or hemp oil, which have a more balanced ratio between omega-3 and omega-6, and fiber as the basis for the energy supply.

How much rapeseed oil can you give?

• Always start slowly so the horse's digestion can get used to the oil.
• Typically, 50–300 ml can be fed per day depending on the horse's size, activity level and energy needs (NRC, 2007; Harris et al., 2017)
• Remember to adjust the rest of the feeding plan so that the horse does not get too many calories.

When rapeseed oil is a good choice

• For horses that need extra energy without becoming restless
• For frugal horses where grains and starches should preferably be avoided
• For horses in training that need more endurance energy

Conclusion

Rapeseed oil is an accessible and effective way to give your horse more energy – without the challenges that can come with sugar and starch.

Together with fiber, rapeseed oil can form the basis for calm, blood sugar-neutral energy that supports the horse's performance, digestion and well-being.

Want to know more about the difference between plant oils and marine sources of omega-3?

Read our blog post about Horses and Omega 3 .

Or do you want the same benefits from oil and fiber combined in one product?

Then +Energy Fiber Mash is an obvious choice:

• Contains both oil (rapeseed, flaxseed, etc.) and fermentable fiber
• Provides stable energy without restlessness – perfect for horses in training or horses that need to gain weight
• Simultaneously supports digestion and intestinal flora

Read more in our blog post about +Energy Fiber Mash .

Sources

• Harris, PA, & Ellis, AD (2017). Feeding oils to horses: effects on metabolism and performance. Equine Veterinary Education, 29(3), 151–160.
• National Research Council (NRC). (2007). Nutrient Requirements of Horses: Sixth Revised Edition. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
• Palmgren, A., et al. (2019). Fatty acid composition of common vegetable oils and implications for equine nutrition. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 103(2), 509–517.
• Ralston, SL (2017). Carbohydrate metabolism and nutrition in horses. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice, 33(1), 1–15.
• German Equestrian Federation (GEH). (2020). Feeding Horses – Guidelines for Good Practice.