Omega-3 in practice: RC O3 Algeolie

Short version: see the overview

Omega-3 is a fatty acid your horse cannot produce itself. If it gets hay or haylage instead of fresh grass, a gap opens up on its own. Here is the full background, the dosage situation by situation and practical tips for when your horse is fussy.

Maintenance: 2.5 ml per 100 kg of horse per day, 5 ml if you want to give extra. So a 500 kg horse gets 12.5 ml or 25 ml a day.

If you feed Peak Performance, it already contains RC O3 Algeolie, so you normally don't need to give any more.

What omega-3 is, and why your horse lacks it

Omega-3 is an essential fatty acid that horses cannot produce themselves. In nature, horses get omega-3 from fresh grass. When they are fed haylage, hay or other conserved forage instead, some of the omega-3 may have been lost along the way.

Meanwhile, the other side of the equation pulls the opposite way. If your horse gets hard feed with a lot of cereals or seed oils high in omega-6, an imbalance between omega-3 and omega-6 can easily develop. It is the balance between the two that algae oil is designed to correct.

How much does my horse need

Situation ml per 100 kg per day 500 kg horse
Maintenance 2.5 ml, extra 5 ml 12.5-25 ml
Competition 5 ml, extra 10 ml 25-50 ml
Breeding 2.5-5 ml 12.5-25 ml
Periods of increased strain 5-10 ml 25-50 ml
Sweet itch and allergies 5 ml, 10 ml during flare-ups 25-50 ml

Find your horse's weight and multiply. A 500 kg horse multiplies by 5, a 300 kg pony by 3.

If you don't know the weight, use the girth measurement: girth in metres cubed, multiplied by 80. A girth of 1.7 m gives 1.7 × 1.7 × 1.7 × 80, so roughly 392 kg. Always dose according to your horse's current weight, not its ideal weight.

What's in the oil

RC O3 Algeolie is a pure and sustainable source of omega-3. The oil contains 69 % omega-3, including 581 mg EPA and DHA per gram. EPA and DHA are the forms your horse can use directly, without having to convert them first. That is the difference between a source your horse can use straight away and a source the body has to work on first.

How the oil works with the three supplements

Supplement Omega-3 in the product Should you give algae oil alongside?
Every Day Happy Only a little, and it comes from linseed Yes, if your horse needs more
Supreme Minerals None Yes, if your horse needs omega-3
Peak Performance Already contains RC O3 Algeolie Normally not

When in the year should you start

Sweet itch: start in mid-January, before the midge season begins. The effect needs to be in place before the challenge arrives, not built up while your horse is already itching.

Allergies, competition and breeding: start 12-16 weeks before the season or covering.

When your horse is fussy about the taste

  • Start with a small dose and increase slowly over a few days
  • Mix the oil into mash or supplements so the taste doesn't stand alone in the feed bucket
  • If that still doesn't work, give the oil directly by mouth with a syringe, just like a wormer

When is RC O3 Algeolie an advantage

Area What the oil contributes
Daily feeding Helps ensure a balance between omega-3 and omega-6
Training and performance Supports recovery and energy utilisation
Coat, skin and hooves Can show as a shiny coat, healthy skin and stronger hooves
The immune system Gives the body better conditions to function optimally

In other words, RC O3 Algeolie is a simple tool for giving your horse the omega-3 fatty acids it may otherwise lack in its daily feeding.

Related articles

Questions about soaking, dry and wet weight and the other feeding terms are all gathered in FAQ about feeding.

Unsure about your horse's feeding plan? Book a feed consultation and we'll work out the dosage together.