Myth: A Shiny Horse is a Healthy Horse

Fat from any source will make your horse shiny. A fatty substance called sebum, secreted from the sebaceous glands in your horse’s skin, increases when the diet is higher in fat. It coats the hair, making it reflect the sun’s rays. Any fat will do; the type of dietary fat doesn’t matter when it comes to making the hair coat shine – but it sure does matter when it comes to your horse’s health.

The opposite is true: A healthy horse is a shiny horse, as long as he’s shiny for the right reason – because you are feeding the right type of fat! But with so many feeds and supplements available, where do you start?

Start with what comes naturally

Fresh grass contains two to three percent unsaturated fat consisting of a variety of fatty acids that vary in their chemical profile. There are two specific essential fatty acids that the horse’s body cannot produce and therefore must be in his diet: The omega-3 known as alpha linolenic acid (ALA), and the omega-6 known as linoleic acid. Grasses contain both of these in a 4:1 ratio of ALA to linoleic acid. Most commercially prepared horse diets, however, have an inverted ratio of these two fatty acids because high omega-6 fat sources (such as soybean and corn oils) are added to boost the fat concentration. When the omega-6 content exceeds the omega-3 content, you are asking for trouble.

Linoleic acid leads to inflammation

While some linoleic acid is important, too much can exacerbate your horse’s inflammatory response. Horses in training, working, or performing produce inflammation in their joints and muscles that can worsen when high amounts of linoleic acid are present. The aging joints of older horses are more painful when this omega-6 fatty acid is fed in large amounts. And inflammation leads to oxidative stress, which can damage all tissues throughout the body