I know, I know, it's been done BUT...Flax?

[JustABay]

Recently I had moved my TB to my friend's new farm. The feeds she uses are completely different from what he was getting fed at the old farm. After a couple weeks I noticed that daammmn! My horse looks good!! I asked her what she was feeding him and she said she throws in a handful of flax with his night grain.
I have never fed him flax, although he gets corn oil and is also on BioIsoG supplement. Obviously the shiny coat is an indicator, but what exactly does flax do for them? Is it safe to mix in with feed and sups? Also, long term-benefits, concerns, and is it safe to buy a big bag and just leave until it is done? Or does it go bad?? Thanks:)

[CanterQueen]

I have a friend that feeds her mare flax for the calming benefits. I thought she was nuts, but then I rode with her and this mare and the mare is much less "mare-y".

[Simkie]

Ground flax doesn't last very long at all--it oxides quickly. Whole flax will store nearly forever. You can feed it whole or ground, and it's rich in omega 3s. You can toss flax in with you feed and supplements...no worries there. Some horses don't like whole flax, and will go off their feed, but that doesn't seem to be a problem for yours :)

[Posting Trot]

You can also buy ground flax that's been heat-stabilized, so that it has a longer shelf life. Basically, flax contains proteins and fats that may not be present in many prepared grains, and the Omega-3 fats are particularly good for a horse that doesn't have access to fresh, high-quality pasture all the time.
It's very good for their skin and coats, and also helps with building strong hooves.

[eventer12]

my pony is slightly insulin resistant and on pergolide. I would plan on asking my vet, but would flax end up putting weight on him. I am looking for a natural coat/hoof supplement that won't cause him to gain weight. TIA

[jaimebaker]

Well I have just a really dumb question. Where do you get flax? I looked around on Jeffers and just found supplements with it in it. Not straight flax. Any suggestions?

[Bank of Dad]

I buy 10 lbs of whole flax at the feed store and grind 2-4oz in a coffee grinder per horse. Good omega 3 balances the omega 6's in hay, grass. That little bit won't put weight on but shines up the coat. Mixes in with the other supps fine.

[jaimebaker]

I buy 10 lbs of whole flax at the feed store and grind 2-4oz in a coffee grinder per horse. Good omega 3 balances the omega 6's in hay, grass. That little bit won't put weight on but shines up the coat. Mixes in with the other supps fine.

Glad you brought that up. I don't want weight on them but I might try it for an extra oomph when they shed their winter coats. They are nothing but pasture ornaments, but shiny, dappley horses make me smile:yes:

[Simkie]

Well I have just a really dumb question. Where do you get flax? I looked around on Jeffers and just found supplements with it in it. Not straight flax. Any suggestions?

Feed store! Comes in 40 lbs bags.

Or you can buy a pound or two at a time from the grocery store, but it's ridiculously expensive that way.

[imjustjoking22]

Glad you brought that up. I don't want weight on them but I might try it for an extra oomph when they shed their winter coats. They are nothing but pasture ornaments, but shiny, dappley horses make me smile:yes:

I don't think it helps much with weight, but it will definitely give you that nice coat, mane and tail- and my bay has gorgeous dapples now too- I just love them!! I have seen real positive changes in every horse I have fed flax (I feed it whole).

[Posting Trot]

Horsestech makes a plain, ground, heat-stabilized flax, as well as several supplements that have a flax base. Excellent customer service, too.
http://www.horsetech.com (http://www.horsetech.com/)

[pintopiaffe]

my pony is slightly insulin resistant and on pergolide.

There are some--not well known--studies that show flax may inhibit thyroid function. Now, in what quantities, I do NOT know. But I would consult both vet (whom I would not expect to even know about that!) and perhaps something like the Cushings LIst on Yahoo for people who might have more current information, or experience.

The last thing you want with an IR is thyroid suppression... :uhoh:

[ThoroughbredFancy]

Flax seems to be pricey around here. I was considering feeding some to my TB but have not yet. I added BOSS to his diet and that seems to have made an improvement. His winter coat is so shiny this year. And he doesn't seem to be as dry. He is also on Omegatin though and that's supposed to help.

[marta]

my pony is slightly insulin resistant and on pergolide. I would plan on asking my vet, but would flax end up putting weight on him. I am looking for a natural coat/hoof supplement that won't cause him to gain weight. TIA

my mare is (was?) IR and is Cushings on Pergolide. she gets 1/2 cup of whole flax seed daily. the omega 3's have anti-inflammatory properties which is very important to metabolically challenged horses. also, given that live plants have more omega 6, it's particularly good to supplement horses with inflammatory conditions w/ omega 3's.

my mare is not gaining weight from it. not sure if it's ever an issue but certainly not at the amounts fed as supplements (1/2 - 1 cup per day). i buy mine in the local feed store. comes in a 50 lbs bag i believe. i just poured it into old kitty litter containers and put a 1 cup scoop in there for the barn feeders to use.

[JustABay]

So if flax oxidizes, it basically...goes bad? And not to feed it then right? And I can feed whole flax, no problem? Lastly, will it negate feeding beet pulp? Thanks everyone:)

[FancyFree]

Whole flax, due of the hull of the seeds, is very difficult to digest. So you don't get the same nutrients as with the ground Flax.

I've been giving my horse ground for a couple of months now. I can totally see a difference in her coat. I can't wait to see it when she sheds out.

[Posting Trot]

If ground flax goes bad, it has a distinctive "off" odor; flax usually has a light, nutty smell.

I'm not sure what you mean by negating the beet pulp, but they can be fed together easily. In fact, one issue with flax is that it has an inverted calcium to phosphorus ratio, which some manufacturers of ground flax correct by adding calcium. But beet pulp is high in calcium so that would work very well.

[blaeberry001]

I soak my flax seed overnight then cook it for 2 hours on low. It is like snot when its ready sorry about the description:eek:. I was taught that it can be poisonous when fed whole, anyone else also taught this:)

[asterix]

You can come talk to my horses about it being poisonous when fed whole ;) -- they've been on it for years.
I buy a whole bag, throw them a handful with feed. I have one picky eater now who doesn't seem to like it but otherwise it goes down very well. A few weeks after I started, the barn manager asked me what I was feeding them (they are on pasture board so I do self care) since their coats looked so good...

[jnel]

Check out Omega Horseshine. I've used it for a couple of months and my BO commented that she could see and feel the difference in my horse's coat.

[Fharoah]

[QUOTE=pintopiaffe;3671473]There are some--not well known--studies that show flax may inhibit thyroid function. Now, in what quantities, I do NOT know. But I would consult both vet (whom I would not expect to even know about that!) and perhaps something like the Cushings LIst on Yahoo for people who might have more current information, or experience.

Do you have a link to any of these studdies? I would be interested to read them as I just started my horses back on ground flax.

[Altamont Sport Horses]

Does keeping ground flax in the freezer help it stay good longer? We have an extra fridge/freezer in the barn and could put it in there if that would help. But then again, is freezing it bad?

So people literally feed a handful and that is it?

[beaulilly]

I've started feeding flax, I bought the whole so it lasts longer but had heard the ground is better absorbed so I put my 1/2 cup in the coffee grinder and then feed it right away.

[lauriep]

I've been getting mine here http://gettyequinenutrition.biz/Products/nutraflax.htm?gclid=CPKV67yzs5ICFT00FQodtVKERQ and it has lasted just fine. I get the 20# plastic pail to feed 2 ponies, and it lasts a couple of months and stays quite fresh. LOVE the stuff.

[tpup]

Laurie, thanks for the info and link to Getty! I just ordered some to try. I have been on the fence about starting flax, or omega horseshine (but my guy is on Plat. perf and I had posted about over-supplementing worries). He only gets the recommended scoop of PP CJ 2x per day so I know even though the PP is flax-based, he's not getting a true serving of flax if that makes sense. There's so many other things in the PP I figure he might be getting a few TBSP's of flax at most. Also loved that your link store accepts Paypal and I had some money in my account to spend, so that made it very easy.

I can't wait to try it!

How much should I start with?? I'll be giving it once per day when I give him "lunch". Thanks!

[copper1]

I buy bags from the feed mill and grind in a coffe grinder when i make up feeds. I often eat it myself, I think it is yummy! I give it to my show horses and one guy that gets the summer itch thing and boy did it help him! His midline did not get raw nor did he do all the scratching he had in past years. Nice bloom to everyones's coats,

[Altamont Sport Horses]

Called my feed store today. They sell whole flax in 50 lb. bags for $28.50. I'll pick some up for home use but went ahead and ordered some from Getty since I need some ground and stabilized to send off with my boy going into training. I can't expect someone else to be screwing around with coffee grinders or food processors...*I* don't even want to do that part.