Smart Earth CamelinaCold-pressed camelina oil

4.9 stars | 2,000+ five-star reviews

5 Reasons Working Barns Put Their Hard Keepers on Camelina Oil

When a hard keeper is already eating all the hay he’ll take, more grain mostly adds starch. Working barns add fat instead, and 4 ounces of camelina oil gives him about 1,000 calories with no starch or sugar in it.

Get 1 Month for $74.99

That’s the 1-gallon jug at the weight-gain dose for a 900 lb horse. Size it to yours below.

One ingredientNo starch or sugar60-day guarantee

Rider holding the 1-gallon Camelina Oil jug beside a horse looking over a stall door

Camelina Oil pumped from the jug into a stall feed tub while the horse watches

A bay horse at the stall front while its owner holds the 1-gallon Camelina Oil jug

01

It adds calories without adding grain

When a hard keeper is already eating all the hay he’ll take, the usual next step is more grain, and more grain mostly adds starch. Sheila L. was at that point with her 24-year-old gelding. She “didn’t want to add more grain and he only eats so much of his alfalfa and orchard grass.”

Fat is the most concentrated calorie a horse can eat. Four ounces of camelina oil, the weight-gain dose for a 900 lb horse, is about 1,000 calories. That’s close to what three-quarters of a pound of oats would give him, with no starch or sugar, and it goes on top of the feed he’s already eating. With no starch, sugar or potassium in it, it’s also a safe fat source for horses with PSSM1 (polysaccharide storage myopathy) or HYPP (hyperkalemic periodic paralysis).

1-gallon Camelina Oil jug on a tack-room bench beside a riding helmet

02

It’s a better fat than corn oil

Corn oil is the cheapest calorie you can pour on a feed, and we won’t argue with the price. But it’s almost all omega-6, and a horse on hay and grain already gets plenty of omega-6 and not much omega-3, since hay loses most of its omega-3 as it dries.

Camelina has more omega-3 than omega-6, and the vitamin E from the seed keeps it fresh in the feed room for a year after opening.

It's also nice to know that I am giving him such a good balance with more Omega-3s instead of the straight Omega-6s he was getting from the corn oil I used before. Karen S., who switched her 31-year-old gelding from corn oil

Typical analysis

Calories in 4 ozabout 1,000

Omega-3 (ALA)36%

Omega-620%

Omega-934%

Saturates10%

Vitamin E, natural700–900 mg/kg

Starch and sugarnone

Keeps a year after opening, with no refrigeration.

03

Horses eat it, even the picky ones

A weight program only works if the horse cleans up his feed. Kathy W. started seven horses on camelina oil at once, and two of them rarely eat anything new. “By the 2nd feeding they were cleaning their buckets as readily as the others.”

If one of yours is suspicious of anything new, start with one pump on his usual feed for the first few days and build from there. For the fussiest ones, our equine specialist mixes about half the oil into a pail of soaked beet pulp and hay cubes that hangs in the stall overnight, and the buckets are empty by morning.

I like this product so much I ordered the pail with the pump. Both horses are gleaming, the hard keeper is gaining weight, and the mare likes it so much she's cleaning the lid Laura L., verified customer

A dark bay horse licking the lid of a Camelina Oil pail, sent in by a customer — Laura L.'s mare, cleaning the lid.

04

It’s easy to add to the program you already feed

There’s no new feed to switch him to and no powder to mix in. The oil goes on top of what he already eats, once a day, straight from the pump on the jug or pail, and an open container keeps for a year without refrigeration. It’s compliant with United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and Equestrian Canada rules, so horses that show can stay on it all season.

Start at the label dose for his weight and work up to twice that over about two weeks, then drop back to the label dose once he’s where you want him. The feeding directions next to the order sizes below have the amounts. If your horse is insulin resistant or on a metabolic program, check the plan with your vet first.

If I can improve what they already get, then I'm totally satisfied. This is cost effective, very palatable, even for my picky eater, and easy to feed. Caterina M., who feeds her own and her clients’ horses

Camelina Oil pumped from the jug into an orange feed bucket

05

It has worked on horses that had already tried everything

Many of the horses in our weight reviews had already been through more hay, senior feed, rice bran or a corn-oil phase. Macy, Natalie M.’s 30-year-old Thoroughbred, was one of them.

6 months ago I was devastated that Macy, my 30 yr old Thoroughbred was dropping weight. I tried everything and researched the internet for help… Over the next several months I followed the directions and I was elated to watch Macy’s weight come back. Natalie M., on Macy, her 30-year-old Thoroughbred

Macy, a 30-year-old Thoroughbred mare, thin with her ribs and hip bones showing, before camelina oil — Natalie M.’s mare Macy, before and after.

Macy months later, filled out along her back and ribs with a glossy coat — Natalie M.’s mare Macy, before and after.

Is he too thin, or just lean?

Vets score condition on the Henneke scale, from 1 for poor to 9 for extremely fat, and most programs aim for a 5.

PoorModerateExtremely fat

4. Moderately thin

A faint outline of the ribs shows. There is a slight ridge along the back, fat can be felt around the tailhead, and the hip bones are not obvious. This is where a lot of hard keepers live.

Weeks 1–2

Start at the label dose for your horse's weight and add a little every few days. Going slowly is what keeps manure normal.

Weeks 3–8

Most owners notice the coat first, and then the ribs start to cover over. A horse you start in the fall has these weeks behind him before the coldest part of winter.

Weeks 8–12

Reassess his condition. Once he is where you want him, step back to the label dose and keep it there.

Results can vary. If a horse is losing weight on good forage, have your vet rule out teeth, parasites, ulcers and Cushing’s (PPID) first.

Casey came in 350 pounds underweight. Gertie is 31.

Rescues end up with the horses that were already failing somewhere else. That makes them a hard test and an honest one. Neither barn has the budget to keep buying something that isn’t working.

Jennifer Semach

Founder and executive director, Walk About Farm Therapeutic Riding Association · Minden, Ontario · Casey, rescued Percheron

“He came to us in very poor condition. 350 pounds underweight … He’s moving better, he’s looking better, he’s put on weight. We would definitely recommend this product for you and your hard keeper.”

Thunder Mountain Equine Rescue

Enumclaw, Washington · Gertie, 31-year-old Thoroughbred mare

“She had lost a lot of weight, and this last summer we couldn’t keep any weight on her … we decided to try this camelina oil by Smart Earth and see if we could get some weight on her. And now she’s 1,300 pounds, got all her spunk back.”

Ten hard keepers, sent in by their owners

Each of these owners wrote to us while they were trying to put weight on a horse that wouldn’t hold it.

Amy B. in the barn with Robin, her Quarter Horse, holding a 1-gallon jug of Camelina Oil

Denise G. in the barn aisle with her off-the-track Thoroughbred and a jug of Camelina Oil

Candice M. in the field beside her Thoroughbred gelding, holding a jug

A horse reaching over the stall front toward a 3.5-gallon pail of Camelina Oil fitted with a pump

Angie H. outdoors with her grey horse and a jug fitted with a pump

Atticia B.’s palomino gelding CJ eating from a feed pan with the jug beside him

Heidi B. in the barn aisle with her chestnut mare and a jug

Kisha H.’s gelding Gus tied at the barn wall with a jug on the ground beside him

Ginger S. mounted on her bay horse on the trail, holding a jug

A bay horse beside a 1-gallon jug of Camelina Oil, the label facing the camera

I started using Camelina Oil on July 3 for my 12 year old TB gelding who I was struggling getting weight back on even with free feeding… It is now mid-August and his ribs are less obvious, his top line and croup are filling in. Candice M., on her 12-year-old Thoroughbred gelding

I have struggled with low sugar weight gain options for him until I tried Camelina oil. Both of my horses love it and have gained weight and look great as well! Ginger S., on Oliver, her metabolic horse

We have used Smart Earth Camelina oil for our retired 31 y.o. quarter horse Robin since last fall because she was severely underweight. After 6 months she is looking much better! Amy B., on Robin, her 31-year-old Quarter Horse

How Camelina Compares to Common Alternatives

Flax, corn oil and rice bran are what barns usually reach for first, so here they are next to camelina. Each column is the common version of that feed, and no brand is named.

Compare camelina with

What the label says	Smart Earth Camelina	Flaxseed oil	Corn or vegetable oil	Rice bran
Ingredients	Good: OneCold-pressed camelina oil	Caution: VariesBarn-size jugs are often soybean oil blended with flax	Good: One, refinedCorn or soybean	Caution: SeveralUsually pelleted with other ingredients
Calories	About 1,000 in 4 ozAll from fat	About the same	About the same	About 1,500 per pound17 to 20 percent fat
Omega-6 to omega-3	Good: 1 to 1.8More omega-3 than omega-6	Good: About 1 to 4The most omega-3 of the four	Drawback: About 58 to 1Soybean oil is about 7 to 1	Drawback: About 20 to 1
Starch and sugar	Good: None	Good: None	Good: None	Caution: SomeIt’s a grain by-product
Shelf life after opening	Good: About a yearNo refrigeration	Caution: ShorterMany brands say to refrigerate after opening	Good: Keeps wellRefined oils are stable	Caution: Can go rancidBuy it stabilized and store it cool
Vitamin E	700 to 900 mg/kgNaturally in the seed	Varies	VariesCheck the label	Usually addedTo stabilize the fat
Feeding	Pump on feedRefusals were rare in a 16-week university trial	Pour and measure	Pour and measure	ScoopPellets and powders can get sorted out

Corn, soybean and rice bran omega ratios are from Mississippi State University Extension (publication P3734), flax figures are typical published values, and camelina figures are from our label.

Camelina Oil for Horses

One jug covers a single horse while you see how he does. If you’re feeding more than one hard keeper, or you’ll keep him on the label dose once he’s gained, a pail is the better buy, and it ships free.

1-gallon jug of Smart Earth Camelina Oil on a tack-room floor

Feeding directions

Top-dress once daily. Amounts are per horse, per day.

Body weight	Label dose	To gain weight	1 gal jug lasts*
Up to 500 lb	1 oz	2 oz	About 2 months
500 to 1,000 lb	2 oz	4 oz	About a month
Over 1,000 lb	3 oz	6 oz	About 3 weeks

Start at the label dose and add about an ounce every 3 to 5 days. Once he’s where you want him, go back to the label dose.
*At the weight-gain dose. 4 oz is about 1,000 calories.

2,000+ five-star reviews from the US and Canada, across every size

Choose your size

1 gallon jug + $10 shipping About 1 month $2.74 a day $74.99 Start here 3.5 gallon pail Ships free About 3.5 months $1.77 a day Save 26% a gallon At the jug price per gallon: $262.47 $194.99 $55.71 a gallon One horse, full program 5 gallon pail Ships free About 5 months $1.65 a day Save 31% a gallon At the jug price per gallon: $374.95 $259.99 $52.00 a gallon Lowest price a gallon

Based on a 900 lb horse at the weight-gain dose, shipping included. At the label dose, each size lasts about twice as long.

Switch to the 3.5-gallon pail for free shipping

Buy now · $74.99

Free pump included, a $7.99 value

60-day money-back guarantee

Not sure he’ll eat it? If it doesn’t work out within 60 days, email us and we’ll refund your first order, any size.

1-year shelf lifeAfter opening, no refrigeration needed

One ingredientCold-pressed camelina, nothing else

Visa · Mastercard · Amex · Discover · PayPal · Apple Pay · Google Pay

Verified Customer Reviews

4.9 2,000+ five-star reviews

Every size of the horse oil, from our US and Canadian stores. All six below are verified purchases.

★★★★★

28 yr old foxhunter

Our Irish sport horse foxhunter started to drop weight and lose condition. I tried every trick in the book. So, see some of the results with Camelina oil, I went for it and glad I did. It has increased the horses appetite, condition and whole demeaner . He has gained 60 lbs in a month and moving better and much happier about life. Thank you so much for developing this product that really makes a differance!

Merri M.
United States · 09/12/2025Verified buyer

★★★★★

Puts on weight and a beautiful coat quickly

My three year old doesn’t sweat great and when he was started late last summer he pulled off a lot of weight, lost some muscle and his coat was awful. He had a good start but I couldn’t get the weight back on despite good quality hay 24/7, probiotics, Omega Complete, rice bran, Amplify, good Buckeye feed. Two weeks on Camelina oil and he blossomed. This stuff is amazing!

Darcy S.
United States · 03/01/2023Verified buyer

★★★★★

Camelina Oil for Equine

My horse is 32 years old. This past summer really took a lot out of him. He lost interest in eating and lost a lot of weight. I've been adding Camelina Oil to his senior feed, and he has been eating and gained most of the weight he lost. I tried so many other products that did nothing. I'm very grateful for this product. He's been with me since he was a yearling.

Cathy Q.
United States · 03/01/2023Verified buyer

★★★★★

Amazing Results!

My horse is 24 yrs old and had lost a significant amount of weight, looking very poor, top line very prominent. I was worried. Then I tried Camelina Oil and have noticed a huge difference. He has gained weight, filling out, and running around the pasture again. I can tell he feels a whole lot better. Going to continue with this product, thank you!

Kris S.
United States · 03/19/2023Verified buyer

★★★★★

Love this stuff!

I have a 23 year old Spotted Draft who was loosing muscle on topline, and coat just wasn't that thrifty. After ruling out medical issues, I placed him on Smart Earth Camelina. WOW! After three months, what a difference! He looks so much better, his coat is shiny, his topline filled in and he seems spunkier! I will always use this oil!

Leslie A.
United States · 03/01/2023Verified buyer

★★★★★

Wonderful Supplement!

We started our senior horse (28 yrs) in November on SmartEatth Camelina Oil and saw improvement in his coat within the first two weeks. It really helped him keep his weight on through the winter. It also seems to make him feel good and frisky and ready to work. This old guy does not want to retire and the oil seems to be helping him! We love it!

Andie V.
United States · 03/01/2023Verified buyer

Get 1 Month for $74.99