Today's domesticated horses are very different than the few that remain truly wild.

The way we keep sport and performance horses today limits their access to pasture, which would normally be their source of Omegas.

Most horses fed a typical barn diet of hay and grain are almost certainly lacking optimal levels ofOmega3s.

This, coupled with climate conditions for many horses, means that most horses are lacking the Omega 3s that their bodies require to function properly.

Experts agree your horse needs a balance of these fatty acids: Omega3 alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), and Omega6 linoleic acid (LA) - though the exact ratio hasn't been scientifically established.

According to nutrition expert Dr. Juliet M. Getty, if your horse is deficient, or improperly balanced in the Omegas, it can experience immune system and hormone function issues: skin, hoof and joint disorders; depression or aggressive tendencies and general malaise.

If your horse is struggling with chronic joint pain, has painful ulcers, or has a coat that doesn’t look 100% shiny and full...

Or If your horse has a hard time keeping weight on, is suffering from dandruff or dry skin, or is suffering from stiffness or lameness, the problem could be due to, or exasperated by, an Omega deficiency.

In recent years the potential health benefits of Camelina supplements for animals in the form of oil & meal are being widely researched and acknowledged.

The key?
Experts agree your horse needs a balance of these fatty acids: Omega3 alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), and Omega6 linoleic acid (LA).

Camelina Oil is rich in Omega3/6 fatty acids and tocopherols (a natural anti-oxidant) in a ratio that is unique among other common vegetable oils (like flax, canola, etc..).

In fact, studies have shown that Omega3 supplementation (the kind found in Camelina Oil) in a horse's diet could:

Flaxseed is known as the Omega3 heavyweight: it mirrors that of pasture (4:1 ALA to LA). But flax can be unstable and unlike Camelina, can quickly turn rancid unless kept in the fridge.

Not all horses like the taste. Also, there is some concern about the safety of ground flaxseed which contains cyanogenic glycosides.

Canola Oil doesn't contain much in the way of Omega3. It is rich in Omega9 and Omega6.

Soybean or Corn oils also tilt toward high Omega6 fatty acid content. But as Getty points out, too much Omega6 is already consumed in a horse’s diet through feed.

Hemp Oil is fundamentally higher in Omega6 than Omega3 and must be kept in the fridge. The high LA content in hemp needs to be balanced with enough ALA from other sources. As Getty says: "Pasture, or hay that is fresh and stored properly, along with dietary supplementation of high-ALA feeds and oils, will allow your horse to benefit from added hempseed products."

Camelina, meantime, has a unique oil profile, roughly offering a 2:1 balance of Omega3|Omega6. It is also high in tocopherols (Vitamin E), a natural anti-oxidant.

Here is what Juliet Getty says about Camelina: "Camelina oil offers an excellent alternative to flaxseed oil. It comes from the edible Camelina sativa seed, often referred to as “false flax.” It is high in ALA with a 2:1 ratio of Omega3s to Omega6s, and its shelf life is far superior to flaxseed oil. It is resistant to oxidative rancidity, making it highly stable. This is because of its remarkably high vitamin E content: 100 ml (slightly less than ½ cup) of Camelina oil contains 150 IU of natural vitamin E, whereas flaxseed oil only contains 26 IU. Vitamin E is an antioxidant, and as such, it neutralizes damaging free radicals formed when the fatty acids are oxidized from air and light."

At Smart Earth we've spent over a decade using traditional breeding methods to develop the best Camelina varieties available.

This allows our growers to produce our Camelina crop in a competitive way compared to other more established oilseed crops such as canola and flax.


We are the only company that is integrated all the way from our conventional plant breeding through to closed-loop sustainable production where we contract with our growers.


Production is tracked from the field all the way through to a food grade crushing facility that we work closely with to cold press our products.

Trish's Thank You: How Camelina Oil Has Helped Her 25+ Horses Live Happier, Healthier Lives

Trish reached out to us about the great results she's seen at her facility since beginning to supplement her horses' diets with camelina oil. Sprout Meadows Enterprises Ltd is a full equestrian facility focused on individual feed programs for each of the 25+ horses on the property.



They now have all their horses on Smart Earth Camelina Oil for Equine. Here's what she had to say:

"The results have been amazing and we truly believe in this product, our clients are also putting their horses on the oil after seeing the results!

We have an older gelding retired from a show career but arthritic who was getting monthly leg injections, since starting the oil he moves better and is no longer needing costly injections monthly.

My son's horse who for 12 years would break out in hives from horse flies bites no longer is lumpy and for the first time in this horses life he no longer suffers the reactions of the flies bites not requiring antihistamines or steroids to calm his swollen body.

One clients mare suffering from severe sweet itch is no longer rubbing and biting her body raw since starting the oil.

We have a few horses brought in as they were considered problem horses, since starting the oil their history of ulcers and aggressive behavior has changed and they are now pleasures to deal with.

All the horses coats glisten and the manes and tails grow quicker than they ever have before!

These are just some of the examples and testimonials since starting our horses on the oil."

Cheers, Trish

When Lori McCumber brought Rory to L & M Equestrian near Waterloo, Ont., the 5-year-old thoroughbred was a starvation case.

But the positive turnaround she has seen in Rory’s overall health in just 30 short days is simply amazing, partly due to adding Camelina oil to the horse’s diet.

Lori has been bringing rescue animals to her boarding and training farm for the past several years, helping them to turn around and then re-homing them. Rory was a real hardship case – extremely undernourished and neglected – so she immediately placed him on good rations with a supplement of Smart Earth Camelina Oil Equine Supplement.

“I had used other Omega oils in the past but this is the most cost effective and does the most,” she said. “Rory is the fastest turnaround of any horse we’ve had – with the most dramatic difference,” she added.

Lori, who has about 40 horses at L & M Equestrian, said Smart Earth’s equine oil seems to have the ideal Omega3-Omega6 balance. “I had used other Omega oils before, the last one was basically a fish oil,” she said. “What we noticed with Rory is his coat is turning out really nice and shiny. He seems to be putting on muscle better – it’s like the oil helps him process the feed better.”

She also noticed an improvement in the composition of Rory’s hooves and his overall demeanor has changed dramatically for the better. “He’s calmed down a lot. He was a little loopy when he got here,” Lori said, adding she now has several other horses on Camelina oil as a supplement and they also are doing well.