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 of Omega3s.

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:

✅ Improve the quality of their sheen, coat, mane, & tail

✅ Decrease joint pain in horses that suffer from arthritis

✅ Aid in healthy weight gain (at certain doses)

✅ Improve bone structure

✅ Help prevent ulcers

✅ Help with allergic hyperactivity

✅ Have an anti-inflammatory effect

✅ Promote better reproductive function

✅ Help maintain energy & improve mood

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.

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.