We discuss spending less time in the arena with our horses, the Critter of the Show is the Bald Eagle; Critter Nutrition focuses on choosing the right fats for horses; and in Coffee Klatch we ask what dog breed or combination of dog breeds best describes you.
Listen in!
Guests and Links for Episode 150:
- Link to Sound File for Sight Impaired: Click Here
- Co-Hosts: Tigger Montague from BiostarUS and Pati Pieucci from Pierucci Dressage
- Learn more about choosing fats for horses, plus other supplements for dogs and horses at BiostarUS
- Guests: Hedwig the Pomeranian
- Photo Credit: Tigger Montague
Tigger Montague weighs in on choosing the right fats for horses:
“Horses get fats in their diet from fresh forage. There’s one to two percent fat in fresh grass, which includes the essential fatty acids: the omega threes, sixes and nines. But we’ve discovered that increasing fat for horses can be really beneficial for energy, or for older horses that need a little bit more rib coverage. Horses metabolize fat pretty well, and it’s a sustainable energy for horses. A carbohydrate, like a starchy sugar, will give that quick burst of energy, but a fat source of energy has more stamina and endurance to it. So, fat is particularly good for dressage horses, event horses, endurance horses that need that longer burn of energy. Common sources of fat for horses include [the oils] coconut, soy, canola, vegetable, corn, rice, flax, camelina, hemp seed, sunflower and olive.
When we’re choosing a fat, we want to think, ‘How is the fat processed?’ because that really does matter. Heat processing is common with soy oil, canola oil, and some of the rice fats. The reason heat is not a good idea with an oil is because heat makes it oxidize. [A heat-processed oil] loses all its nutrients except fat. That’s why a lot of the times they’ll add back vitamin E, add back vitamin A…
I like a cold-pressed oil. Cold-pressing is pretty common, obviously, with olive oil, with camelina, with hemp seed…even some sunflower and flax oils. When they’re cold-pressed they’re never exposed to heat…”
At Healthy Critters Radio, we are hopeless animal lovers who want to share our experience and knowledge with you, for the betterment of your animals’ lives. We focus on health, nutrition, behavior, and ideas for overall well-being and happiness. Twice a month, we bring you guest experts, advice, commentary, and a lot of fun and laughter! If there is ever a topic you’d like for us to cover, let us know on our contact page!
