Corn Oil?

Had a few questions...

1. Corn Oil, what exactly is the purpose of feeding it to horses, what does it do, and how much should you give?

2. Garlic, does it actually work in preventing ticks?

3. Do some of you switch over to a richer alfalfa/timothy mix in winter to keep on weight? Does it work well?

4. What do you use to disinfect stalls after stripping them?

1. Corn oil helps to gain weight and increase shine, but it's high in omega 6s which promotes inflammation. If you want to give your horse more calories and shine get some ground flax seed. They're higher in omega 3s.

2. Not sure about the garlic. I've heard that it helps with flies, but I've never tried it.

3. I just give free choice grass hay. Alfalfa/timothy is a good mix though. Alfalfa is high in protein and can help put weight on, although I use alfalfa pellets for my harder keeper since he has two fatties in with him.

4. I just dilute some bleach in water and spray it all over the stall.

Thanks:)

I want to add a few more..

- What is the best grain to feed your horses? (Mine are young)

- How much?

Corn oil works amazingly well for putting weight on thin horses. I use it to keep weight on the thoroughhbreds, and feed one cup a day.

You'll get a million opinions on the best grain, but what works best for me (someone who has a variety of different horses from idle miniature foals to working eventers) is Nutrena Safe Choice. I'm very partial to all the Nutrena products; the consistency is always great. I would stay away from Purina....I rarely hear good things about themir equine feeds. My one friend raves about Strategy, her whole hunter barn uses it with great success.

I didn't think of corn oil in feed to put on some weight, I know I removed the cracked corn from my feed mix, replaced with soybean hulls and barley.

I know I put 10 lbs of veg oil to 690 lbs of feed helps prevent colic

Alfalfa pellets are a good source of protein in their diet... I also have noticed with the added pellets their hooves have looked a lot better than before. That is making the same mix to include 200 lbs of pellets

The expensive route for protein is soybean meal, they don't eat it well unless coated in molasses but its about 40% protein and the mix has 65lbs. Of meal

My feed mix is great a little low in fat but decent protein and fiber... its like Omelene 300 but less fat. And 20 cents a pound

Other than that mine are on a 15% protein (total) diet with purina nature's essentials mineral suppliment they all shine and slick down nicely in the spring on that.

If you decide to go with oil I'd rather go with canola: corn oil has no omega 3 at all while canola has both - quite a bit of omega 3 and omega 6. But yes, flax would be a better idea (it's actually pretty cheap too, at least here).

I'd also suggest not to feed corn (rolled or cracked or whole or any other form) to the horse: it definitely makes them hot and don't give any benefits.

As for grain I prefer low starch/low sugar ones (either pellets or grain). Buckeys, Tribute, Blue Seal all sell such. Purina does too (but its more expensive).

I read garlic can be used to control flies, however my horses hated garlic.

Thanks(: I did some research, and I think my supplement will be Omega Horseshine (has flax seed in it)...I still have to look up the grain though. I'll probably be looking at buckeye first.

I really liked Buckey and Tribute (and my horses seemed to enjoy both brands), BUT the only seller here doesn't carry them anymore (as they were more expensive than traditional Purina). :(

I use vegetable oil on my TB's feed, 1 cup at each feeding along with 3lbs of Purina Equine Senior feed. This I am feeding morning and evening so she gets 6 lbs of the Purina feed a day along with beet pulp, Orchard grass hay and pasture turnout. (Although there really is not much left in the pasture).
I have also been giving her 1 1/2 scoops of Proviable-EQ probiotic once a day with her evening feed. She is doing very well on this. Being a 19 year old TB that I rescued off craigslist, her body condition score was a 2 back in aug of 2010 and feeding her this through the winter has now put her at a 4.
I highly recommend Purina Equine Senior feed and the veg. Oil has really helped make her coat shiny. She shed out her winter coat nicely.
The purina feed has flax seed and rice bran incorporated into it.

Corn oil is best for horse.It is good for many diseases.it prevents the horse from many diseases.It is good to use corn oil.