Get Your Shine On with OM3GA

People feed oil to horses for many reasons: to provide a healthy source of calories not involving sugar and starch, to increase weight or the luster and shine of their coats, and to help bind medications or supplements together in their feed. But not all oils are created equal when it comes to moderating inflammatory and immune-related conditions. Only Omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties while Omega-6 and Omega-9 actually create inflammation.

Corn, and Canola, and Soy—Oh My!

The horse’s normal grazing diet contains an Omega-3 ratio upwards of five times the amount of Omega-6 fatty acids. Equine feed and oil products are deceptively high in Omega-6/Omega-9, which throws the desired omega ratio out of balance. The reason why these unhealthy fats are pervasive in equine feed and supplements is because they are cheaper than the healthier Omega-3 fatty acids. Common fats from corn, soy, coconut, canola and rice bran, often labeled as “vegetable oil,” can contain over 55 times the amount of Omega-6 to Omega-3.

To complicate matters, not even all Omega-3 fatty acids are created equal. ALA is a type of Omega-3 fatty acid found in plants, but EPA and DHA are types of Omega-3 fatty acids that come from fish oil. Though horses often get sufficient ALA from forages and grain, ALA must be converted into EPA and DHA in the body in order to have any beneficial effects. This conversation process is extremely inefficient, which is why horses benefit from the direct supplementation of EPA and DHA. Though the anti-inflammatory properties of EPA and DHA are beneficial for horses, fish is not a natural part of their diet.

Meet OM3GA®

OM3GA is a revolutionary vegan Omega-3 fatty acid supplement that harvests EPA and DHA from algae instead of from fish, since fish oil can smell and taste bad, and it contains marine pollutants. Combined with all natural Vitamin E (alpha tocopherol) and sea buckthorn oil, OM3GA will rebalance your horse’s Omega-3 fatty acid ratio, reduce oxidative stress, help reduce inflammation in the gut and joints, help regulate insulin, boost the immune system, and support a lustrous coat, mane, and tail. "OM3GA is the only vegan source of EPA and DHA in the horse world. It also represents collaboration and innovation among several entities that we worked with to create this oil, including the algae microbrewery and the biotech company that harvests and clarifies the EPA and DHA,” says Elizabeth Ehrlich, founder of Equine Elixirs.  

Most omega oils are extremely misleading when it comes to the ratio of Omega-3 vs Omega-6 and Omega-9 fatty acids. Unlike OM3GA, the majority of other products are heavily unbalanced towards Omega-6 and Omega-9, when in reality it's the Omega-3 that your horse needs. Though some Omega-6 and Omega-9 are needed for your horse to mount an inflammatory response to fight against disease, injury, and infection, processed grain diets are exponentially higher in these pro-inflammatory fatty acids, causing chronic inflammation linked to major equine health issues including laminitis, insulin resistance, metabolic disorders, and allergies.

“One of the things I hear most frequently from riders and trainers when discussing the topic of omega fatty acids is that they never knew there was a difference between the different kinds of omegas,” says Ehrlich. “But once people learn how to understand the labels and assess the breakdown and percentages among types of omega fatty acids as well as the source of the oil, they are shocked to learn that they are often feeding primarily pro-inflammatory products high in soy, corn, canola and coconut.”

Get to know OM3GA with some FAQs

Q: If my horse is already getting Omega-3 fatty acids from flaxseed, why would he need OM3GA? 

A: Flax is high in ALA, one form of Omega-3 fatty acid. But the body has to convert ALA into EPA/DHA to derive any anti-inflammatory benefit, and this conversion process is extremely inefficient. Until now, the only way to supplement EPA/DHA was from fish oil. Providing your horse with a direct source of EPA/DHA is the most effective way to provide anti-inflammatory Omega-3 fatty acids. 

Q: Why is OM3GA better than fish oil? 

A: Fish oil is beneficial due to its EPA/DHA content. But horses aren't designed to eat fish, and they don't like the smell/taste. Moreover, because fish are often high in ocean contaminants, that means so is their oil. OM3GA uses microbrewed algae to harvest the same EPA/DHA found in fish oil, but because it is clarified and distilled, it has no smell/taste, it is healthier for horses to eat, and it contains no environmental pollutants.

Q: Do horses like the taste of OM3GA? 

A: Yes, because there is no smell/taste! Our oil undergoes an intense clarification and distillation process to remove any smell or taste traditionally associated with marine oils.

More OM3GA Reviews

"In the six years I’ve had my mare, I tried every oil and supplement trying to improve her coat. I was shocked that after one week using OM3GA her coat was glistening. Her overall physical appearance was more muscular and fit, and she developed dapples for the first time in her life."

- Taylor St. Jacques, Top Grand Prix rider

"OM3GA is more concentrated than other oils, providing a greater health benefit even at lesser volumes. The horses love eating it and I appreciate that it is the only vegan source of EPA and DHA, which means the horses get the same anti-inflammatory benefits as fish oil, but in a form more suitable for their digestive system. My horses are sound and comfortable and they look absolutely amazing."

- Berry Porter, Top Jumper Trainer and Rider

"Since starting our horses on OM3GA, I have noticed a positive change in the condition of their skin and coats. Not only are they shinier, but OM3GA boosts their immune system making them less susceptible to skin irritations. As an added bonus, the horses enjoy the taste, which makes them more willing to eat certain medicines or supplements they would otherwise try to avoid."

- Dana Escales, Black Dog Farm

Read more about OM3GA here.