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Why the Balanced Oil Blend in Equipower Maintenance Beats 100% Flaxseed Oil for Horses

Why the Balanced Oil Blend in Equipower Maintenance Beats 100% Flaxseed Oil for Horses

What is the ideal blend of oils?

Feeding the right oils is key to supporting your horse’s energy, health, and performance. 

Here is a breakdown of why a blend of these three oils may be more beneficial than just using flaxseed oil alone. 

  • rice bran oil
  • coconut oil, and 
  • flaxseed oils 


Omega-6 to Omega-3: Why the Ratio Matters 

  • Omega-3 fatty acids (like ALA in flaxseed) are anti-inflammatory and support joint, skin, and immune health.
  • Omega-6 fatty acids (like LA found in grains and forage) are essential too, but must be balanced with omega-3 for optimal health. 

A natural, healthy equine diet often reflects a 2:1 to 5:1 omega-6:omega-3 ratio; however, a typical grain-heavy (high NSC) feed skews this balance and can lead to inflammation and metabolic issues. 

 100% Flaxseed Oil: Omega-3 Heavy 

  • Omega-3 (ALA): ~55–60% 
  • Omega-6 (LA): ~12–18% 
  • Approximate 6:3 ratio: ~0.3:1 (ie a lot more omega-3 than omega-6) 

 Pure flaxseed oil can be helpful for targeted omega-3 boosting but may disrupt balance if used as the sole oil source. Flaxseed oil is useful to balance the high Omaga 6 in grain (high NSC diets)  or in pastures with low Omega 3. 

 Why the  blend of Rice Bran, Coconut and Flaxseed oil in Equipower Maintenance works better 

 Breakdown of the Blend: 

 1. Rice Bran Oil 

  • Omega-6: 35–40% 
  • Omega-3: <1% 
  • Highly rich in antioxidants like gamma-oryzanol 

2. Coconut Oil  

  • Mostly saturated fats (MCTs) 
  • Minimal impact on omega ratios 
  • Boosts digestibility and energy 

3. Flaxseed Oil 

  • Omega-3: 7–8% 
  • Adds anti-inflammatory support 

 Approximate Blend Ratio 

 Balanced 6:3 ratio: of 3.5–4:1 which is very close to natural equine dietary needs 


 Final Thoughts 

 While flaxseed oil is a great omega-3 booster, for high grain diets and low Omega 3 pasture,  using the balanced oil blend in Equipower Maintenance better mimics a natural equine diet supporting overall health, energy, and performance without tipping nutrient balance.

In short

The rice bran, coconut, flaxseed oil blend is superior to 100% flaxseed oil because it: 

  • Provides a balanced fatty acid spectrum (omega-3, 6, 9, and MCTs). 
  • The blended oil provides an Omega 6:Omega 3 ratio of 4:1.  F
  • Flaxseed alone is heavily Omega 3 dominant.
  • Improves digestibility, palatability, and energy stability. 
  • Offers antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and gut-protective benefits. 
  • Reduces risks of rancidity and fatty acid imbalance seen with pure flax oil. 
 This makes the blend a safer, more versatile, and performance-oriented option for horses across different life stages and workloads.


omega 3 omega 6 rice bran oil equipower flaxseed coconut