Technical Information & Specification

It is well documented that oil is a good source of calories for horses, but without the health implications, such as laminitis, colic and azoturia, that can arise from starch based energy sources.

Omega Gold is cold pressed rapeseed oil produced in Yorkshire from locally grown oilseed rape and is the same oil used by many of Yorkshire’s finest restaurants, partly due to its health benefits. There has been prejudice against rapeseed oil but this is based on outdated information. Omega Gold is produced from the “Double O” variety of oilseed rape which has been selectively bred to have no erucic acid or glucosinolates.

Rapeseed oil naturally contains the essential fatty acids Omega 3 and Omega 6, along with the antioxidant vitamin E. The body is unable to synthesize Omega 3 and Omega 6, and it must therefore be present in the diet. Although any oil can be fed for energy, for the performance horse it is essential to keep Omega 3 and Omega 6, in the correct balance for performance, soundness and health, oilseed rape has been selectively bred to produce oil with the optimum balance of Omega 3 to 6. Omega 6 is vital for healing as it is a precursor of the inflammatory response needed after injury, Omega 3 is necessary for reducing inflammation; however it is possible that too much Omega 3 without Omega 6, could inhibit healing.

Rapeseed oil has been fed extensively to horses in Canada and America as Canola oil however cold pressed rapeseed oil has only recently become popular in this country. It should be pointed out that many supermarket oil products have rapeseed oil in them however these are hot pressed which destroys the Omega 3 and Omega 6, and therefore has none of the benefits of Omega Gold.