Chia seeds are one of my go to’s when I make my smoothie in the morning, but feed it to my horse? Absolutely! The tiny seed is full of good things for your horse!
They have a long shelf life and are a good long term answer to proving essential aminos, a whole food source of balanced ratios of vitamins, minerals and Omega oils. Chia is a rich source of Vitamin B, with a higher niacin content than corn, rice or even soy.
These little seeds help to protect the mucous lining of the intestinal tract by soothing the GI tract and aid in the prevention of gastric ulcers and promote a balance of blood sugar levels. Horses with digestive problems will greatly benefit from the high mucilage content in Chia seeds. It is especially good for horses who are prone to sand colic. Simply put, the blobs of mucilage that result from soaking Chia seeds are simply great at gathering up sand and debris from the gut and moving them through the horse’s system harmlessly. This mucilage is also very helpful in slowing down your horse’s digestion of carbohydrates. This has shown in several studies to have important anti inflammatory effects.
If your horse is an easy keeper or has a metabolic condition, Chia may help prevent blood sugar spikes. Even if you are feeding lots of good hay, you need to understand that the omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids contained in hay break down and dissipate very quickly. If your horse is getting most of his roughage from hay, you will also need to provide a supplement for omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Chia seeds are high in omega 3 essential fatty acids.
Since the high oil content of the seeds (80% oil) is primarily omega 3. They have a 3:1 ratio of omega 3 and 6. Chia provides 18 amino acids including Lysine and Arginine and Proline, the major constituent of collagen.This amino acid is instrumental in the healing and repair of connective tissues. It can be very helpful for horses that are recovering from ligament or tendon injuries. They also provide Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, and Phosphorus, plus the trace elements Zinc, Copper, Manganese, Iron, Boron and Strontium.
Chia seeds contain substances essential to cell life with a balance of giving nutrients and removing debris. Chia seeds can also provide support for allergy relief, improved coat, skin, hoof health, joints, and muscles.
I Hope you enjoyed this post, please feel free to comment and share! Robin
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