Last Updated on December 26, 2022
Have you heard about Flaxseed? It seems to be all the rage in the horse supplement industry right now. But, there are lots of different companies that make flaxseed supplement for horses that sometimes use words and phrases that you and I don’t understand.
What is Flaxseed? What does it do? What’s the difference between Stabilized Flaxseed and normal Flaxseed? Which is better for my horse? And who makes the best Flaxseed supplements? All of these are the questions I have asked myself.
Before I jump right into reviewing the three best-stabilized flaxseed supplements on the market today, I am going to briefly discuss the benefits of using stabilized flaxseed vs. normal flaxseed, and which of the two-horse owners prefer. I’m also going to explain why horse owners love feeding flaxseed in the first place.
Then, I’ll be reviewing the three best-stabilized flaxseed supplements on the market today. These are Triple Crown Naturals Golden Ground Flax, Manna Pro Simply Flax, and SmartPak’s Smart and Simple Flax.
Flaxseed Supplement for Horses: What is Flaxseed?
TheHorse.Com describes flaxseed by saying the following:
“Flaxseed is produced by the flax plant, commonly grown in cooler, northern climates, such as North Dakota and Montana. Canada is the No. 1 flaxseed producer due to its ideal climate conditions. Flaxseed is also known as “flax” or “linseed….Flaxseed contains an average of 40% fat and is one of the few vegetable sources of omega-3 fatty acids (mainly alpha-linolenic acid). The Flaxseed also contains around 30% highly digestible fiber and 20% protein.”
So, what does this mean for your horse? All of those fatty acids that they’re talking about have great health benefits for horses. These include a healthy, shiny coat, stronger hooves, moisturized and healthy skin, and more!
There are some that believe that flaxseed can also reduce inflammation in a horse’s joints, making it especially appealing to those caring for senior horses, or sporthorses that may have more miles on them.
Flaxseed is also known for boosting a horse’s immune system. Remember how your mom always told you to drink orange juice growing up and sometimes made you take multivitamins to “boost your immune system?” Think of flaxseed doing the same thing in horses.
Boosting a horse’s immune system can cause them to have more resilience to things that would typically make them sick. These could include being cold, being wet, being around other horses that might be sick, etc.
Differences Between Flaxseed and Stabilized Flaxseed
If you’ve heard the term “stabilized flaxseed” before, you may have wondered exactly what the difference is between normal flaxseed and stabilized flaxseed.
It’s actually pretty simple: flaxseed in its raw form is actually little seeds, and stabilized flaxseed is simply ground up flaxseed found in powder forms. Horses get the most nutrients out of ground flaxseed, so horse owners can essentially choose to purchase raw flaxseed and grind it up themselves, or they can purchase a pre-ground powder stabilized flaxseed supplement.
If flaxseed is not ground, horses spend their time chewing on materials that don’t directly benefit them. What benefits them is actually inside the seeds, and it’s what is enunciated by grinding flaxseed into a powder.
For obvious reasons, most horse owners choose the stabilized flaxseed; it’s less work, and your horse will get the most out of it. The three best examples of stabilized flaxseed supplements on the market today are Triple Crown Naturals Golden Ground Flax, Manna Pro Simply Flax, and SmartPak’s Smart and Simple Flax.
Flaxseed Supplement for Horses: Triple Crown Naturals Golden Ground Flax
Before actually getting into the Golden Ground Flax product itself, I’d like to discuss Triple Crown as a brand. Triple Crown is known for its high-quality grain products for horses. They have high-quality grain options for performance horses, all the way down to retired pasture pets.
Triple Crown is a trusted brand that knows their stuff and does their research. That being said, any supplement they come out with also carries that inherent trustworthiness that the brand has created.
Triple Crown has been producing supplements, in conjunction with grain, for quite a few years now. Their supplements make appearances at high-level equine competitions and in renowned show barns across the world.
Their Golden Ground Flax supplement is a stabilized flax supplement designed specifically for horses needing a boost in coat or hoof health. It also helps reduce inflammation in the joints of older, more senior-type horses.
All of the reviews of this product on Triple Crown’s website give it full marks, meaning that its users love it. Triple Crown Naturals Golden Ground Flax has a shelf life of two years, making it extremely long-lasting.
A 25-pound bag of Triple Crown Naturals Golden Ground Flax price is affordable. For a supplement that could potentially last two years, this is very reasonable.
Purchase Triple Crown Naturals Golden Ground Flax at Triple Crown’s website at the following link.
| PROS | CONS |
| -High Quality | |
| -Trustworthy Brand | |
| -Long Shelf Life | |
| -Reasonable Price |
Manna Pro Simply Flax
Manna Pro is also a reputable equine supply brand! They are known for producing equine health-related products such as supplements and other basic barn necessities. I’ve used MannaPro products in the past and have always been satisfied with their quality.
Manna Pro Simply Flax would be a great option for a stabilized flaxseed supplement for your horse. The Manna Pro says that their supplement also helps promote a healthy coat and healthy hooves, as well as boosting a horse’s immune system.
Manna Pro Simply Flax price is expensive for an 8lb bucket on most equine supply websites. It’s approximately almost double the cost of Triple Crown Naturals Golden Ground Flax, in a smaller container.
Manna Pro also only guarantees a shelf life of 1 year for their products, versus the two-year shelf life of Triple Crown Naturals Golden Ground Flax. These things considered, Manna Pro Simply Flax is still a great supplement, and will do what you need it to do to help your horses!
Purchase Manna Pro Simply Flax from Manna Pro’s website at this link.
| PROS | CONS |
| -Trustworthy brand | -Expensive |
| -Short Shelf Life |
SmartPak’s Smart and Simple Flax
Lastly is SmartPak’s Smart and Simple Flax! SmartPak as a brand is often credited with the wave of interest toward supplements coming from the equine community today. As such, the company knows more than a thing or two about supplements.
They make incredibly trustworthy products and are known for their incredible customer service, which I have experienced multiple times, firsthand.
SmartPak’s Smart and Simple Flax is said to promote healthy skin and a healthy coat for a horse! The tagline for this product is “maintaining a horse’s healthy glow.”
SmartPak sells their 20-pound bucket for an expensive price. This means it costs even more expensive than the Manna Pro Simply Flax, drastically more expensive than the Triple Crown Naturals Golden Ground Flax.
SmartPak also provides other purchasing options that allow for some cost savings. With the regular occurring “SmartPak’s” that you can get for your horse, there is a different supplement in each packet.
The cost of these strips will obviously depend on what other supplements you have your horse on at the time, but SmartPak typically gives a small discount on these products if you have chosen to purchase supplements from them this way.
In any regard, SmartPak’s cost is still the highest out of the three brands I reviews that produce stabilized flaxseed supplements for horses. However, with SmartPak, you pay for a reliable brand, a reliable product, and reliable customer service if something goes wrong.
Purchase the SmartPak’s Smart and Simple Flax from SmartPak’s website at the following link.
| PROS | CONS |
| -Reliable Brand | -Expensive |
Conclusion
Flaxseed has great health benefits for your horses! And stabilized flaxseed has even more. Thankfully, supplements are on the rise in the horse community, and there are many options to pick from.
This seems like a good thing, but sometimes it can be difficult to break down exactly what the differences are between one supplement to the next. I know personally I have had trouble distinguishing the differences in many equine joint supplements.
But, once you understand the difference between raw flaxseed and stabilized flaxseed, the differences in the supplements really aren’t too confusing!
I hope I helped you debunk these differences in this article, as well as providing you with some great information on the top three stabilized flaxseed supplement for horses on the market today, Triple Crown Naturals Golden Ground Flax, Manna Pro Simply Flax, and SmartPak’s Smart and Simple Flax.
The choice is up to you and whatever is best for your horse! You may choose one of these supplements, or you may choose an entirely different one. Every horse is different, and no one knows your horse better than you do.
If this article helped you better understand stabilized flaxseed and what the best-stabilized flaxseed supplements are on the market today, please share this article, and share with us your experiences feeding your horse any of these products, or any stabilized flaxseed products!
FAQs
What is stabilized flax?
Stabilized flax is a finely ground flaxseed that is stabilized by a heating process that denatures the enzyme, which makes it safe to serve directly from the bag, without any additional preparation. The stabilized product can be refrigerated after opening to extend the shelf life.
Flaxseed a concentrated source of omega-3 fatty acids and dietary fiber, plus a host of other important nutrients. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for brain development and function. They are also great for the heart and blood vessels, as well as the skin, eyes, and hair.
What is the best form of flaxseed to take?
Flaxseed is available in two forms: whole and ground. Whole flaxseed contains the entire seed. The ground version is produced by grinding or cracking the whole seed and is the most popular form of flaxseed on the market today. In general it's easier to digest than whole flaxseed which means that also nutrients from ground flaxseed will absorb better than form whole flaxseed.
The benefits of flaxseed include weight loss, increased energy, decreased cholesterol, improved digestion, and cancer prevention. However, there are concerns about the safety of consuming flaxseed. Flaxseed is not recommended during pregnancy and lactation, due to potential adverse effects.
How much flaxseed should you feed a horse per day?
Flaxseed is a complete source of protein, minerals and amino acids. For horses, it is a high quality dietary supplement that can help in muscle development and weight gain. Flaxseed may be fed as a supplement or mixed with hay or grain. Your horse's daily requirements for flaxseed will vary depending on age, weight, activity level, and overall condition.
Depending on the desired results, horses can be fed from 2 to 16 ounces (1 pound) of flaxseed each day. A mid-range amount of 1/2 to 1 cup of flaxseed per day is a safe amount for most horses.
Can you feed a horse too much flax?
In theory, yes. Flaxseeds contain cyanogenic glucoside enzymes that can produce poisonous cyanide gas when activated by water. However, for this to become an issue, you would have to feed more than 2 lbs of raw flaxseeds to a horse per day.
There is no evidence that flaxseed supplementation at normal levels can cause a problem. In fact, there are several studies showing the opposite; that feeding flaxseed to horses does not affect their performance or health. Anyway, if you are using flaxseed in your horse's diet, be sure to follow the manufacturer's recommendations for dosage.
Does flaxseed have any side effects?
The following side effects have been reported: allergic reactions, tbloating, constipation, diarrhea, gas (flatulence).
In addition to the list above, it is thought that flaxseed could interfere with the absorption of iron in the gut. This could cause a horse to become anemic, and would require a veterinarian's care.
It's also good to consider that flaxseed has not been tested for safety or effectiveness on pregnant or lactating mares so might be better to avoid it in this case to prevent any possible complications.
Michael Dehaan is a passionate horse owner, horse rider, and lover of all things equine. He has been around horses since he was a child, and has grown to become an expert in the field. He has owned and ridden a variety of horses of different breeds, and has trained many to compete in shows and competitions. He is an experienced horseman, having worked with and competed many horses, including his own. He is an active member of the equestrian community, participating in events and teaching riding lessons.
