Smarter Foals?
It’s that time of year again; the time when cute, long-legged, frisky foals start showing up around the country. If you’re going through the trouble to breed your mare, chances are you have big plans for foal. You’ve spent time researching stallions to find the perfect complement to your mare, arranging for her to be bred (which can be a logistical nightmare) and poured hours into her care over the duration of her pregnancy – all to ensure the foal arrives safe and healthy. But, is there more you could do?
Most of us don’t think about incorporating a supplement into our breeding program to ensure a successful outcome however, many studies have determined that DHA supplementation throughout the latter part of pregnancy can have beneficial effects to the health and development of the fetus. After giving birth, studies have proven DHA continues to be transferred to the offspring though nursing and the beneficial effects are extended. Though the majority of available research is directed toward humans, a new set of studies focuses solely on the horse.
University of Florida researchers fed Releira, a concentrated DHA supplement from Arenus, to mares in late gestation and came to many interesting conclusions:
- Milk from Releira supplemented mares had higher concentrations of DHA and total omega-3 fatty acids [1]
- Foals born to mares who had been fed Releira were quicker to stand and nurse [2]
- Foals born to Releira supplemented mares were more likely to exhibit social behaviors [2]
These researchers revisited this same group of foals as yearlings and found the Releira supplemented group scored better on memory recall exercises than the placebo group [3]!
So, if you’re going through the trouble to breed your next performance horse, chances are your foal may benefit greatly from DHA supplementation. That said, not all DHA supplements are created equal and just feeding a supplement high in omega-3s won’t necessarily yield the results you’re looking for. The old saying is true – you get what you pay for. No place is this statement more true than in the equine supplement world. The bigger companies aren’t necessarily the ones with the best science and the most expensive products are not always the ones that produce results.
Do your homework. Flaxseed is not a substitute for DHA. While flaxseed will no doubt make your mare fat and shiny, you could supplement her with pounds of it each day and not obtain the benefits to the foal you’re looking for. As in the research, find a quality, palatable, vegetarian source of DHA for your mare and you’ll be setting your foal up for a lifetime of good health.
If you make the decision to supplement your mare throughout her pregnancy, it’s our responsibility as horse owners to educate ourselves and provide the best. Own it!
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