Best Oil for a Shiny Coat?

[MysticRealm]

So I am going to be starting to feed my horse his suplements and such since the barn staff is forgetful sometimes so now I can add oil to my horse's feed to help with a shiny coat. What kind of oil and how much would you use?

[Acme Acres]

Absolutely, with out doubt DAC oil and it only takes 1-2 oz a day. Usually I put them on 3-4 oz a day for the first week, then back off. You will NOT see a better coat than you do with DAC. I didn't believe it until I started using it (and after fitting horses that were world show bound, we had great coats w/out any supplements), but you can't mistake a DAC oil coat for anything else!

[ejforrest]

I use good old veg oil, corn oil, or sometimes soy oil.
For a nice shinny coat use 1/4 cup a day.

[Goonhorse]

I prefer flax seed over oil--or oils like vegetable, or corn. I prefer it because flax seed has a higher Omega-3 to Omega-6 ratio, whereas the vegetable and corn oil tends to be higher in Omega-6.

[AQHA Hunter]

Acme, what is DAC oil? Never heard of it (unless that stands for something obvious that I'm just not getting).

I personally have migrated towards feeding fats in whole food form, instead of pure oil. So mine gets rice bran, BOSS, and have recently added a flax-based supplement (this diet has the benefit of covering the Omega 3's and Amino Acids in addition to just adding calories and a "shine agent.").

[Dawn]

I have to agree with the whole food sources and not straight oil. I fed oil for a few years, and loved it. Then I switched and realized how much better whole food sources are.

Of done rice bran, BOSS, and flax, either by themselves or in conjunction with each other. They have the added benefits of the nutrition that they bring in as well.

Put all that together with a low or no grain high nutrition diet, you absolutely can not beat the results of that. And you don't have to mess with the 'mess' that oils make. Or with them going rancid in the heat.

[Dawn]

Here is my mare. Outside 24/7 unless the weather is really bad. Not been brushed in at least a week. Inside so no sun to shine off of her. In a winter coat. She gets 15-20 lbs of hay a day (basically free choice for her), a little grass that's coming in to nibble on, 1 lb of ration balancer/day, Source, and 1/2 cup flax a day.

[Acme Acres]

But, in moderation, an oil can do wonders. I'll have to see if I can get the photos of Player from when he was on it. It does things to coats that hard work could only dream of obtaining, and in very small doses. Our horses look as shiney as anything w/out, but not the same as the ones who've been put on DAC oil... WHICH is a mix of flax oil... shoot can't think of the others... it's about 6 different products.

[Dawn]

I do agree that oil can make a coat look better. But, imo (as I don't believe there are actually any 'scientific' studies discussing the differences), nothing can beat a whole food source for the other benefits it brings to the table.

[MysticRealm]

K so, I am just putting my horse on Step 8 which I believe is 20% fat content.(he's getting too skinny for my liking) Do you think this will be enough to give a nice shine (not that my horse has any problem with shine but I want as much shine as humanely possible plus he gets a bit dandruffy, sepcially during the winter)
Here is a quick pic of Veggie

inside (after clipping)

an old pic of Veg when his coat wasn't near as good as it is now a days