What it is
Linoleic acid (LA) is the essential omega-6 fatty acid: mammals can't make it, so it must come from the diet [1]. Horses can convert linoleic acid to arachidonic acid [1].
Requirements
The NRC is the only body that publishes nutrient recommendations for horses, and it gives a maintenance recommendation for linoleic acid [1]. Most of a horse's LA comes from forage and grain concentrates [1].
Ratio
There is no clear ideal omega-6 to omega-3 ratio for horses, although a lower ratio may be recommended for inflammatory conditions such as obesity and osteoarthritis [1].
Sources
- 1. Burron S, Richards T, Krebs G, Trevizan L, Rankovic A, Hartwig S, Pearson W, Ma DWL, Shoveller AK. The balance of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids in canine, feline, and equine nutrition: exploring sources and the significance of alpha-linolenic acid. Journal of Animal Science 2024;102:skae143. doi:10.1093/jas/skae143 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11161904/ (accessed 2026-11-07)
Last edited 7 Nov 2026, 1:48 am