Improving Memory in Foals Through Mare Nutrition

By: Dr Rosie Alcorn BVSc PG Cert VPS Cert AVP MRCVS

The breeding season is in full swing, and as an avid breeder, I am always looking for ways to improve my foals each year. During my research, I came across a fascinating study from the University of Florida, which examined how omega-3 fatty acids, particularly DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), influence learning and memory in foals.

The study found that supplementing pregnant mares with DHA during pregnancy and early lactation significantly improved their foals' cognitive abilities.

The Study: How DHA Supports Learning in Foals

Researchers supplemented pregnant mares with DHA from an algae source starting at 250 days of pregnancy until the foals were 74 days old. They then assessed the foals' learning and memory abilities from two months to two years old to determine if DHA had the same cognitive benefits in horses as it does in human babies and children.

Key Findings of the Study

At 2 Months Old

• Foals learned to repeatedly touch their noses to a target object.

At 6 Months Old

• DHA-supplemented foals retained previously learned tasks better than foals that had not received DHA.

At 1 and 2 Years Old

• Foals exposed to DHA learned new tasks faster and remembered them more accurately.

Overall Conclusion

This study indicates that DHA supplementation during pregnancy and lactation can significantly enhance memory and learning ability in foals.

What This Means for Your Broodmare

Horses naturally receive little DHA from a standard diet. Most equine diets are higher in ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), another omega-3 fatty acid that the body can convert into DHA, but not very efficiently.

To ensure your broodmare passes on the cognitive benefits of DHA to her foal, you should consider supplementing her diet with a DHA-rich source, such as marine-derived omega-3 supplements.

Beyond improving foal learning, omega-3s offer a range of health benefits for both horses and humans!

Keyflow's Key-3 Oil provides balanced levels of long chain omega 3s DHA and EPA and short chain omega 3 ALA. EPA and DHA supports growth in utero and in all growth stages. These nutrients also contribute to a shortened length of time before a foal stands up postpartum.

Study Reference

Adkin, A.M., Muniz, A.V., Mortensen, C.J., & Warren, L.K. (2015). Maternal fatty acid supplementation influences memory and learning ability in yearling and 2-year-old horses. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 35(5), 419.