Why Sunflower Is Changing the Way We Feed Horses

At Omega Feeds, sunflower is at the heart of everything we do — and for good reason. Our feeds are built around the natural nutritional benefits of sunflower ingredients, creating balanced, fibre-rich formulas that support performance, condition and overall horse health without relying heavily on grain.

As more horse owners become aware of the challenges associated with traditional grain-based diets, there has been a growing shift towards feeds that provide cool energy, quality fibre and healthy fats. That’s exactly where sunflower shines.

The Nutritional Benefits of Sunflower

Sunflower seeds are naturally packed with valuable nutrients that help horses thrive. Omega Feeds uses the power of sunflower to deliver:

• High fibre for digestive health

• High fat for cool, slow-release energy

• Naturally occurring methionine for hoof and coat support

• Low starch nutrition

• Excellent palatability for fussy eaters

• Improved coat shine and body condition

Unlike high-grain diets that can contribute to behavioural issues, digestive upset and metabolic stress, sunflower-based feeds offer a safer and more natural alternative for many horses.

Why Fibre Matters

Horses evolved to digest fibrous forage, not large amounts of grain. Fibre plays a critical role in maintaining hindgut health, supporting healthy digestion and helping horses stay settled and content.

Products such as Omega Feeds No-Grain Gold and No-Grain Platinum are specifically designed around high-fibre nutrition. These feeds provide horses with the bulk and chew time they naturally require while delivering balanced nutrition for everything from pleasure riding through to high-level competition.

The non-pelleted fibre-based formulas also encourage saliva production, helping to buffer the stomach and support gastric health.

Cool Energy Without the “Fizz”

One of the biggest advantages of sunflower-based feeding is the ability to provide energy without excessive starch.

Sunflower kernel is naturally high in fat, supplying a concentrated source of cool energy that supports performance while helping horses remain calm and manageable. Products like MaxiCoat and WeightGain utilise sunflower kernel to deliver high-calorie nutrition without the unwanted heat often associated with grain-heavy diets.

This makes sunflower-based feeds particularly beneficial for:

• Performance horses

• Horses prone to tying up

• Highly strung horses

• Horses needing weight gain or improved condition

• Horses requiring low-starch diets

More Digestible Than Whole Seeds

At Omega Feeds, we don’t simply use whole sunflower seeds. Our premium sunflower seeds are processed through a specialised dehulling plant that separates the outer hull from the nutrient-rich kernel.

This process improves digestibility and allows us to maximise the nutritional benefits for horses.

The sunflower hull provides valuable fibre, while the kernel delivers healthy fats, protein and cool energy. Together, they create balanced feeds that support condition, performance and digestive health.

Simple Feeding, Better Results

Horse nutrition does not need to be complicated. Overloading diets with unnecessary ingredients can create nutritional imbalances and digestive stress. Omega Feeds focuses on simple, effective feeding solutions that are balanced, highly digestible and easy to feed.

Whether you have:

• A pony needing low-starch nutrition

• A performance horse requiring cool energy

• An older horse needing extra condition

• A show horse needing coat shine and topline

there is an Omega Feeds sunflower-based product designed to help.

The Omega Feeds Difference

From PonyPlus for easy keepers and laminitic horses, through to No-Grain Platinum for performance horses and WeightGain for horses needing extra condition, every Omega Feeds product is built around the same philosophy — simple ingredients and brilliant results.

Sunflower-based nutrition provides horses with:

• Fibre for digestive health

• Cool energy for performance

• Healthy fats for condition and coat shine

• Balanced nutrition for long-term wellbeing

With proven results across all disciplines, Omega Feeds continues to show why sunflower really is a powerful ingredient in equine nutrition.

Let sunflower power your horse today.

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