Ask the Nutritionist: Dr. Getty's Forum for Equine Nutrition
Welcome to my forum.
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All the best,
Dr. Getty
Hi Nancy,
Unfortunately, ingredient lists on horse feeds (or any animal feed, for that matter) are not listed in order of ingredient concentration. Foods for human consumption have ingredient lists where the first item on the list is the one in the highest amount, however, this is the not case with horse feed. So, there is no way of knowing which is the main ingredient, unless you get this information from the manufacturer.
In the case of calf-manna, this is a product designed for calves, not horses. And, yes, it is very high in starch. I do not recommend feeding grain-based feed to growing horses since this has been shown in dozens of studies to influence the development of orthopedic disorders. So, that includes all cereal grains (e.g., oats, corn, rice, barley, wheat, rye, etc.).
Grain can be part of a balanced diet for some horses -- those that work for a living. But, it must be fed in moderation. Horses' digestive systems are not designed to manage large amounts of starch. And, most of the problems we see with horses are related to feeding improperly -- including laminitis, colic, obesity, and hormonal imbalances (e.g., cushings and insulin resistance).
In the case of flaxseed meal, certainly too much is not a good thing. I generally recommend feeding between 2 and 10 ounces (by weight) of flaxseed meal, depending on the need. Flaxseed meal is one component of the diet to help horses gain weight, but there are other factors to consider, depending on the cause of weight loss.
Thanks for writing about this very important topic.
Happy Holidays!
Dr. Getty 
Where are you from? Bayfield, CO
Hello Gwen,
Corn oil, in moderation, may be helpful for the horse that needs to gain weight or is heavily exercised. I don't like to use it exclusively since it is high in omega 6 fatty acids, which increase inflammation. Omega 3 fatty acids, found in flaxseed meal, actually do the opposite -- they reduce inflammation. So, you may want to consider adding Nutra Flax to your horse's diet instead.
All the best,
Dr. Getty
Where are you from? Bayfield, CO