Ask the Nutritionist: Dr. Getty's Forum for Equine Nutrition
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All the best,
Dr. Getty
Hello Simon,
Once a flaxseed is broken open, the unsaturated fatty acids inside can quickly become rancid. This starts to happen immediately, therefore, flaxseed meal must be kept refrigerated and for no more than 3 days. Otherwise, the product will contain free-radicals (volatile, damaging molecules) that no one should feed to their horses.
The same is true for flaxseed oil -- Keep refrigerated below 40 degrees F and tightly sealed.
I prefer to use a commercial flaxseed meal preparation called Nutra Flax because the seeds are broken in such a way as to prevent quick oxidation, and hence rancidity. Also, since flax naturally contains too much phosphorus in relation to calcium, Nutra Flax adds some calcium to correct this inverted ratio.
Thank you for bringing up this important issue.
All the best,
Dr. Getty 
Where are you from? Bayfield, CO