By the end of 2026, U.S. sales on pet CBD products are expected to hit $1.1 billion. While more than three-quarters of the CBD-related pet products purchased in 2021 were bought for dogs, horses are getting in on the action, too. Horse owners are using CBD products to address:

◆ Inflammation
◆ Arthritis
◆ Respiratory issues
◆ Allergies
◆ Pain (acute and chronic)
◆ Immune system issues
◆ Anxiety
◆ Stress/trauma
◆ Gastrointestinal problems (ulcers, leaky gut, et cetera)

Photo by Viktoria Makarova/Adobe Stock

Why CBD Works in Equines

All mammals have an endocannabinoid system (ECS) located throughout the body, which helps the nervous and immune systems self-regulate and communicate. The ECS searches out instability and seeks to return the body to a balanced state.

CBD acts on cannabinoid receptors in the brain, organs, and the immune system, allowing the ECS to be more productive in coping with instabilities such as inflammation, pain, anxiety, immune deficiencies, digestive disturbances, and more.

CBD is one of the most common cannabinoids found in cannabis plants, which include both hemp and marijuana. Hemp has 0.3 percent or less THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is the cannabinoid in marijuana that causes the sensations of being “high.”

There are different ways to extract CBD from plants, with CO₂ extraction being the purest. Chemical extraction methods may use toxic chemicals, making this method undesirable. Reputable manufacturers will note their extraction method.

Forms and Dosage

CBD products for horses are sold as pellets, powders, and oils. To avoid contamination from chemicals, heavy metals, or other soil toxins, choose products made in the U.S. or Canada from organically grown hemp. Check websites for a Certificate of Analysis (COA) showing the product has been third-party tested and is free of THC, heavy metals, mold, et cetera.

CBD products for horses are most commonly sold in one of three forms: pellets, powder, or oil. Photo by Irina Evva/Adobe Stock

If the product has a NASC quality seal, this guarantees the product was made by a member of the National Animal Supplement Council, so you can feel confident it contains what the label states.

Dosage depends on the horse’s weight and the specific condition being addressed. The most common doses in pharmacokinetic studies for a 1,000-pound horse would be 225 to 1,350 mg of CBD oil once or twice daily. Thus far, only one study has shown increased liver values with these doses. More research on long-term use is needed.

The dose can be adjusted up or down depending on how the horse responds. Although positive effects may be seen within days, it may take up to two weeks to see obvious benefits.

Any side effects are typically mild. Current research has not identified effects on mental activity or GI effects in the short term, but long-term safety is unknown.

Consider the Research

In a recent study at the University of Messina in Italy, hemp oil was added to the protocol of horses with joint osteoarthritis who were already being treated with phenylbutazone (bute).

The group of horses receiving CBD oil had “a significant reduction in heart rate, respiratory rate, white blood cell count, and oxidative stress.” Those horses also scored lower in the Horse Chronic Pain Scale (HCPS), showing improved pain relief and quality of life.

“The good news is that the outcome of pharmacokinetic research has been quite consistent despite different CBD products, doses, horse populations studied, and research groups,” says Taralyn McCarrel, DVM, who was an Assistant Professor at the University of Florida when the school conducted CBD research on horses in 2021. She is currently an Associate Professor of Large Animal Surgery at the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph. “In research, one study never stands alone as the answer—we like to see broad consistency across studies to confirm results.”

McCarrel says current published literature supports these general conclusions:

◆ Oral CBD has poor absorption from the GI tract (very little of what we give ends up in bloodstream circulation).

◆ The acid forms of cannabinoids (CBDA) are better absorbed, but potential clinical effects of these need more investigation.

◆ THC can be detected despite being in low concentrations in hemp oils, and the 7-COOH CBD metabolite remains detectable in the circulation for longer than other metabolites tested.

She points out that despite hemp oil having less than 0.3 percent THC as required by law to qualify as a hemp oil, horses in the University of Florida study, whether given lower or higher doses, had detectable levels of THCA (the acidic form of THC).

“While the CBD and many other metabolites were eliminated from the bloodstream quickly and became undetectable, the 7-COOH-CBD metabolite remained at high levels throughout our sampling window,” says McCarrel, who still holds Courtesy Faculty status at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine.

Should Your Horse Try CBD?

Many horse owners are using CBD products, and there are plenty of products on the market. That said, McCarrel points out three major areas that should give owners pause.

“The first is that we don’t know much more than we know,” she says. “Based on the current literature, it appears that low doses of CBD have minimal effects in the short term, but the safe and effective dose for any particular indication is not known, and long-term safety of any dose is not known.

“The second major issue is that CBD products can differ based on the species and characteristics of the plant,” McCarrel continues. “There is currently no regulatory control of these products at the federal level, and patchy to nonexistent regulation at the state level. So, it’s a ‘buyer beware’ environment at present.

“Finally, for performance horses, it’s important to know the regulations of whatever organization the horse may compete under and be aware that these products are banned by several of them,” she says. “Cannabinoids are banned by the FEI [Fédération Equestre Internationale]. CBD and THC are also prohibited in Thoroughbred racing in the United States, with THC being in a higher class than CBD for racehorses. Owners and veterinarians need to be mindful of the risk of detection of prohibited substances in horses competing in regulated sports.”

Regulatory Status

McCarrel notes that the regulatory environment for CBD products is currently in a state of limbo.

“Given that we are still in the infancy of CBD research in horses, and the very long and expensive process required to achieve FDA [Food and Drug Administration] approval for pharmaceuticals, I would not expect to see an FDA-approved pharmaceutical labeled for use in horses anytime soon,” says McCarrel.

She explains that on the human side, many CBD producers have asked for regulation as a food supplement, which is less expensive and rigorous, but it would provide some regulatory control over quality.

“The FDA’s position is that they have no path for regulation of CBD as a supplement because CBD is an active ingredient in an approved pharmaceutical for treatment of certain seizure disorders in people, and food supplements cannot contain approved pharmaceutical products,” notes McCarrel. “So other than an approved pharmaceutical, which does not exist in veterinary medicine at present, the CBD market is effectively unregulated.”

Due to this lack of regulation, it falls on horse owners to do their homework and choose CBD products made by reputable companies. Since state laws vary regarding the use of CBD products, check your state’s regulations before purchase.

This article about equine CBD appeared in the January/February 2025 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Exploring Equine CBD appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Photo by Grigorita Ko/Shutterstock

Earlier this year, Olympian Steffen Peters become a spokesperson for Trove CBD, a brand of hemp-based cannabidiol products with targeted lines for humans, dogs, cats, and horses. Peters’ advocacy for CBD in general, and Trove in particular, is rooted in his own positive experiences.

“I have seen that [CBD] helps to ‘starve out’ anxiety,” says Peters. “It improves my mental focus so that I can better organize my thoughts and dismiss the negativity.”

Peters’ openness to try CBD and the benefits he’s experienced are increasingly common. Since Congress legalized hemp in 2018, products featuring cannabis’ won’t-get-you-high cousin are popping up all over, with sales expected to top $1.9-billion by 2022.

And as more people have luck with CBD for themselves, the more horse owners get curious as they wonder—can it help my horse, too?

Here, we’ll take a look at the research and talk to an expert to get a better handle on just what it is you should know before giving your horse CBD.

What Is It?

CBD, or cannabidiol, is an active component found in cannabis. Unlike THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), it won’t get you (or your horse) high, but its fans claim it can help with inflammation, anxiety, digestive issues, and more, all by acting within a system our body already has.

In the 1990s, scientists discovered the endocannabinoid system, a network of receptors found in all vertebrate animals, including horses, donkeys and mules. The receptors are found throughout the body—brain, skin, blood vessels, gastrointestinal tract, and more—and we produce chemicals, called endocannabinoids, that bind to them. It turns out that CBD and other active components in cannabis also like binding to these receptors.

Photo by Tinnakorn Jorruang/Shutterstock

What Can CBD Treat?

When it comes to the therapeutic potential of CBD, the research is limited but promising. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) cautiously acknowledges that cannabis has “therapeutic promise,” particularly for “the treatment of epilepsy and the management of pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis.”

Colorado-based equine veterinarian and acupuncturist Chelsea Luedke, DVM, became curious about CBD because clients were asking about it after the state legalized cannabis for humans.

“Nobody had been using [CBD] in horses, but people had been using it in dogs, so that planted the seed,” says Luedke. “My partner was a vet tech at the time with me, and we started talking about it. In horses, we have so few labeled drugs, so we wondered what alternatives are out there?”

The pair went on to co-found VetCS, through which they formulate veterinary-grade CBD pastes and powders and work with a Colorado State University laboratory to run small equine clinical trials.

Thus far, their best results have been in treating anxiety in horses. CBD seems to improve focus and reduce worry over external stimuli without producing a dopey, sedated animal. In addition, and consistent with early trials in humans and dogs, Luedke is also seeing success in managing mild arthritis, as well as allergies.

THC is the active cannabinoid in cannabis that’s responsible for a “high” feeling, while CBD does not have an associated high. Photo by Mitch M/Shutterstock

When it comes to more severe pain, such as animals with founder, she says CBD may help in the short term, but at this stage it tends to be cost-prohibitive at high doses.

While the AVMA has begun to acknowledge CBD’s therapeutic potential in animals, the organization still cautions veterinarians against recommending it outside of well-controlled clinical trials. In addition to the fact that research is in early stages, the organization’s concerns are rooted in regulatory issues.

According to a recent statement on the AVMA website, cannabis-derived products marketed to animals to date “have not followed the traditional path to FDA approval,” and recent lab analyses indicate many products are inaccurately labeled.

Will My Horse Get High?

Of the dozens of cannabinoids active in cannabis, THC is the one that’s responsible for the plant’s trademark euphoria. Currently, equine CBD products on the market in the U.S. come from hemp, which by definition has extremely low THC content (less than 0.3%).

Many manufacturers—including Trove and VetCS—also test their products to ensure they’re THC-free. So no, they won’t get your horse high.

By 2022, CBD sales are expected to top $1.9 billion. Photo by Evka119/Shutterstock

Choosing a Product

Do a quick Google search for equine CBD, and you’ll find plenty of targeted products. There are pellets, tinctures, infused oils, pastes and more. But with the research still new and the regulations murky, how is a responsible horse owner to proceed?

It’ll take some legwork, but it’s doable. Look for a product that has a therapeutic dose of CBD that lacks solvents, bacterial contaminants or pesticides.

Track down a certificate of analysis if possible, and ask whether the company conducts laboratory testing, and what types of quality control measures they practice.

Dosing

An important function of clinical trials is working out how much medication will produce benefits with minimal side effects. Since CBD is still in early research phases, and equine clinical trials tend to happen with very small numbers of horses (often as few as eight to 10), consumers are left with the job of estimating the dosage.

However, there are some basic guidelines. As with many medications, equines seem to be more sensitive to cannabinoids than canines, so don’t treat your horse like a 1,000-pound dog. A standard therapeutic dose for equine anxiety would be 100 to 125 mg of CBD, while managing severe pain could take roughly four times that.

However, it’s important to read specific manufacturer recommendations and labels carefully.

“The most common issues for horse owners is they get too small of a concentration [of CBD],” says Luedke. “Most pellets in a 1- or 2-ounce scoop have little cannabinoid because you need so many fillers to be in pellet form, so you end up underdosing.”

Some horse care experts and owners are seeing progress with their horse’s arthritis with the use of CBD. It’s important to read specific manufacturer recommendations and labels carefully to know if a CBD product will work for your purposes and to determine what dose to give to your horse. Photo by 1A Fotografie/Shutterstock

For example, 100 mg of CBD-infused horse cookies might be a weight concentration rather than the CBD dose in a serving. So, whether you opt for a paste, an oil or a CBD-infused food, make sure it provides enough CBD for your purposes.

Before you start this exploration, talk to your vet. Even if they’re not comfortable making a product recommendation, they can help you figure out the dose, avoid drug interactions and watch for side effects.

When to Steer Clear

Despite the slowly growing acceptance of CBD in the veterinary community, it’s not appropriate for every animal. Luedke cautions against giving CBD to pregnant or nursing mares and notes that the reproductive effects are unknown in breeding stallions.

While it’s non-intoxicating, CBD is prohibited by a number of organizations that govern competition, including racing commissions and individual breed and show associations. It pays to do your research beforehand to ensure safety and compliance if you are competing your horse.

This article on CBD for horses appeared in the February 2020 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post CBD for Horses appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Image Courtesy Joyce Harman, DVM

Hemp is all of the buzz these days, and for good reason. It’s a plant with literally thousands of uses. Hemp is used for clothing, fuel, paper and everything in between. It is a weed and capable of growing in many different conditions with little additional fertilizer or other inputs. Hemp is nutritious and can have medicinal properties. Let’s help clear up the confusion about the different types of hemp products available to feed to your horse and how CBD factors in.

First, here are a few definitions to clarify the different uses and types:

Hemp is known by the Latin plant names as Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica. There is not a clear botanical differentiation between the two species, despite some claims otherwise. Hemp is a cannabis plant that contains very little detectable levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the ingredient that can make the animal “high.”

Marijuana is the same basic plant but does contain THC and can make the animal “high.” Using THC is not advised, and it is toxic to dogs if they get into the horse’s feed.

Cannabinoids are the medicinal compounds that have been shown to be medically useful for many conditions. These are found only in the leaf and the buds of the plant. The acronym “CBD” is commonly used for medicinal preparations, but in reality, there are over 100 different cannabinoids in a hemp plant. There are active compounds called terpenes that work synergistically with the CBD.

The endocannabinoid system is the receptor system for cannabinoids found in all mammals and in most body systems.

Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are found only in the seeds of the plant. Omega-3 is an essential fatty acid that cannot be made in the body, so it needs to be eaten.

Industrial hemp is generally grown for its fiber (stems) and seeds. The plants are grown close to each other to promote tall stemmy fibrous plants with lots of seeds. It contains very little if any CBD. Medicinal hemp is grown to enhance the leaf and bud growth, with high levels of CBD and no omega-3 or omega-6 fatty acids.

Hemp is a plant that can grow just about anywhere, but it is also a bio-accumulator, which means that contaminants or toxins in the soil will end up in the plant. When feeding hemp in any form, it’s important to use organically grown hemp.

Hemp Seeds

Hemp seeds are the most nutritious part of the plant used as food. They contain about 20 percent protein, six percent carbohydrates and about 73 percent healthy fats. They also have significant amounts of calcium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, zinc and vitamins A and E. Most diets contain an excess of omega-6, which are inflammatory. Hemp contains a healthy balance of omega-6 to omega-3 linoleic acid, an anti-inflammatory compound. Feeding hemp oil is a great way to get these benefits (be sure to keep it refrigerated in warm weather).

Hemp oil from seeds also contains the omega-6 fatty acid gamma linolenic acid (GLA), a compound not frequently found in food. It has excellent anti-inflammatory properties, cancer-fighting immune support and support for insulin resistance (IR).

Hemp protein is highly bioavailable, although it is not a complete protein to replace all other sources. One ounce of seed contains 9.2 grams of protein. Hemp seeds and the protein that comes from the processing of them are available now and are a fabulous way to feed your horses protein without feeding genetically modified corn and soybean.

The hemp leaf is an excellent source of fiber, magnesium, calcium and phosphorous. It also contains antioxidant polyphenols to help protect the cells from free radical damage as well as more beneficial chemical compounds, such as flavonoids.

Separating the nutritional properties of hemp from its medicinal ones can be complex, since many nutritional compounds are good for the horses because they enhance health.

Hemp CBD

The buds and flowers of hemp have a high content of CBDs, and it is one of the most interesting new herbal medicines to come on the market, including in the horse industry. The medicinal properties of CBDs in animals are just beginning to be explored. Several years of clinical observations and data indicate that horses are very responsive to CBD in similar ways to other species, including humans.

Endocannabinoid System

The endocannabinoid system of vertebrate animals is thought to have existed for over 500 million years. All mammals have receptors in most internal organs for the cannabinoids found in hemp. These are important in regulation of many body functions.

Endocannabinoids are compounds released internallly in the nervous system to bind to receptors and transmit information. There are two main types of receptors that occur in different tissues, CB1 and CB2. The CB1s are primary in the central nervous system with some in the external organs, while the CB2s are mostly in the immune system B cells and natural killer cells, with some in the spleen and tonsils. The complexity of the interactions between the cannabinoids, the immune system, and the inflammatory pathways create a vast array of biochemical functions affected by those cannabinoids.

Endocannabinoid research is limited for domestic animals, including horses. Because the endocannabinoid system is present in all mammals, phytocannabinoids have the potential to affect the health of any internal organ with endocannabinoid receptors. For example, the gut, the liver and the brain all contain receptors for CBDs.

Feeding Cannabinoids to Horses

Hemp can be fed as a supplement in a variety of ways. The most common form available is an oil extract. It can be costly for horses but works great for small animals. Hemp can be fed as a more economical form as powdered biomass or pellets (which may contain a filler). The amount to feed ranges from about 25 to 50 milligrams twice a day. Sensitive horses need a much lower amount. It’s always a good idea to start off with a smaller amount.

Hemp products for horses contain variable amounts of CBDs and often do not have full analyses, so actual doses may vary greatly from product to product. The hemp industry is not yet regulated, so there are many companies with questionable quality control. All products fed to animals should have a Certificate of Analysis (COA) available on the company’s or product’s website.

Stress in Horses

Taking the lead from the small animal and human studies, CBD products from hemp have been used for a number of horse health conditions.

Cannabinoids cross into the brain and can be helpful for horses that have had mental and/or physical trauma. Human research has shown success with behaviors that are similar to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD-like symptoms are common in horses and in many cases the response has been dramatic. It is not the cure for every horse with mental issues, but it is an excellent ingredient to try.

Cannabinoids are used for a variety of anxiety conditions in people and the response is similar in horses. When someone feels anxious, horses will pick up on it and may be more anxious.

Drug Testing

Many horses compete under national or international rules against doping in sports. Currently, as of this writing, CBD is illegal to use in sports under the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) or United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) rules.

Conclusion

Hemp is a versatile plant that comes in many forms. It’s important to know which part of the hemp plant you are selecting, and what your goal is when feeding it to your horse.

For more horse health topics from Joyce Harman, DVM, visit www.harmanyequine.com/category/blog.

The post Demystifying Hemp and CBDs in the Horse appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.