CBD and CBD Oil for Horses – A Brief Explanation
You’re probably more familiar with cannabidiol by its abbreviation, CBD. In the medical field—for both humans and horses—CBD has a range of soothing and even healing effects.
CBD is extracted from female hemp, which is a distinct genus within the cannabis family. Incidentally, hemp is one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world. Depending on the variety, different products can be made from various parts of the plant—such as flowers, leaves, fibers, and seeds—ranging from durable hemp rope to food for humans and animals, as well as essential oils, hashish, and marijuana. Hemp oil for horses is produced as a fatty oil from the seeds of industrial hemp.
Hemp Oil for Your Horse and Its Effects
Recent research has shown that CBD—and, by extension, CBD oil for horses—has extremely positive effects both medically and as a dietary supplement.
The most common method of administering CBD—for both humans and horses—is orally. The easiest way to give CBD, and thus hemp oil for horses, is by mixing it into the animal’s feed in the form of CBD oil for horses or hemp seed pellets. In this way, the horse absorbs the active ingredient through the stomach lining, where the CBD then enters the bloodstream. Another option is to apply hemp seed oil directly to the area of the horse’s body where the hemp oil is intended to exert its healing effects.
Benefits of CBD Oils for Horses
Administering a cannabinoid such as CBD—for example, as CBD oil for horses—supports the overall function of the endocannabinoid system, or ECS for short. This endogenous cannabinoid system is part of the overall nervous system in both humans and horses, including the cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2. In terms of the effects of CBD on horses, a comparison can be drawn to vitamin C and its supportive effect on the human immune system. In the horse’s body, the ECS plays a regulatory role in several ways.
The two receptors are responsible for this. They interact with cannabinoids and influence the nervous system and internal organs, as well as the skin and bones. Thus, the administration of CBD has an extremely positive effect on these bodily functions in horses. Experience has shown that the cannabinoids produced by the horse itself are insufficient. This is one of the main reasons for external CBD administration, such as in hemp oil for horses.
In short: CBD oil for horses, when taken orally, interacts with the endocannabinoid system and thus has a positive effect on bodily functions.
A few examples from a medical perspective will illustrate just how versatile and helpful the use of hemp oil for horses can be.
Anxiety Relief
Just like humans, horses can develop anxiety. Typical situations include traveling by car in a trailer or separation anxiety from being alone. Arena anxiety is common among competition horses in both amateur and professional sports. In such cases, the level of anxiety can even transfer to the rider, who in turn may develop a certain degree of anticipatory anxiety. This anxiety and stress can be literally eased by administering hemp seed oil.
CBD from hemp contains less than 0.3 percent THC, the psychoactive substance tetrahydrocannabinol. Therefore, there is no risk that your horse might feel drowsy. Hemp oil has a similarly relaxing effect on horses when, contrary to their usual routine, they are left to their own devices and alone for an extended period of time.
Arthritis
Arthritis, an inflammatory joint disease, is one of the most common health problems in horses. It is caused by one or more chronic inflammations, which lead to the gradual breakdown of the cartilage surrounding the horse’s joints.
Arthritis causes severe pain, which ultimately has a significant negative impact on the horse’s quality of life. You can greatly alleviate this difficult situation for your horse and directly influence its course with CBD oil for horses. While CBD cannot cure arthritis itself, However, the right hemp oil for horses can very effectively support the animal’s mobility.
Anti-inflammatory
Inflammation, in general, is the body’s natural response to damaging or harmful stimuli in both humans and animals. Causes include mechanical stimuli such as friction and pressure, thermal stimuli involving cold, warmth, and heat, chemical stimuli, as well as allergies or pathogens such as bacteria, parasites, fungi, and viruses.
Inflammation is the root cause of nearly every disease. Against this backdrop, reducing and preventing any form of inflammation is of the utmost importance. Experience shows that in the absence of inflammation, many other or more serious health problems do not arise in the first place.
At this point, you need to be aware that an anti-inflammatory CBD oil for horses is not a medication but falls under the category of dietary supplements. For example, you can mix the hemp seed oil into the hemp seed pellets.
Antispasmodic
For your horse, muscle cramps—also known as spasms—are an extremely painful condition. The causes of acute or chronic muscle cramps are varied. Recurring cramps may well be the result of nerve or muscle disorders.
One cause of cramps is certainly a magnesium deficiency. This can be remedied in the medium to long term. However, to relieve cramps, you need an immediate remedy. This is provided by administering hemp oil for horses in the appropriate dosage. You can administer the CBD oil to your horses directly into their mouths—preferably under the tongue. This allows the valuable ingredients to be absorbed immediately through the mucous membrane. It’s best to use a dropper pipette for this, as it enables precise dosing.
Improves Mobility
Your horse can handle normal stress without any problems, but it’s less able to cope with additional stress on the joints. In medicine, trauma refers to a physical injury caused by violence or an accident.
Additional stress on the joints caused by such trauma, as well as chronic wear and tear, ultimately lead to arthritis. This can be prevented if you respond attentively and skillfully in the early stages. International studies show that, in this situation, administering hemp oil to horses has both a soothing and a preventive effect. With the right hemp seed oil, you can not only maintain your horse’s mobility but also noticeably improve it.
Pain Relief
When it comes to medications, the advice is: “Ask your doctor or pharmacist about risks and side effects.” This also applies to any medication you give your horse. Animals are just as sensitive to pain as humans. However, they cannot express themselves. Accordingly, a great deal of attention is expected from you as a rider and horse owner.
Most conventional pain medications have side effects of varying severity. This raises the question of whether these risks are worth the potential improvement. This is where CBD oils for horses come into play. Studies are increasingly showing that hemp seed oil has virtually no side effects—in stark contrast to conventional pain relievers.
Stress Relief
In living beings, stress is triggered by stressors—external stimuli that elicit physical or psychological reactions. Anyone who is stressed needs to calm down or be calmed.
This applies especially to your horse. If you become stressed in its presence, in most cases the horse will be stressed as well. It is an intelligent animal and emotionally quite similar to humans. CBD is recommended or administered to people with mental health issues and has a calming to inhibitory effect. CBD oils have the same effect on horses in stressful or exceptional situations. CBD makes it possible for your horse to experience the actual stressful situation without feeling any stress at all.
Administering CBD Oils to Horses
Only the right dose will produce the desired results!
However, there is no one-size-fits-all formula, as the appropriate dose varies from horse to horse. With this in mind, each horse requires its own, completely individualized dose; reactions to the ingredients in hemp oils for horses can differ quite significantly.
It’s recommended to start with a fairly low dose and gradually increase it. When determining the dosage, you must consider the type, extent, and severity of the specific issue, as well as the horse’s weight. If the CBD dose is well tolerated, you can increase the amount. Our table of values provides an initial guide.
There are several ways to administer hemp seed oil. You should test which one your horse prefers.
- Dripping CBD oil for horses under the tongue
- Mixing it into the horse’s daily feed
- Administering it along with a treat your horse loves
You don’t need to worry about any side effects. Hemp seed oil and hemp seed pellets—or, in other words, CBD in general—are all-natural products and known for being extremely well-tolerated.
However, administering CBD to pregnant mares is not recommended because CBD can have a negative effect on the placenta—though this isn’t guaranteed. You shouldn’t take that risk.
Hemp Seed Pellets—A Dietary Supplement for Horses
Hemp oil does not always have to be administered exclusively in acute cases; it also has positive effects on a healthy horse’s body, such as improving hoof quality and supporting the animal’s growth. Studies also indicate that it has a soothing to supportive effect during the coat change. Hemp meal and hemp seed pellets are particularly well-suited for enriching the daily meal.
Your CBD horse pellets should contain highly effective CBD derived from the Cannabis sativa L. plant, as well as important omega-3, -6, and -9 fatty acids, essential vitamins, minerals, and trace elements.
Nutritious and tasty pellets, as well as the meal made from them, are produced using a gentle cold-pressing process at temperatures below 40 degrees Celsius, in accordance with standard food safety regulations. They are often and happily used as easily digestible treats. Ingredients include crude protein, crude fiber, crude fat, and crude ash. You can be absolutely certain: hemp seed pellets are good for your horse and will quickly become a favorite.
CBD Oil for Competition Horses
In the EU, the regulation stipulates that hemp products intended for human consumption may not contain more than 0.2 percent THC. This limit also applies to all standard CBD supplements for horses. This ensures—and guarantees—that any psychoactive effect is ruled out.
Regardless, any CBD products are not permitted—or at least not welcomed—in equestrian sports, whether at the amateur or professional level. There are no uniform, consistent rules from top to bottom, from the Olympic Games to the local ribbon competition.
There is always the suspicion of doping. This suspicion is primarily fueled by the manufacturers of CBD products. They argue and advertise that CBD products can enhance a horse’s performance. This would constitute doping.
In any case, we recommend discontinuing CBD hemp products at least 6 weeks before a competition. This ensures that CBD can no longer be detected in the blood.
Hemp Oil for Horses & Hemp Seed Pellets – Health & Nutrition
The easiest way to give your horse CBD is to mix hemp seed oil or hemp seed pellets into its feed. As a single-ingredient feed, CBD pellets support your horse’s normal immune function. Numerous studies have shown that CBD not only can but actually does contribute to supporting your horse’s overall well-being, as well as the associated activities, right up to enhancing its zest for life.
More recently, veterinarians have increasingly been turning to nature for help as part of their general nutritional counseling. They see CBD as a genuine alternative to conventional medications from past decades—in other words, from the last century. Veterinarians are increasingly finding that older horses, in particular, suffer from conditions that can no longer be satisfactorily treated with conventional methods.
Conclusion – Hemp oil for horses is really good for your four-legged friend
As a horse lover, you can rest assured that, among CBD products, hemp oil is virtually ideal for your horse in many ways.
On the one hand, it has a healing or soothing effect on a wide range of ailments in horses, and on the other hand, CBD oil as a dietary supplement is exceptionally beneficial for the animal.
The key to your horse’s well-being is to seek objective, expert information early on and from the right sources. Angela and Roland Birchler of Horseandmore GmbH in Bilten, in the canton of Glarus, offer you the perfect opportunity to do just that with their clearly organized and well-stocked online store. Take your time to browse the shop at any time and as often as you like.
Here you’ll find our extensive selection of CBD products!
