By now you've probably heard or read a lot of information about how CBD can help you with so many things, like stress, daily soreness, post-workout recovery, healthy digestion, sleep, and more. Maybe you've tried it once or twice, or possibly you're already an established user and are "sold" on its many benefits. Hopefully you've discovered it is helping you cope with the physical and mental stress we are all undergoing now at this particularly difficult time. But have you thought about how it might also help your horse?
Horses have Endocannabinoid Systems, too
All mammals have an ECS. This is a delicate system within our bodies, which is regulated by "endo"cannabinoids (produced within the body) and "phyto"cannabinoids (produced by plants like hemp). Cannabidiol, or CBD, is one of the best known phytocannabinoids. We have two types of receptors called CB1 and CB2. Receptors and cannabinoids work like a lock and key, and can release an action. The ECS has two major roles--one is to modulate pleasure, energy and well-being. The other is to nudge the body back to homeostasis and health. Humans and horses (and dogs!) all may benefit from added CBD to their daily intake.
How might my Horse be helped by CBD?
CBD may help horses in so many ways. Here are some of the most common:
Promotes healthy inflammatory response
Helps occasional stiffness and soreness
Maintains gut health
Enhances physical and mental well-being
Supports skin health
Helps balance mood, especially in mares
Calming effect on nerves is good for:
Stall rest
Trailering
Farrier work
Vet visit
Although not many studies have been completed so far, some have demonstrated the effectiveness of CBD on anxiety and pain relief for horses. One study showed this when horses with clinical evidence of osteoarthritis were treated with twice daily doses of CBD for two weeks. Results showed a positive correlation between CBD and both pain management and anxiety support within the same horses. (1)
Equine Wellness Magazine states that "recent studies have shown great promise for CBD in helping some very common problems in horses and dogs, like behavioral issues related to anxiety and pain from arthritis." Read more about what they say here.
How to Choose the best product for my horse?
Hempward Farms is family-run and we know horses, hay and hemp. We have 17 years of experience owning horses and competing them in various disciplines. We didn't begin as CBD producers who decided to add on a product for horses. We are horse people who entered into the CBD business because of the huge results we've had from giving our horses CBD. We didn't simply rebrand a dog treat and call it a horse treat. We care about our own horses, and we care about yours. We are transparent and provide third party lab test results on all our products. We are available to answer any questions you may have and are glad to help!
Hempward offers Equine CBD cookies, which are individually hand-infused with 25mg CBD per cookie, so we know that each cookie provides exactly the same amount. These highly palatable cookies are easy to give by hand, or to place on top of feed. For "balance" dosing, we recommend 1-2 cookies once or twice daily. If giving CBD to ease situational anxiety (clipping, farrier, stall rest, etc.) or to promote a healthy inflammatory response, we offer an Equine tincture specially formulated for horses, and can be given under the tongue with our safe oral syringe, or placed on top of food. For more details see our dosing guide. To purchase, you can shop online.
(1) "Equine Research on the Short-Term Effects of Cannabidiol for the Treatment of Chronic Pain and/or Anxiety" by
Dr. James Baumgartner, a Ph.D.,Biochemistry and Pharmacology from Washington State University and Lawrence Dukes, MAS, Johns Hopkins University