Hemp for Horses? Powder, Pellets, Paste or Oil? Please Help!

If you're confused about hemp for horses, you are not alone. In recent years, horses increasingly have been doused with droppers, peppered with powders, plunged with pastes, coaxed with capsules, and packed with pellets. All with hopeful intentions of relieving pain and inflammation, increasing calm and focus, promoting mobility, and increasing well being. But is your horse getting the right stuff? Read on…

Ever since the 2018 Farm Bill removed industrial hemp from the Controlled Substances Act, the availability and popularity of hemp and hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) products for people and animals has skyrocketed. But huge differences exist between hemp oil/hempseed oil and hemp-derived CBD oil. Hemp oil and hempseed oil are made from the seeds of the cannabis sativa (hemp) plant, and while this oil has beneficial properties, it contains little or no CBD. Hemp-derived CBD oil, on the other hand, is made from the flowers, leaves and stems of the plant, and it is the cannabidiol (CBD) as well as other plant compounds produced by various extraction methods that provide the profound and diverse therapeutic benefits of CBD. You can read more about that [HERE].

HOW DOES CBD WORK FOR HORSES?

Use of CBD for pain, inflammation, and anxiety in horses has become mainstream, and positive results have been widely reported. But there's still a lot of confusion out there about CBD for horses. Does it work? Can I give my non-competing horse CBD to help with inflammation and mobility? What about my horse who's in training, spooks at the same mailbox daily, or is rehabbing after a layup? What product should I choose? And what formulation -- oil, powder, capsule, paste, pellet -- is best?

If your goal is to provide a known and therapeutic dosage of the purest, organically-grown CBD, then choose a product that is transparent and independently laboratory tested for potency, purity, and quality. Review the Certificate of Analysis, and read the product label carefully. Many products, especially pelleted products and pastes may contain fillers, preservatives, and other inactive ingredients. Some powders, capsules, and oils may also contain a beneficial carrier compound such as MCT, flax, or food grade oils such as coconut or olive oil. Choose a product that uses the highest quality ingredients and provides comprehensive test results for every product batch. Specifically look at the label for ingredients -- if the label doesn't specify the content of cannabidiol (CBD) not "hemp oil" or it most likely isn't the product you want.

And then there's convenience. Some owners find it most convenient to dump a scoop of "hemp pellets" into their horse's feed dish. The potential downside of this is that you are now feeding the ingredients in the pellets rather than an exact known dosage of CBD for your horse. Is the horse eating all the pellets? The bag or bucket may state entire CBD contents, but is each pellet infused with a known potency? Do you really know how much CBD you are providing? Is the timing of the feeding optimal for the best therapeutic results? And what about the paste when half the dialed dosage ends up in my hair rather than in that sweet spot of my horse's inner cheek?

Many owners find that adding a precise amount of a quality CBD oil, powder, or capsulated powder or oil is the most advantageous for providing the desired therapeutic benefit. And good results are always convenient. Oil can be added to your horse's feed, favorite treat, or delivered directly into the mouth. Some full spectrum products often have an unpleasant smell or taste that may be met with resistance; while broad spectrum or isolate-based products may be more palatable and therefore readily accepted. Powders or capsules may be added to your horses feed or quickly dissolved in a wet mash.

Trove Equine CBD products contain organically grown USA hemp and are crafted with the same premium ingredients and with the same quality standards as our people products. All Trove products are THC free and triple tested for purity, quality, consistency and concentration. With a range of options and CBD strengths specifically formulated for people, horses, dogs and cats, Trove can help owners and their healthcare/veterinary professionals tailor a regimen that works.

Burgeoning research and experiential evidence suggests that CBD for horses may benefit them in the following ways:

promoting calm addressing inflammation, pain, soreness
aiding in exercise/injury/surgery recovery
surviving stall rest/rehabbing from layup
supporting the neurological, digestive, circulatory, immune, and musculoskeletal systems

TROVE CBD PRODUCTS FOR HORSES

For topical application to address targeted areas of pain, swelling, or inflammation, apply Trove CBD Balm 750 to area(s) of concern, gently massaging into skin in order to penetrate beyond the surface hair coat. Your horse will likely enjoy the touch, and the time spent massaging will discourage rubbing or licking, allowing the CBD to start to absorb into affected areas of inflammation. Avoid eyes, and do not apply directly on open wounds or incisions. Apply 2-4 times daily. Trove Equine Balm 750 contains a powerful concentration of 750 mg CBD per 1.7 oz jar and a unique formulation of coconut oil, arnica butter, shea butter, and vitamin E to nurture the skin, as well as organic tea tree essential oil for its added anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial therapeutic properties.

Trove Equine CBD Oil 750 contains 25 mg CBD per 1 mL, and Trove Equine CBD Oil 1500 is a stronger formulation, containing 50 mg CBD per 1 mL. Much like people or dogs, individual horses will respond differently to varying doses of CBD. Therefore, suggested dosages will depend on a variety of factors, including severity of symptoms, whether treating for an acute or chronic condition, and effectiveness of other supportive therapies. Most often, you will be able to assess your horse's response in a very short amount of time, and can choose which Trove Equine product is most advantageous for your horse.

Trove Equine CBD Capsules 150 offer the highest dose of CBD (150 mg CBD per capsule) in a convenient capsule form, and therefore may prove to be helpful especially in acute or complex situations, intermittent/occasional use such as trips to the vet or away from the comfort of your home barn, or where you prefer to start with a high impact approach and then adjust to maintenance on a lower dose of Trove Equine CBD Oil 750 or 1500. Capsules may be added directly to feed, or quickly dissolved in a mash.

You may continue therapy, adjusting dosage or frequency of administration as long as necessary to achieve desired results based upon your assessment (along with your vet) that your horse is benefitting from Trove. Every horse and every situation is unique. Some will continue to benefit from a therapeutic daily dosage or occasional use, while others will return to normal work without continued Trove CBD maintenance.

SHOP NOW for Trove Equine CBD products. Visit www.trovecbd.com for more information or call us at 1-833-GO-TROVE.

HOW DOES CBD WORK?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of at least 100 chemical compounds unique to the cannabis sativa or hemp plant. These compounds are referred to as cannabinoids. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), is the cannabinoid most commonly associated with marijuana. However, unlike THC, CBD is non psychoactive and has been shown to offer a myriad of wellness benefits without the "high" effect of THC. Research and experiential evidence shows that CBD may be helpful in promoting calm, addressing muscle tension and soreness, and supporting the circulatory, GI, musculoskeletal, nervous, and immune systems, among other useful applications. Adding to these benefits, CBD is non habit-forming, and well tolerated, making it a desirable supplement choice.

Cannabinoids are naturally effective in our bodies because, throughout our evolutionary development, we have been hardwired to gain the benefits of the cannabis sativa plant through the endocannabinoid system (ECS), a complex signaling network that functions as a lock and key mechanism when cannabinoids are present or introduced into the bloodstream. Cannabinoid receptors exist throughout the body -- nervous, musculoskeletal, digestive, immune, endocrine, circulatory, respiratory, and other systems -- and are the reason why cannabinoids can have such diverse and profound effects. All mammals, including horses, have an ECS, and the body produces "endo" (internal) cannabinoids that operate to keep the body's systems in balance. However, when an external force such as injury, illness, or stress is introduced, the body's own endocannabinoids may be depleted, resulting in an interruption to homeostasis that can manifest as anxiety, pain, inflammation, compromised immune function, and more. CBD and related "phyto" (plant) cannabinoids are natural compounds that can supplement the body's own cannabinoids and lock into cannabinoid receptors to address the imbalance and restore homeostasis.

WHERE'S THE EQUINE SCIENCE?

We all want to know whether CBD is safe or effective, and the research to find out is in its infancy. Scientific data on CBD use in horses are even scarcer than data on dogs and cats. However, an increasing number of studies are underway at research institutions, with encouraging results. Keep checking the Trove Blog as we will continue to provide information as it becomes available.