Equine Research on the Short-Term Effects of Cannabidiol for the Treatment of Chronic Pain and/or Anxiety

Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the major non-psychoactive cannabinoids produced by Cannabis sativa L. Hemp is classified as a Cannabis varietal because it has less than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – the psychoactive component found in Cannabis. Recent studies have shown that CBD has good tolerability and a wide range of reported health benefits. The purpose of this study was to measure the effects of CBD increase movement and promote calmness in horses. CBD was studied in horses after the administration of two oral doses (50 mg each) each day over a two-week timeframe. Fortyone horses were studied across the United States and participants were obtained through relationships with horse shelters, rescues, farms with retired show and race horses, and general pleasure horse farms. In all of the cases, the horses were evaluated and determined, at the outset, to have impaired movement & presentation and/or demonstrated common vices of anxiety like cribbing, pacing or reluctance to load to trailers or gates.