CBD may lower reactivity in horses

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a nutraceutical that is increasingly being used to relieve pain and to treat a number of common ailments. It has been shown to decrease anxiety in humans and small animals, but there has been very little research on its use with horses.

A recent study has looked at the effect of feeding a pelleted CBD supplement on equine reactivity and heart rate.

Seventeen geldings were divided into control or treatment (TRT) groups. Control horses were kept on their usual diet without any CBD supplementation. The TRT group were given 100 mg of CBD once a day.

The reactivity and heart rate of the horses was tested using a novel object test to elicit a startle response at the beginning of the study and after 6 weeks of supplementation. Heart rate was recorded before, at, and after exposure to the novel object. Reactivity when the horse was exposed to the novel object was scored live by one evaluator and then by two other evaluators via video playback.

The results found there was no difference in heart rate between the two groups. However, the TRT horses were less reactive after the 6 weeks of CBD supplementation. Overall they also showed more positive behaviours than the control horses when tied and when being tacked up.

Although further research is needed the study results suggest that the use of CBD as a supplement may lower reactivity in horses.

Study: The effects of pelleted cannabidiol supplementation on heart rate and reaction scores in horses. A L Draeger, E P Thomas, K A. Jones, A J.Davis, C.A. Shea Porr. Journal of Vet Behavior
Vol 46, Pp 97-10