You shouldn’t give your horses THC to get them high as it can cause changes in mood, cognition, and coordination, and this exposure to high doses of THC in horses could lead to harm. That being said, trace amounts of THC found naturally in hemp products could be beneficial.
It’s important that you stick to horse hemp products containing less than 0.3% THC to make sure it doesn’t cause unnecessary distress to your animals.
Benefits of THC for Horses
To be clear, when we’re talking about THC for horses, we’re talking about full spectrum hemp-derived THC, which is different from pure THC derived from marijuana plants.
Full spectrum hemp products can contain up to 0.3% THC, but its most abundant cannabinoid is CBD (cannabidiol).
Full spectrum CBD oil is minimally processed, meaning that it contains many of the naturally occurring cannabinoids, terpenes, and plant compounds in hemp, complimenting the effects of CBD to support stress, discomfort, and the immune response without causing a high.
The THC in full spectrum hemp products is minimal, similar to the idea that kombucha (the fermented tea beverage) can contain trace amounts of alcohol. It’s there, but not enough to ever get you drunk.
So, why have THC in the first place?
Some experts believe that the naturally occurring THC in hemp plants supports the overall effects of CBD, making it more well-balanced and stronger.
You don’t want to use marijuana products or pure THC for your horses, as this will get your horses high, leading to lethargy, poor coordination, and general distress. Since horses may be sensitive to THC, sticking with hemp-based THC for horses is the safer bet.
There are quite a few benefits to giving full spectrum THC to your horse. Here are a few of the ones that draw horse owners to adding it into their horse’s wellness routine:
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Supports Stress – Helps with travel, competitions, and high-stress situations.
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Supports Joint Health – THC and other cannabinoids support the body’s natural response to healing, which may support mobility [1].
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Supports Discomfort Management – Can help manage chronic discomfort and post-exercise soreness [2].
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Enhances Muscle Recovery – Supports muscle recovery after physical exertion.
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Promotes Relaxation – Encourages a calmer demeanor without intense sedation.
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Harnesses the Entourage Effect – A balanced mix of cannabinoids and terpenes for added benefits.
Has a horse ever smoked weed?
Considering marijuana is toxic to horses, and it is not advised to give them marijuana-derived products, there aren’t too many people talking about instances of their horse “smoking” weed. However, there are people sharing stories of giving their horses hemp-derived CBD regimens to support their health and wellness.
On the blog “Speedhorse,” Chelsea Ludke, chief veterinary advisor of VetCS, describes, “One horse had severe osteoarthritis in a hind limb, and the pain was significant enough that he was lying down all day and not eating well.
The following alternative was humane euthanasia. He was on 4 grams of Bute daily, along with gabapentin, and he’d also had shock wave therapy and various other local therapies—everything we could try. We were grasping at straws in his case, so we gave him a very high dose (5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight) of CBD. Within 24 hours, the owner reported that the horse was standing up and moving, even to the point of running around his pen. He also started eating better” [3].
A user on Reddit also shares an example of giving full spectrum CBD to her horse, “My 21 year old mare had a lot of old lady creaks and pain until we started CBD and THC. I make my own. She now has quality of life she would have never had without it. We do a couple days a week on apples and I just figured out what she needed by starting low and finding a good level”.
Finding the right dosage and regimen may take some adjustment, but many horse owners share positive experiences online, praising full-spectrum THC products for both general and targeted horse wellness.
References
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O’Brien, M., & McDougall, J. J. (2018). Cannabis and joints: scientific evidence for the alleviation of osteoarthritis pain by cannabinoids. Current opinion in pharmacology, 40, 104-109.
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Hosking, R. D., & Zajicek, J. P. (2008). Therapeutic potential of cannabis in pain medicine. British journal of anaesthesia, 101(1), 59-68.
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Cannabis use in horses. Speedhorse. (n.d.). https://www.speedhorse.com/articles/m.blog/3930/cannabis-use-in-horses
