The horse racing industry contributes billions of dollars to the United States economy every year. Currently, the industry employs about 1.5 million people, and those people own more than 10 million horses. Unfortunately, the sport is also dangerous. Just as human athletes suffer injuries, so do the racehorses. In fact, it’s estimated that about 30% of thoroughbreds will experience a tendon injury at some time during their racing life.
In the past, these injuries were treated using complex orthopedic surgeries. In some cases, severe injuries also forced champion thoroughbreds to retire early. Many industry experts assumed that this was the way things would always be, but that all changed two years ago with the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill. That year, Congress legalized industrial hemp and all of its derivatives, including CBD.
Government officials have yet to establish formal rules for allowing non-intoxicating cannabinoids in animal feed, but CBD supplements are exploding in popularity nonetheless. A growing number of breeders, jockeys and veterinarians are using CBD products to:
- Ease chronic pain
- Reduce inflammation in muscles and joints
- Ease anxiety and stress in their animals
Though the use of CBD supplements is common, there’s very little information available regarding the success or viability of these treatment options. Thankfully, that’s starting to change. A group of researchers within the Texas A&M University System is collecting data to determine how CBD affects equine physiology.
Specifically, researchers are examining whether CBD can reduce stress, ease inflammation and/or prevent obsessive-compulsive behaviors in racehorses. Texas was one of the last states to legalize CBD products, so the research is only in its early phases. However, researchers are confident they’ll get the answers they need.
The veterinarians are studying several CBD products including oils and edible pellets. After a thoroughbred consumes a CBD product, the team closely monitors all aspects of its physical health including its heart rate, inflammation and levels of cortisol; cortisol is a hormone that animals and humans produce under stress.
The team also observes each animal’s behavior and tries to determine how CBD affects their pain levels, overall stiffness and/or anxiety. The final results of the study won’t be published until sometime in 2021, but industry experts say the anecdotal evidence is strong. For one thing, there’s no evidence of any adverse effects. All of the animals tested have remained in good health with no known side effects.
Unfortunately, the U.S. Equestrian Federation –– a group which sets the rules for America’s most competitive horse races –– isn’t on board yet. In a press release last year, they stated that CBD is “likely to [affect] the performance of a horse due to its reported anxiolytic effects.” Who knows, though. Those rules could very well change in the future.
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