173 Industry perceptions of cannabidiol use in horses

Abstract

Cannabidiol (CBD) use in horses has become more popular due to availability and anecdotal reports of its ability to reduce inflammation and illicit a calming effect. However, research demonstrating its efficacy and long-term health effects are limited. Additionally, there is no regulatory body or labeling requirements for horse products. This coupled with restrictions from national associations makes it difficult to explore therapeutic benefits of CBD in horses while adhering to competition regulations. The objective of this study was to gain insight into the equine industry's perception of CBD use in horses. A convenience survey of 133 equine industry professionals assessed both attitudes and behaviors related to CBD use in horses. A Qualtrics survey link was distributed via an extension specialist email listserv and Facebook page. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics including frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation. Differences in attitudes between groups were compared using independent samples t-test. Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation. Most respondents were female (91%), reported riding competitively (65.4%), manage a range of 1–24 horses, and report utilizing equine supplements (75.2%), only 28.6% of respondents indicated they currently use equine CBD products. As expected, those who reported administering CBD products have a more positive attitude (4.3 ± 0.6)toward CBD usage than those who do not (3.4 ± 0.9) (t97.1 = −6.6). However there is no difference in attitude toward CBD usage between those who ride competitively and those who do not. The number of horses managed by each respondent did not affect their attitude toward CBD usage. Most respondents (87.7%) indicated they were willing to pay up to $100 per product per horse regardless if they are currently using CBD products. In regards to efficacy, respondents believe that CBD products provide benefits for horses (67.2%) such as calming (47.6%) and believe it is an effective alternative to NSAIDS (44.3%) to reduce inflammation. They also believe that products should be labeled clearly (91%), should be legal to use in competitive associations (58%), and would recommend its use to others (53.3%), however only 6.1% indicate a licensed veterinarian has recommended its use. As more information becomes available and regulatory bodies make recommendations, associations are likely to make allowances for CBD use. There is a need for additional research defining therapeutic dosages and long-term physiological effects. In conclusion, the equine industry appears to have a positive attitude toward CBD use in horses despite the lack of concrete evidence and veterinarian recommendation.