Thanks to our friends over at holistichorse.com we are excited to share some additional news behind Hemp seed oil for equine.
“We would like to be able to report that we have results from clinical studies of horses using hemp, but very few veterinarians know about hemp and even fewer would recommend using it as a therapy for arthritis, or insulin resistance, or inflammation, or skin problems, or for hard keepers.
So until hemp becomes more widely used and its benefits cannot be ignored, it is unlikely that we will see any clinical studies performed. Additionally, while hemp products for human consumption are readily available, there are very few dietary hemp products for animals, and those that are, are relatively new on the market with very few customers. Therefore, in an effort to collect data on how horses with health issues respond to hemp therapy, we first had to find some horses with health issues to use it on.
The makers of Hemp for Horses (NO LONGER IN BUSINESS) donated their product to two horse sanctuaries for neglected and abused horses in return for progress reports on the horses using it. We also talked to horse owners who have been able to look past the prejudice against hemp and see its extraordinary benefits when nothing else seemed to help. And while these are anecdotal cases, some involving more than just hemp help, they are very compelling. At Hooved Animal Sanctuary in Chelsea, Vermont, two horses were placed on hemp therapy. The first horse is an off-the-track 6-year-old Thoroughbred mare, Belle, who was lame in the hocks, short-strided, flat- footed in the front and possibly navicular, with a poor appetite and a bad attitude. She was placed on a therapeutic dose of hemp for 2 weeks and then placed on a maintenance dose.
At the time of this writing she had been on hemp for a total of 2 months. Deb Baker, the owner of the sanctuary, reported the following results: the clicking in Belle’s hocks is gone and she is showing no lameness in them. She is moving more freely in her front end, which is probably due to a decrease in the soreness. Her general over-all condition has greatly improved – her coat is shiny and she is much more interested in eating. Her attitude has not shown any marked improvement, although she seems to have become more playful and more social. The second horse is a 9-year-old quarter horse gelding called Levi. He was diagnosed with degenerative joint disease, small bone spurs which interfere with the joints, back problems and mild navicular. “Levi was our “Deb Baker says. “His hocks were sore, which caused his back to be sore, which made him shift his weight to his front, which made the navicular worse. On a scale of 1 to 1 0, with 1 0 being extremely sore, Levi was a 7.” He was placed on the same regimen as Belle. “Now,” Deb says, “he is playing more and rearing, which indicates to me that he is feeling well enough to want to put weight on his hocks. We are now able to ride him at a walk for about 15 minutes, 3 times a week. I would say he is now a 3 on the soreness scale.” An added benefit is that both horses seem to require less grain to maintain the same weight. Both are given grass hay free choice, but Levi has gone from 2 large scoops of grain per day down to about a cup. “I am convinced hemp has anti-inflammatory properties. I have not seen this much improvement with glucosamine,” says Deb
This author’s traditional veterinarian has recommended an increase in her horse’s intake of omegas (essential fatty acids) as the single best thing you can do for your horse’s overall well-being. The omegas are beneficial in promoting joint health, improving skin, coat, mane and tail condition, and even improving hooves. And even though my veterinarian does not know enough about hemp to endorse it, it stands to reason that if essential fatty acids are important, then hemp is by far one of the richest and most balanced natural sources.”
Source: holistichorse.com
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