You should always work with your veterinarian when administering CBD oil for horses. This is especially true if the animal takes any other medications. Besides that minor precaution, CBD oils are generally safe for horses. If the amount you give happens to be too high, your horse may simply sleep it off.
We recommend that you consult with your vet before giving any amount of CBD oil to your horse. However, you can determine a good starting amount by using one of these two formulas:
Regular Serving
1/4 milligram (0.25 milligrams) for every one pound of body weight. This is a “regular serving”.
Strong Serving
1/2 milligram (0.5 milligrams) for every one pound of body weight. This is a “strong serving” and you can use it to increase effectiveness.
For more information, please visit our CBD Dosing Chart page.
Additional Recommendations
You can collaborate with your veterinarian to safely adjust these servings and increase them in increments that result in maximum potency for your horse. You know your animal best, so just monitor their behavior and see if they are getting the relief they need from their distress or discomfort.
CBD oils generally benefit your horse best when administered twice a day (one serving in the morning and one serving in the evening). You can also give CBD oil to your horses on an empty or full stomach.
How To Give CBD Oil To Horses
One of the main benefits of CBD hemp oil is its flexibility. CBD oil can be given to your horse using various application methods, each of which comes with its unique advantages. Still, some methods work better than others, and your horse might come to prefer one method over another.
Direct Feed
This method is self-explanatory and should be relatively straightforward to accomplish. To administer CBD oil this way, all you have to do is drop the oil directly into your horse’s mouth, and they’ll be ready to go! This method works best when your horse is relaxed, so be gentle when administering it so that your horse is comfortable taking the oil directly.
Add To Their Feed
If your horse is fussier with a direct feed administration of CBD oil, you can give them their serving subtly by including it in their feed! All you have to do is squeeze the serving into their feed, and you’re good to go! Administering CBD oil this way allows horse owners to give picky horses CBD without requiring much extra effort.
Put It On A Snack
Similar to adding it to their feed, incorporating CBD oil into their snacks is a great way to get a horse who doesn’t prefer the flavor of CBD to take it anyway. Find your horse’s favorite snack, measure out the required serving, combine the two, and your horse will be on its way to better wellness!
Add To Water
You can also add CBD oil to water. Simply measure out the appropriate serving and then drop it into your horse’s water trough. Be aware that this method will not be as efficient as direct feeding or adding it to food. Some of it may go to waste by being left behind, spilled, or stuck to the side of the water container. Because of this, we only recommend adding CBD oil to water if your horse does not take it any other way.
When Will My Horse Feel The Effects?
CBD oil has the added benefit of a very fast onset time, especially if you can administer it under the tongue. If administered under the tongue, the CBD should take effect almost instantly but can take as long as 15 minutes. If you give your horse CBD oil but let them swallow, it will take slightly longer: approximately 45 minutes to one hour depending on how much feed your horse ate before, along with their body chemistry and weight.
How Long Will The Effects Last?
The effects of CBD oil also vary from one horse to another. However, horse owners can generally expect the effects to last for somewhere between 4-6 hours at a time. This allows for relief lasting throughout the day without needing to constantly re-serve.
Does CBD Oil Go Bad?
CBD oil can generally last for around 12 months to two years at a time, depending on how it is stored! Leaving your CBD oil exposed to the wrong conditions can make the oil go bad faster. Some factors that might make your oil degrade quickly are heat, exposure to sunlight, and leaving the bottle open for extended periods. To avoid this and keep your oil fresh for a longer time, try storing your CBD oil away from sunlight in a cool dark place. If you keep your CBD oil in this condition, it will likely last for much longer!