Behavioral observations, heart rate and heart rate variability in horses following oral administration of a cannabidiol containing paste in three escalating doses (part 1/2).
Authors: Eichler Fabienne, Ehrle Anna, Jensen Katharina Charlotte, Baudisch Natalie, Petersen Hannah, Bäumer Wolfgang, Lischer Christoph, Wiegard Mechthild
Journal: Frontiers in veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: CBD Administration and Stress Parameters in Horses Despite growing commercial availability of cannabidiol products in equine practice, robust evidence supporting their anxiolytic properties in horses remains scarce. Researchers administered three escalating doses of CBD paste (0.2, 1.0, and 3.0 mg/kg) to healthy horses in a double-blinded, placebo-controlled design, using behavioral video analysis (including the Facial Sedation Scale and Horse Grimace Scale), acoustic and visual stimulus responses, and continuous cardiac monitoring with heart rate variability assessment to evaluate stress markers. Across all three dosages, CBD administration produced no statistically significant differences in sedation scores, facial expression changes, or heart rate parameters compared to placebo, with the paste being well tolerated and producing no observed adverse effects. Whilst these findings suggest CBD may be safe to administer orally, they provide no evidence of measurable anxiolytic or sedative effects at the doses tested—a notably different outcome from some other species studies—and highlight the current lack of evidence-based guidance for appropriate dosing and clinical indications in equine medicine. The authors acknowledge that small sample sizes (particularly in trials 1 and 2) and single-dose administration limit the study's power to detect subtle physiological changes, leaving the question of whether higher doses, repeated administration, or stressed horses (rather than healthy subjects) might yield different results as an avenue for future investigation.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •CBD paste appears safe for oral administration in horses with no adverse effects observed, but don't expect sedative or calming effects at typical dosages based on this evidence
- •If considering CBD for anxious or stressed horses, understand that this study found no measurable benefit in behavioral or physiological stress parameters—further research is needed to identify appropriate doses and clinical indications
- •The small sample size (n=3-6 per group per dose) limits confidence in these negative findings; larger trials are warranted before drawing firm conclusions about CBD efficacy in equine practice
Key Findings
- •CBD paste at doses of 0.2, 1.0, and 3.0 mg/kg was well tolerated with no observed side effects in healthy horses
- •No significant differences in sedation scores or facial expressions were detected between CBD-treated and control groups across all escalating doses
- •Heart rate and heart rate variability parameters showed no significant changes in CBD-treated horses compared to controls
- •Current evidence does not support sedative or anxiolytic effects of oral CBD paste in healthy horses at tested dosages