{"id":38503,"date":"2025-05-05T09:30:26","date_gmt":"2025-05-05T09:30:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/?p=38503"},"modified":"2025-05-05T09:30:26","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T13:30:26","slug":"cannabis-equestrian-sports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/cannabis-equestrian-sports\/","title":{"rendered":"Cannabis & The Equestrian Community"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cannabis use for human athletes is increasingly popular because of its numerous therapeutic benefits. It\u2019s a <\/span>well-known and documented remedy<\/span><\/a> used for centuries in both human and equine patients alike.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, it’s a newly revived trend for horse and rider athletes in the modern equestrian community. As the stigma and legalization of cannabis continue to evolve, equestrian athletes are increasingly recognizing its potential to improve performance, recovery, and overall well-being.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This article explores cannabis use in the equestrian world, its benefits for human and equine athletes, and how the industry navigates the changing landscape of cannabis regulations within equestrian organizations.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Changing Perceptions of Cannabis in Equestrian Sports\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

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Many athletes across various sports use cannabis for pain relief, reducing inflammation, managing anxiety, improving sleep, aiding recovery, and other <\/span>sports-related side effects<\/span><\/a>. As cannabis use continues to gain <\/span>traction in non-equestrian sports<\/span><\/a>, numerous organizations have started <\/span>adjusting their policies<\/span><\/a> to accommodate athletes who incorporate it into their routines.<\/span><\/p>\n

In contrast, the modern equestrian community has only recently begun recognizing its benefits. In equestrian sports, horses and riders compete as a team, relying on each other as partners. Human equestrians typically focus more on their horses’ health and well-being than their own. This may have slowed the acceptance of cannabis use for human equestrian athletes. The same could be true for equine athletes, as supplements and cannabis products for horses are relatively new.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The reality is that horses are herbivores that <\/span>naturally evolved to eat <\/span>Cannabis<\/span><\/i><\/a> on the Central Asian steppe thousands of years ago \u2013 and humans also recognized its equine veterinary potential for <\/span>hundreds of years, too<\/span><\/a>. However, as medical and recreational marijuana and hemp have recently become more widely legal, conversations about its benefits have grown. This newly increased awareness has prompted more equestrians to discuss and explore cannabis as a potential source of relief for themselves and their equine partners.<\/span><\/p>\n

Overall, \u200bthe equestrian community’s perception of cannabis has evolved notably in recent years. This was also likely influenced by changing regulations regarding cannabis within equestrian organizations.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cannabis Use For Human Equestrian Athletes<\/b><\/h2>\n

Like athletes in other sports, human equestrians benefit from cannabis\u2019 therapeutic effects for common ailments such as:<\/span><\/p>\n

Pain and Inflammation Relief: <\/b>Riders often <\/span>experience joint pain<\/span><\/a> or <\/span>arthritis<\/span><\/a> from repetitive movements and physical strain in and out of the saddle. Cannabis, including its active ingredients <\/span>tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)<\/span><\/a> and especially <\/span>cannabidiol (<\/span>CBD)<\/span><\/a>, helps reduce pain and inflammation, providing relief for sore joints.<\/span><\/p>\n

Muscle Recovery: <\/b>Intensive riding and training can commonly lead to muscle soreness. CBD aids in <\/span>muscle recovery<\/span><\/a> by reducing pain and inflammation, thus <\/span>speeding up recovery<\/span><\/a> times. CBD, <\/span>cannabigerol (CBG)<\/span><\/a>, and other whole-plant components like <\/span>beta-caryophyllene<\/span><\/a> have also been shown to improve DOMS symptoms in a recent <\/span>small clinical trial<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Anxiety Reduction: <\/b>Performance anxiety<\/span><\/a> is common among equestrian athletes. <\/span>Cannabis helps reduce anxiety<\/span><\/a>, allowing riders to stay focused before and during competitions or providing stress relief afterward.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sleep Quality Enhancement:<\/b> Riders need quality sleep for recovery and performance, and many competitions are multi-day or even week-long events. Cannabis can <\/span>improve sleep<\/span><\/a> by easing pain, anxiety, and <\/span>insomnia<\/span><\/a>, helping riders rest better before the next day\u2019s competition.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, in equestrian sports, <\/span>drug testing of human and equine athletes<\/span><\/a> is allowed, ensuring fair competition and protecting the welfare of the horses. The protocols and regulations for testing differ between organizations.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the past, drug-testing agencies typically tested upper-level equestrian riders, including those at international or Olympic levels, less frequently than athletes in other sports. Instead, they more commonly tested the horses, while riders\u2014especially those competing at lower levels\u2014rarely underwent the same level of testing, even at rated competitions.<\/span><\/p>\n

A few years ago, ahead of the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games, the F\u00e9d\u00e9ration Equestre Internationale (FEI) announced an increase in drug testing for human athletes to comply with <\/span>World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)<\/span><\/a> standards, which are essential for equestrian sports to remain Olympic.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Equestrian athletes must inform their doctors to ensure that cannabis use complies with WADA standards. If they require cannabis for medical reasons, they must apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE). However, TUEs are generally not granted for THC, which is banned only in competition.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Benefits of Cannabis Use for Equine Athletes\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

The 2018 Farm Bill removed industrial hemp (defined as cannabis with 0.3% THC or less) from the list of controlled substances, classifying it instead as an agricultural commodity. This shift in legal status has led to hemp\u2019s expanded use, particularly for CBD extraction in animal products. Today, equine athlete owners and trainers are increasingly turning to CBD for its therapeutic benefits, such as pain management, anxiety relief, and other health concerns.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Horse owners most commonly use CBD as a cannabis product for their animals. Although many still view it as a controversial treatment, it’s becoming an increasingly popular addition to the health routines of equine athletes. While CBD research in equine patients is still in its infancy, so far it <\/span>appears to be safe<\/span><\/a>, effective, and well-tolerated in several <\/span>case studies up to 2024<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

CBD pellets and horse treats are a standard consumption method for horses that offer an easy and convenient way to incorporate CBD into the equine diet. These pellets are often designed to be palatable for even picky eaters and are simple to administer, making them a popular choice. CBD oil is also becoming a popular consumption method for horses.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Some of the most common benefits of equine CBD are:<\/span><\/p>\n