Why You Should Feed Your Horse Hemp

When horses are fed hemp, they are provided with a variety of nutrients and health benefits. Whether the horses are being fed hemp oil, hemp seeds, or hemp protein, they are gaining healthy fats, nutrients, and essential fatty acids.

One benefit hemp oil provides is moisturizing qualities; it improves the skin health of horses. Hemp oil helps the skin to be healthy, nourished, and healing to skin conditions that may be present.

Along with benefiting the skin, hemp oil also improves the coat of the horse, namely through the essential fatty acids it contains. These fatty acids are essential and must be obtained by a food source. With the healthy balance of omega-6 and omega-3 that hemp products provide, horses’ coat luster is improved.

Because hemp contains healthy fats and protein, hemp products also help horses with digestion. When fed to horses in conjunction with fiber, the components of hemp even help with passing manure.

Another key benefit of hemp oil is the gamma linolenic acid (GLA) it contains, which benefits horses’ insulin, metabolism, inflammatory response, and promotes healthy brain functioning. It improves joint function and resiliency along with hoof health, leading to a healthier horse.

Not only beneficial in terms of providing nutrients to horses, hemp products have been shown to aid in producing offspring. Hemp products increase sperm quality in stallions. For pregnant horses, hemp may aid in creating a stronger immune system in the foal. For mares that are not pregnant, hemp may help in regulating the estrus cycle.

For horses with pre-existing conditions, hemp product can be helpful. Hemp seeds provide horses with a healthy option to increase calories without the concern of laminitis in insulin resistant horses. Improving circulation, brain function, and digestion, hemp seeds contain benefits that aid horses’ muscles and joints.

Another hemp product great for horses is hemp protein. One ounce of hemp protein provides horses with 9.2 grams of protein and 10 essential amino acids. With all the benefits of hemp oil, hemp protein also provides horses with healthy fats, calories, and supports their immune systems and muscle resiliency as well.

Beyond the health benefits of hemp, for competitive horses, it is safe to consume hemp product with no concern for positive drug tests. Hemp oil, seeds, and protein do not contain prohibited substances. Simply avoid hemp with CBD, as this is still illegal under FEI or USEF rules, and feeding hemp to horses is an acceptable and desirable way to improve the health of competitive horses.

References

1.       Qingling Wang, Youling L. Xiong. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety. Processing, Nutrition, and Functionality of Hempseed Protein: A Review. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1541-4337.12450. Accessed 11/22/20

2.       Front Vet Sci. 2020; 7: 387. Hemp in Veterinary Medicine: From Feed to Drug. Giorgia della Rocca* and Alessandra Di Salvo

3.       https://goodhemp-ingredients.com/hemp-facts/

4.       https://blog.victoryhempfoods.com/benefits-of-omega-3