Equine Testimonials & Case Studies

Laurel Palermo and Tom Renzetti founded North Shore Horse Rescue in 2002.

We started out with a small boarding facility, known as Gold Rush Farms, of about twenty horses including a couple of personal horses. In 2003 we rescued our first horse, Phoenix. The five-year-old mustang mare was with foal and neglected. After educating ourselves about the abandonment, abuse, neglect, and slaughter contributing to the ongoing problem of unwanted horses, we wanted to be a part of a solution. Our experience with Phoenix led our passion to eventually become a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization. At this time, we have 32 horses on our farm. Most are rescues and some were adopted or they are now boarders. However, almost all the horses have some type of health issue that could benefit.

Say hello to Cisco.

Cisco, a Buck Skin quarter horse, and is around 20 or 21 years old. Imagine spending 16 out of 18 years working as a nose to tail trail riding horse at a camp for at risk youth. After becoming lame with Navicular Disease and unable to be ridden he was going to be sent off to auction.

Unfortunately, horses that are sent to auction are slaughtered. This horse’s future was slim until a girl at the camp made the right decision by bringing him to North Shore Horse Rescue and Sanctuary. Now, Cisco is the class clown of the farm. His personality wins over everyone.

However, Cisco has some health issues.

Heaves is an allergic-based disease that compromises his ability to breathe, similar to the way asthma affects humans. When Cisco is exposed to allergy-producing substances in the air, such as dust and pollens, cells in his lungs react by releasing chemicals that cause air-passage linings to swell, thicken, and produce mucus. When he breathes, air gets trapped within these thickened passages. He then must use extra effort to expel this trapped air.

Another condition that Cisco has is a capped elbow.

On one of the included photos you will see a large, movable swelling at the point of the elbow. These swellings are filled with fluid and occur due to trauma from the heel of the foot hitting the back of the elbow when the horse lies down. The trauma of the heel causes a bursa or fluid-filled sac to develop at the back of the elbow, and a similar condition can occur at the point of the hock called a capped hock or the front of the knee.

Cisco also has what is called Navicular disease in horses is a progressive degenerative condition involving the navicular bone (which is located behind the coffin bone in the hoof), the bursa and the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) of one or, more commonly, both front feet.
navicular is not actually a ‘disease’, it is a syndrome of abnormalities.

Cisco is an amazing horse that truly deserves to be the focus on your trial. If you have any questions, please reach out to me. I also have some video I am preparing to send to you as well.

Elbow is looking better

“Hello, it is going well. Cisco seems to be better, He was even bucking the other day. I have to send you the video of him first trying it. He ate it right up”

Cole’s owner kept a written record before and during his first weeks on HempMy Pet equine hemp oil — a full intake workup followed by a day-by-day journal. We publish it as she wrote it.

Overview

Cole – 15.2h, unraced, blk/brwn castrated Standardbred; 1066 lbs; 21 years old (foaled 1998); pleasure horse used specifically for flatwork, trail riding, and hunter pacing. I’ve owned him since 2000. Since I am the only one who’s ridden him, he has only been used for recreation (no showing).

He lives in a large pasture with a large run in shed and three other geldings. While they are an active group, they get along very well and take turns being the “leader.” the field is well maintained, being mowed and dragged in the warmer months. The shed is cleaned weekly.

He lives in the Hudson Valley, NY.

Personality

In general, Cole is a laid back, curious horse who loves to be around. He is used to cats, dogs, four-wheelers, tractors, construction equipment, etc. He is the kind of horse you can do anything on, although I avoided jumping since he is so post-legged behind and has popping stifles.

He loves his job and has a fantastic work ethic. Headed out on the trails, he can go on for hours and will handle anything in his path. He especially loves water.

Confirmation notes

Cole has super straight stifles; there is intermittent popping becoming more frequent while standing or shifting weight. Movement definitely helps. He never was really comfortable when handling hind feet – he almost has to stretch his hind leg out before accepting the normal hoof-picking position.

Vet has commented he is awesome shape for a 21-year-old. Solid muscling and good coat.

He has hooves of iron, currently barefoot on a regular trim schedule.

Activity level

While workload decreased over the winter (we’ve never been at a farm with an indoor), the winter of 2018/2019, is the most active he has really been in his life. We engage in hand-walking with weekend rides at least four times a week.

Riding four to five times a week in spring/summer/fall, weather permitting.

Lyme history

In the summer of 2017, I noticed that his personality changing. He became more nervous, sensitive to touch, and seemed to be in general discomfort. In short, it seemed like his nervous system was “one fire.” He also was stiff behind, particularly in his hind end. Lyme testing in August 2017 showed a positive result (see below).

Cole stayed at Farm A from 2010 through 2017. He moved to Farm B in March 2017. He hadn’t been on a trailer in seven years and handled the 1 hour 20-minute ride pretty well. It was several months after this that I noticed he was exhibiting the weird behavior and general discomfort again. He tested positive for Lyme again in June 2018 (see below). He was treated, and his symptoms subsided, and his comfort level and personality came back.

After treatment, he still tested positive. Vet and I decided to NOT treat him again, since this level may be his “new normal,” and we didn’t want to hit him with another month of antibiotics. We decided to wait until the winter and test him again.

In mid-December, the nervous behavior and hind end soreness returned. Lyme testing showed levels went down. We also ran a CBC, ACTH, and Vitamin E to make sure there wasn’t anything else going on.

Lab result history — full titer record

Tested Lyme Positive – August 2017
OspA – 2163 (Positive)
OspC – 83 (Negative)
OspF – 994 (Equivocal)
Treated 30 days with powdered doxy

Tested Lyme Equivocal – Feb 2018
OspA – 1528 (Equivocal)
OspC – 60 (Negative)
OspF – 372 (Negative)

Tested Lyme Positive – June 2018
OspA – 2593 (Positive)
OspC – 65 (Negative)
OspF – 565 (Negative)
Treated with minocycline for (roughly) 30 days

Tested Lyme Positive – August 2018
OspA – 3151 (Positive)
OspC – 75 (Negative)
OspC – 588 (Negative)
Left untreated for hard winter. New normal?

Tested Lyme Equivocal/Negative – January 2019
OspA – 1809 (Equivocal)
OspC – 55 (Negative)
OspF – 245 (Negative)

Tested Vitamin E levels – January 2019 — Normal
Tested ACTH – January 2019 — Normal

Supplementation

Cole was on a joint supplement that contained glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, and hyaluronic acid. Up until late 2018, it seemed to help him. Beginning in February 2019, we are discontinuing it since it doesn’t have any efficacy on his hind end.

**Vet will be conducting a performance evaluation in March 2019 to check for osteoarthritis in his hind end. We just need the ground to thaw and dry out.

General notes

I became interested CBD oil when trying to research a natural, anti-inflammatory agent for Cole. He is an older horse, and if I can avoid treating him with something like Pervicoxx or Equioxx as long as possible, I am all for it.

There seem to be two schools of thought regarding Lyme:

• Lyme disease is a chronic condition, where the disease rests in the facia of the body and can be “triggered” by stress or other factors. The patient can experience “flares” and remain symptomatic.
• There is no chronic Lyme – the patient is simply experiencing another infection from another tick bite. Unfortunately, here in NY, our winters have been mild for the past few years, and ticks haven’t died during the winter like they have in the past.

Sadly, true testing for Lyme disease is lacking. Per my a previous physician I had, since Lyme isn’t a disease found all over the country, there hasn’t been all that much of a push to improve testing or study.

There were several reports showing improvements in how human Lyme patients felt – couldn’t hurt to see if it could help my horse as well.

His order is to be delivered today…to be continued!

February 5, 2019

I began Cole on HempMy Pet™ Equine CBD oil today. Bottle was padded in the box and shipped very well. The pump that was included was solid, by which I mean sturdy and well built. Other pumpable supplements I’ve received in the past tend to be flimsy. The oil comes out after one priming pump and doesn’t shoot out all over. Per the instructions, and based on his weight, he should be receiving two pumps (20 mg per pump) a day. The instructions also indicated to gradually introduce the oil into his diet. I decided to start him off with one pump per day for a week.

Barn Manager (BM) is kind enough to bring Cole in for dinner so that I don’t have to go searching for him in the dark after work. His feed was top dressed with one pump of CBD oil, and he ate it right up. No issues with palatability whatsoever. Then again, he’s not a particularly picky eater (thank goodness).

Afterwards, Cole was a little fidgety on cross ties – dancing slightly, moving forward and backing up, which has become his new normal. After about 10 minutes, he settled down. He showed his usual reluctance to pick up hind feet for cleaning, as in he will not pick them up right away and needs to shift his weight to find a comfortable position. He also exhibited what I call “fly kick” behavior; in other words, he acts like a fly bit the front of his hind leg. He quickly snatches the leg straight up, flexing the stifle, hock and ankle. He then kicks out slightly as if to dislodge a fly. This may be accompanied by tail swishing.

For his exercise, we hand-walked up and down driveway for 30 minutes (covers about 1 mile in distance). As I have mentioned, our farm doesn’t have an arena, so we take what we can get. He was relaxed and willing.

February 6 ,2019

The day was filled with a steady, deliberate rain. Barn Manager (BM) brought Cole in for me. He spent one hour in his stall. Per another boarder, he worried the whole time. He was flipping his head, circling, ignored his hay, and half rearing at door. When I took him out, he was Little dancing on crossties, but settled after a bit. He was reluctant to lift hind feet for picking. Sheeted and turned back out. No walking due to rain.

February 7-8 2019

I didn’t see Cole these two days – rain and work.

February 9,2019

It’s the weekend, which means there’s daylight, which means riding time!

Upon arrival at the farm, BM told me Cole was kicking out his hind legs while eating his breakfast. She expressed concern over his hindgut health. He did undergo a lot of stress last year (the move, they Lyme disease, the medical treatment, and being trailered off the property for trail rides and hunter paces). However, I don’t think that’s the case: his stool is normal, he has no issues with weight or appetite, he has a bright attitude, and he lives outside with friends. BM will advise if she sees the behavior again.

Cole was brought in for tack up. He was fidgety and hyper aware of his surrounds. He seemed slightly more comfortable with picking up his hind feet, but still showed some reluctance.

There was a LOT of activity on the farm today…much more than a normal Saturday. Another boarder had separated her herd, and one of the younger horses was racing around his paddock while screaming for his friends. Her other horses were being brought into the barn. Cole’s pasture mate, T, was also screaming for Cole and their other mate, M, who was also in the barn, leaving T alone.

I rode Cole for 45 minutes – up and down driveway. He was distracted most of the time, but seemed to acknowledge my existence. However, that ended when M passed him, as he was being turned back out in their shared field. Cole pitched a fit – he half reared, tried to spin and head back to the field. This is EXTREMELY uncharacteristic for him; the last time he exhibited this behavior was around 15 years ago. Was this tantrum due to a lack of a steady exercise program in winter? Anxiety across the farm? Pain? It’s hard to say.

I finally got him in hand and moved him into some lateral work. He was reluctant to move into turn on haunch and turn on forehand, but he may be rusty after not engaging on these moves since late fall. After a couple of these moves, we would walk down the hill, and trot smartly back up the hill.

That said, our ride didn’t seem to take anything out of him. He has a light sweat, but restless in his stall. Again, he was not interested in hay and just wanted to go back outside. He was a little more comfortable picking up hind feet

February 10, 2019

Another day for riding!

Cole was brought in from the field. Things were much quieter around the barn. At first, he started out worse on cross ties – pushing forward, unable to keep his feet still, and half reared when I left his side. His entire energy seemed to be crackling. A sharp word from me (“Get a grip!”) settled him down. It was a little easier to pick up hind feet.

I rode Cole for 25 minutes, up and down the driveway as well as the perimeter around the field. It was a much better ride. While there were still some distractions (horses being led down to the pasture, running around) but he seemed more focused on me, and relaxed. Seemed he enjoyed his ride more, was more willing to frame up at the walk and lift his back. We did a little more trotting up hill, and I was able to walk him on a looped rein. He stretched his neck forward and down a few times. This is encouraging!

Cole was more relaxed on cross ties afterwards, although was kicking out when a boarder was yelling in the aisle. He was willing to let me lift his feet to check them for rocks with minimal hesitation. While I was leading him back out to the field and his friends, we stopped and chatted with BM in driveway, Cole stood quietly, while, lately, he would fidget.

February 11, 2019

I went to the barn after work. I brought him in from the field for our nighttime hand-walking. I decided to make a video of me picking his feet so that HempMyPet™ can see what I mean when I pick out his hind feet. However, tonight, he seemed MUCH more comfortable! Slight upward hitching movement, but no kicking/stretching out!

Overall, he was quiet on cross-ties, and even dropped his penis slightly (a sure sign of relaxation for him – he used to let it ALL hang out before the Lyme disease). We went for a 20-minute walk, and then turned him back out in his field. A snowstorm is predicted for tomorrow.

PLEASE NOTE – at the 54 second mark of the video, you can actually see his left stifle pop back into place.

Cole’s owner, Jessica Mari, kept sending reports for seven more weeks after the entries above — eight installments in all, running from early February to late March 2019. Those weekly write-ups were kept in a shared folder that no longer exists, and we were not able to recover them. What follows is from her emails to us, quoted as she wrote them.

12 February 2019 — sending the video referenced in the journal above:

“I’ve also shared a short video of me picking Cole’s feet. At the 54 second mark, you can actually see his left stifle pop back into place. His stifle popping has been heard for many years, but I’ve never actually seen it before.”

20 February 2019:

“I’ve shared three reports on Cole thus far… I plan on pulling another Lyme titer next month to see if his numbers have been affected.”

1 March 2019, when we asked whether bloodwork had been rechecked:

“We haven’t pulled another Lyme titer yet. The first round of spring vaccines are in the next few weeks. When he gets blood pulled for his Coggins, we’ll also pull for another titer. By then, he would’ve been on the oil for 5 – 6 weeks.”

26 March 2019 — her final report:

“Cole’s Lyme titer came back, and, based on the results with no real new changes from the CBD oil alone, this will be my final report.

I fully thank you for giving us the opportunity to try this product and share our experiences with a wider audience. We really do appreciate it!”

What that means, plainly. After roughly seven weeks on the oil, Cole’s Lyme titer values were essentially unchanged. The bloodwork did not move, and we are not going to suggest otherwise.

What Jessica recorded changing was day-to-day: how readily he picked up his hind feet, how he stood on the cross-ties, how he was under saddle. Those are one owner’s observations of one horse over seven weeks, not a controlled measurement — but they are the observations she made, and she made them in writing at the time rather than in hindsight.

We publish the ending along with the beginning because a case study that stops without one isn’t a case study.

Published with Jessica’s permission. Hemp is a food supplement — it is not a medicine, does not treat or cure any disease, and is not a substitute for veterinary care. Cole remained under his veterinarian’s care throughout.

Background: Maverick is a 12-year-old Quarter Horse gelding used primarily for barrel racing. Over time, John noticed that Maverick was experiencing discomfort and stiffness, particularly after intense training sessions and competitions. This discomfort led to reduced performance and overall well-being.

Goals

John’s primary goals for incorporating cannabidiol for horses into Maverick’s care were:

• Soreness Management: To alleviate Maverick’s discomfort, reduce stiffness, and enhance his overall comfort during training and competitions.
• Improved Recovery: To help Maverick recover more effectively after intense physical activity, ensuring he remained in top condition for barrel racing.

Implementation

John began researching the potential benefits of CBD for horses and consulted with a veterinarian experienced in equine CBD use. Together, they established the following plan:

• Product Selection: John selected a reputable CBD oil formulated for horses, ensuring it met quality standards and contained no THC. This product was derived from industrial hemp.
• Dosage: The veterinarian recommended an initial low dosage based on Maverick’s weight, gradually increasing it to find the optimal level of relief. The dosage was administered orally using a syringe.
• Monitoring: John closely monitored Maverick’s behavior, movement, and overall well-being during the implementation period, keeping a record of any changes or improvements.

Results

Over several weeks of incorporating CBD into Maverick’s care regimen, John observed the following results:

• Stiffness Management: Maverick’s discomfort and stiffness significantly improved. He moved more freely and showed fewer signs of discomfort after training and competition.
• Improved Recovery: Maverick’s recovery time after intense physical activity shortened. He appeared more energetic and ready for the next training session or race.

Conclusion

This case study highlights the potential benefits of using cannabidiol for horses in promoting equine health and well-being, particularly in managing stiffness and improving recovery. Maverick’s positive response to CBD is a testament to its potential as a valuable tool for horse owners.

However, it’s essential to remember that each horse is unique, and results may vary. Before considering CBD for your horse, it is crucial to consult with a veterinarian experienced in equine CBD use. They can provide guidance on product selection, dosage, and potential interactions with existing treatments.

Maverick’s case demonstrates how CBD can be a valuable addition to equine care, helping horses like him maintain their comfort and performance levels in various equestrian disciplines.