Equine

Horse Gastric Ulcer Syndrome

Equine gastric ulcer syndrome affects up to 90% of racehorses and many performance horses, causing chronic pain that significantly impairs welfare and performance.

Key Facts

EGUS affects 37% of leisure horses and up to 93% of racehorses
Horses evolved to graze continuously — the stomach secretes acid constantly
Fasting, stress, and high-concentrate diets are the main risk factors
Clinical signs include poor appetite, colic, and behaviour changes
Omeprazole is effective but prevention requires management changes

Welfare Considerations

The pain of gastric ulcers in horses manifests as performance reluctance, sensitivity to girthing, altered resting posture, and increased aggression. Many horses suffer silently as their signs are attributed to training issues. The condition is largely management-induced: horses kept in stalls with intermittent feeding and high-grain diets are at highest risk. Treatment without management change leads to rapid recurrence.

What You Can Do

Feed horses ad libitum forage to buffer stomach acid continuously
Ensure horses have access to hay or haylage at all times
Minimise time without forage, especially before exercise
Use a gastroscopy to confirm diagnosis before treatment
Consult an equine nutritionist about optimising diet for ulcer prevention