Equine gastric ulcer syndrome affects the majority of performance horses and many leisure horses, causing chronic pain that significantly reduces quality of life and performance.
Gastric ulcers cause chronic, significant pain in affected horses that manifests as subtle behavioral changes owners may attribute to attitude problems rather than pain. Prevention through ad libitum hay access, feeding hay before exercise, and minimizing NSAID use is far more effective than treatment. Horses suspected of having ulcers should receive veterinary evaluation including gastroscopy for definitive diagnosis before committing to long-term treatment.