Horse Gastric Ulcer Welfare | Animal Welfare Hub

Gastric ulcers affect the majority of performance horses and are strongly linked to management practices. Prevention and treatment dramatically improve equine welfare.

Key Facts

Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome affects approximately 60-90% of performance horses and 37% of leisure horses
Horses evolved to graze continuously — their stomach produces acid constantly whether or not food is present
Stabling and restricted forage access are the primary drivers of ulcer development
Signs include reduced appetite, poor coat condition, behavioral changes, and performance reluctance
Omeprazole is the standard treatment, achieving healing in approximately 85% of cases within 28 days
Preventive management centered on forage access is more effective and cheaper than repeated treatment cycles

Welfare Considerations

Equine gastric ulcers represent a welfare failure driven almost entirely by human management decisions. Horses evolved to trickle-feed for 16-18 hours per day; modern management that provides two meals daily with long periods of fasting directly causes the acidic stomach environment that produces ulcers. The pain from gastric ulcers causes chronic suffering that manifests as behavioral changes, reduced performance, and reduced quality of life. The management changes needed to prevent ulcers — more forage, smaller and more frequent meals, reduced time on bare paddocks, less intensive training — are within the control of horse owners and trainers. Committing to forage-centered management eliminates most ulcer risk without pharmacological intervention.

What You Can Do

Provide horses with ad libitum forage or frequent small hay meals to minimize stomach acid exposure
Avoid extended periods of fasting especially before work — provide a small hay meal before exercise
Seek gastroscopy for horses showing behavioral changes or unexplained performance decline
Implement omeprazole treatment for horses with confirmed ulcers under veterinary supervision
Review management practices for horses that develop recurrent ulcers rather than repeatedly treating alone
Advocate for equine welfare standards that include gastric health as a key welfare indicator