Horse Gastric Ulcer Prevention: Management and Diet

Equine gastric ulcer syndrome affects the majority of sport horses and a significant proportion of leisure horses, with management and dietary interventions providing effective prevention and treatment.

Key Facts

Equine gastric ulcer syndrome affects 60-90% of racehorses and 30-50% of leisure horses
Horses evolved for continuous trickle feeding; gastric acid accumulates without buffering forage in the stomach
Stabling without forage access is the primary risk factor for squamous ulcers in the non-glandular stomach region
Omeprazole treatment is effective for healing squamous ulcers when combined with management changes
Glandular ulcers have a different cause and respond less predictably to omeprazole alone

Welfare Considerations

Gastric ulcer welfare in horses is a condition substantially created by management practices that contradict equine digestive physiology. Horses stabled without constant forage access develop acid accumulation in the unprotected squamous stomach region within hours. The pain of active ulceration affects behavior, performance, and quality of life. Management changes that address the root cause, primarily ensuring continuous forage access, are as important as pharmacological treatment. Horses returned to the same management conditions after treatment will predictably redevelop ulcers, making welfare improvement dependent on understanding causation rather than treating symptoms alone.

What You Can Do

Ensure horses have access to forage at all times, particularly overnight when stabling removes grazing
Use slow feeder haynets to extend consumption time for stabled horses
Discuss ulcer screening with your veterinarian if your horse shows any performance or behavioral changes
Implement management changes alongside any ulcer treatment to prevent recurrence