Horse Gastric Ulcer Welfare in Sport Horses

Equine gastric ulcer syndrome is endemic in sport horses, causing chronic pain and affecting performance; management changes can dramatically reduce prevalence and individual suffering.

Key Facts

Equine gastric ulcer syndrome affects an estimated 60-90% of sport horses and racehorses
Horses evolved to graze continuously; the equine stomach produces acid continuously regardless of feeding frequency
Stress from training, competition, transport, and stabling significantly increases gastric acid production
Signs include poor body condition, reduced appetite, altered behaviour, and performance deterioration
Omeprazole treatment is highly effective but must be combined with management changes for sustained resolution
Ad-libitum hay and regular small forage meals reduce ulcer prevalence significantly compared to twice-daily feeding

Welfare Considerations

Equine gastric ulcers represent a welfare problem of enormous scale in sport horse populations. The combination of high-grain diets, restricted forage access, intensive training, frequent transport, and the social stress of competitive environments creates conditions highly conducive to ulcer development. The pain from gastric ulcers is chronic and can be severe, affecting every aspect of a horse's daily experience. Many horses with ulcers are treated for behavioural problems or poor performance without the underlying pain condition being addressed. Prevention through management is both more effective and more welfare-positive than repeated treatment cycles. The high prevalence of ulcers in sport horses represents a systemic failure of management practices that prioritise performance over welfare.

What You Can Do

Provide access to hay or forage for at least 16 hours per day to buffer stomach acid continuously
Feed small forage meals before exercise and avoid working horses on empty stomachs
Have horses investigated for gastric ulcers before attributing behavioural changes or performance issues to training problems
Minimise transport and competition stress where possible and use management strategies to reduce stress during unavoidable events
Work with your vet to develop an ulcer prevention protocol if your horse is in high-risk management
Advocate for management guidelines that prioritise ulcer prevention in competitive horse disciplines