Gastric ulcer prevention through management changes is more sustainable and welfare-positive than relying on repeated medication cycles. Understanding the causes enables effective prevention.
Gastric ulcer prevention represents a welfare approach that treats cause rather than consequence. A horse that develops ulcers, is treated with omeprazole, returns to the same management that caused the ulcers, and redevelops them within weeks has not had its welfare improved - only its acute symptom temporarily managed. Sustainable ulcer prevention requires accepting that horses evolved to graze near-continuously and that modern performance horse management systematically violates this pattern. The management changes required - more forage, pre-exercise feeding, reduced reliance on NSAIDs - serve the horse's welfare beyond just ulcer prevention. They represent a more biologically appropriate management approach with benefits across digestive, behavioral, and metabolic welfare.