Horse Gastric Ulcer Syndrome and Welfare

Gastric ulcers affect a large proportion of performance and stabled horses, causing chronic pain that affects behavior, performance, and quality of life.

Key Facts

Studies find gastric ulcers in 60-90% of performance horses and 50% of foals
The horse stomach secretes acid continuously unlike humans who only secrete in response to food
Prolonged periods without forage access allow acid to damage the unprotected upper stomach
Omeprazole is the most effective proven treatment for equine gastric ulcers
Behavioral changes including reduced performance and girth sensitivity often signal ulcers
Management changes including ad lib forage access prevent recurrence after treatment

Welfare Considerations

Horses with gastric ulcers experience chronic abdominal pain that ranges from mild discomfort to severe distress. The condition affects temperament and behavior as horses in pain become irritable, reluctant to work, and show stereotypic behaviors like crib-biting that provide some relief. The high prevalence of ulcers in performance and stabled horses reflects management systems - limited forage access, stress of competition, and intermittent feeding - that are incompatible with equine digestive physiology. Management changes preventing recurrence address the root welfare problem.

What You Can Do

Provide horses with continuous access to forage to buffer gastric acid
Investigate gastric ulcers through gastroscopy in horses showing performance decline or behavioral changes
Complete the full treatment course with omeprazole before reducing dose
Address stressors including competition schedule, social environment, and feeding management
Avoid or minimize NSAIDs which can worsen gastric ulceration