Horse Gastric Ulcer Prevention: Diet and Management

Equine gastric ulcer syndrome is extremely prevalent in performance and stabled horses, causing chronic pain that significantly affects welfare and performance.

Key Facts

Gastric ulcers affect an estimated 60-90% of performance horses and 37% of leisure horses in the UK
The equine stomach produces acid continuously regardless of feeding frequency, making long periods without forage highly ulcerogenic
Small, frequent forage meals or ad lib hay access are the most effective preventive management strategies
Stress including competition, transport, and social change significantly increases ulcer risk
Omeprazole treatment is effective but expensive, and prevention through management is more cost-effective

Welfare Considerations

Equine gastric ulcers cause chronic pain that affects behavior, performance, and quality of life in millions of horses. The prevalence is so high in performance horses that ulcers should be considered a near-inevitable consequence of conventional stabled management rather than a disease of individual horses. The welfare solution is primarily management-based: ad lib forage access, reduced stabling, turnout in social groups, and reduced exposure to transport and competition stress. These management changes address the root causes of ulcer development rather than treating the symptoms while maintaining the conditions that cause them.

What You Can Do

Provide ad lib hay or continuous forage access to prevent ulcer development
Schedule regular endoscopic assessment for horses showing behavioral or performance changes
Work with your veterinarian on treatment and management for horses with confirmed ulcers
Minimize fasting periods and always feed before exercise if unavoidable
Reduce competition and transport frequency for horses showing ulcer-related behavioral changes