Horse Gastric Ulcer Prevention and Management

Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome affects the majority of sport horses. Understanding prevention and treatment transforms welfare for these chronically uncomfortable animals.

Key Facts

Prevalence of gastric ulcers in sport horses ranges from 58-93% depending on discipline and study population
Racing thoroughbreds have the highest prevalence at up to 93%; leisure horses on continuous turnout have rates below 10%
Gastric acid secretion in horses is continuous, meaning prolonged periods without feed cause acid pooling and ulceration
Omeprazole (Gastrogard) is the gold standard treatment but costs and treatment duration requirements limit its use
Providing ad libitum hay or haylage prevents ulcer formation by maintaining gastric buffering throughout the day
Aloe vera, antacid supplements, and pre-exercise buffering show some evidence of benefit but are not curative for established ulcers

Welfare Considerations

Gastric ulcers represent a welfare crisis in performance horse management that is largely self-inflicted through management practices incompatible with equine digestive physiology. Horses evolved to graze for 16-18 hours daily; modern stable management with meal feeding creates exactly the conditions for acid damage. The condition causes chronic discomfort that manifests as performance issues, reluctance to work, and behavioural changes that are often misinterpreted as training problems. Prevention through management change is more effective and welfare-positive than repeated treatment cycles.

What You Can Do

Feed horses ad libitum forage rather than two or three meal feeds to maintain gastric buffering
Provide access to turnout and grazing where possible to support natural digestive patterns
Have horses with performance or behavioural issues scoped for gastric ulcers before assuming training problems
Advocate for ulcer prevention to be included in equine welfare guidelines for sport horse management
Support research into management interventions that prevent ulcers without requiring expensive medication