Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) is extremely prevalent in performance horses and racehorses, with management and feeding practices being the primary determinants of risk.
Gastric ulcers cause significant ongoing pain, affecting eating behaviour, temperament and performance. The horses at highest risk - racehorses and performance horses in intensive training - are often those whose pain signs are most likely to be misattributed to behavioural problems or disobedience. Management changes including ad libitum forage, reduced stall time and stress reduction are the foundations of prevention.