Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome: Welfare Prevention and Management

Equine gastric ulcer syndrome is extremely prevalent in performance horses and significantly impairs welfare through chronic pain, changed behaviour, and reduced performance.

Key Facts

Up to 90% of racehorses and 60% of performance horses have gastric ulcers
Ulcers cause chronic abdominal discomfort, poor body condition, and behavioural changes
Risk factors include infrequent feeding, high concentrate diets, intense exercise, and stress
Omeprazole treatment is effective but relapse is common if management is not addressed
Endoscopy is required for definitive diagnosis but treatment trials are sometimes used

Welfare Considerations

Gastric ulcers cause chronic, low-grade abdominal pain that significantly impairs quality of life. Affected horses may show reduced appetite, resistance to girthing, reluctance to perform, and stereotypic behaviours. The high prevalence in performance horses reflects management systems that prioritise performance over welfare. Management changes addressing the root causes of ulceration including ad libitum forage access and reduced concentrate feeding are as important as medical treatment.

What You Can Do

Provide horses with ad libitum access to hay or haylage to maintain gastric buffering
Feed small amounts of chaff or hay before exercise to protect the non-glandular region
Reduce starch and grain in the diet and increase fibre intake
Allow horses social contact and adequate turnout time to reduce stress
Seek veterinary diagnosis and treatment if your horse shows signs of ulcer discomfort