Gastric Ulcers in Horses - No easy cure or quick fix

Any supplement company claiming to sell a product that treats or prevents ulcers is making a medicinal claim and breaking the law. While gut balancers and gastric supplements can be a useful tool in maintenance of a healthy digestive system, the first port of call for horses with ulcers must always be your vet. Be wary of bold claims!

Why Feeding Horses with Ulcers correctly is key

Stabling and feeding patterns are one of the biggest issues for horses with gastric ulcers. In the wild, horses spend the majority of their time foraging - we use this term specifically instead of grazing for good reason and will return to this point later. Resting, sleeping, grooming and other activities do not normally exceed 3-4hrs at a time, meaning the stomach is rarely empty. The horse is designed to constantly move and forage and their digestive system reflects that. When we alter the horse’s natural regime, we increase the risk of gastric ulcers and hind gut dysbiosis.

You will see advice to feed horse’s chaff/similar before exercise. This is because one of the most common causes of ulcers is acid splash – resulting from the stomach acid in the lower glandular region “splashing up” during strenuous exercise. It is often why horses with squamous ulcers will show resistance in work, hump in canter etc as the discomfort arises as the pace/work increases.

The best supplement for horses with ulcers is actually a fibre raft in their stomach before exercise! By feeding a hay/haylage net and a small feed including chaff before exercise, we can reduce the risk of acid splash by creating a “raft” on the top of the stomach contents making it more difficult for the acid to reach the delicate squamous area. It does not eliminate all risk but helps to reduce it and is an important management tool in preventing damage to the delicate gastric mucosa.

Feeding a low starch diet is also important but remember that it is about the grams of starch you are feeding, not the %. Horses need between 1-2.5kg of starch per day depending on workload/health. No more than 1g of starch per kg of bodyweight should be fed in one meal (eg 500g max for a 500kg horse). A product that contains 25% starch but that you feed only 1kg of per feed is still well within those limits. Whereas a 15% starch product that you feed 4kg of per feed puts you over the recommended amount. Do you see how it is important to do the maths? Low starch where possible (relative to workload/maintaining topline condition) and spread over multiple meals is the ideal.

Here are our top tips for maintaining a healthy gastric environment:

• Adding chaff to concentrates will prolong the time taken to eat and require more chewing, therefore increase saliva production which is a natural acid buffer. 
• The same goes for long stem forage – the longer they are chewing the more saliva they are producing. Use small hole nets/split rations around the stable/across the day to extend chewing time where forage and calorie intake needs to be controlled.
• Provide hay or haylage as well as chaff type feed before exercise. The more fibre in their stomach, the greater the reduction in acid splash.
• Feed stabled horse’s their last forage as late as possible to minimise the time left without forage. This can be difficult when you are in livery so consider teaming up with other liveries and taking turns to do the late shift!
• Consider the type of forage – hay can be easier to feed ad lib (for those without respiratory issues/needing additional energy for workload) as horses’s will consume less hay than haylage on a dry matter basis across the day.
• Reduce stress where possible. Take note of your horse’s behaviours in the stable/field and where possible alter their routine/environment if necessary to minimise any anxiety that can lead to reduced forage intake and increased risk of ulcers. 
• Check for injury/illness including regular worming. Pain is a huge cause of ulcers in horses and even worm burden can cause gastric discomfort to start. Horses will try to communicate in many ways so look for the little signs such as reduced appetite, dull coat, lack of condition, girthiness, resistance under saddle etc and seek professional help before symptoms develop further.
• Ensure tack fits correctly, rider weight is appropriate for the horse and that their feet are balanced before moving on to veterinary help as these are common causes that are often overlooked.

Gastric supplements that support normal cell formation, function of mucus barriers, aid with acid buffering etc can be a really useful tool when all the other management is correct, but ultimately EGUS is a disorder that is created through training and management. No supplement (or prescription medicine recommended by vets) will fully address the problem if the management is not correct to start with. Gastric supplements to treat ulcers do not exist – any company that claims their product can do so is breaking the law. They can however play an important role in maintaining healthy digestion and are a useful aid in the toolbox.

The hindgut should not be overlooked in this discussion. Products that support hindgut health through provision of prebiotics and/or probiotics, stabilising the PH or “mopping up” free radicals or pathogenic bacteria can be key to maintaining a healthy hindgut which impacts on the overall health and vitality of the horse. As mentioned at the outset, horses evolved to forage over many miles each day eating on average 40 different plant fibres, so today’s monoculture grass paddocks that they instead graze are not conducive to good gut health. Feeding a gut balancer for horses that contains a wide variety of natural ingredients, antioxidants, superfoods and prebiotics will help to feed the good bacteria in the hind gut and replicate some of the natural foraging behaviour which can lead to diversity of the hindgut microbiome. 

The take home message is to look at gastric ulcers holistically. Identify the challenges within your horse’s environment and be realistic about what you can control within it (especially when you are in a livery yard). Do the best you can within the factors that you can control. Taking the steps that you can to support a healthy digestive system will pay dividends in the long term as your horse will be able to extract maximum benefit from the feed you provide which will help with optimal performance and overall equine health and well-being. Always consult your veterinary surgeon if you have any concerns with your horse. 

Our nutritionists can answer specific queries relating to your horse's diet and any of our supplements - from gut balancer, to joint supplements, horse calmers and more - so please do not hesitate to contact us if you need additional advice. 

~ The Equell Team