🐴 Feed Routines and GI Disease in Horses: How to Prevent Ulcers and Colic in 2025 🩺🌾

By Dr Duncan Houston BVSc

In 2025, gastrointestinal (GI) disease—including gastric ulcers and colic—remains one of the most common and costly health issues for horses. The good news? Most cases can be prevented with proper feeding practices. Today, let’s dispel outdated myths and explore how smart feeding protects your horse’s gut. 🧠🐎

🔥 The Myth: Two Meals a Day Is Enough

Modern management often keeps performance horses:

• 🏠 Stalled for long periods
• 🍽️ Fed only 2–3 times daily
• 🌾 Given large grain meals and limited hay

This system ignores how horses are built to eat—grazing 12–16 hours per day on high-fiber forage. ⏳

🧪 Ulcers: How They Develop

Dr. Frank Andrews from LSU warns that a diet high in non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) combined with limited forage and stall confinement creates the perfect environment for gastric ulcers. Here’s why:

• 💧 The horse’s stomach constantly produces acid—even when empty
• 🌿 Forage buffers acid and creates a physical barrier
• ⚠️ Fasting periods of >6 hours increase stomach acidity

One study cited by Dr. Lou Anne Epperly found that ulcer risk rises significantly when forage intervals exceed 6 hours. 😬

🌾 What Horses Need Instead

Dr. Andrews recommends:

• 🌱 Free-choice hay or pasture 24/7
• 🥣 Smaller, more frequent concentrate meals (every 6 hours if needed)
• 🚫 No more than 5 lbs of grain per meal per 1,000-lb horse

Horses should never rely on corn-based, cattle-targeted feeds. Instead, oats and barley are more appropriate grains, and forage should always come first. ✅

⚠️ Feed Changes = Risk of Colic

According to Dr. Andrews, 90% of colic cases are linked to feed changes within the previous 3 days. And feed changes aren’t just about grain:

• 🌿 Changing hay types or brands counts
• 🌱 Moving to a different pasture is also a feed change

All dietary changes must be done gradually over 10–14 days to give the GI tract time to adapt. 🔄

🥄 Tips to Optimize GI Health

• 🧂 Feed hay before grain
• 🕓 Split meals into multiple feedings
• 🍃 Use slow feeders or hay nets to mimic grazing
• 🚫 Avoid long fasting periods
• 💧 Ensure 24/7 water access
• 🧪 Consider adding gut buffers or probiotics during travel or competition

📲 Ask A Vet for Nutrition Support

Want to protect your horse from GI issues? Visit AskAVet.com or use the Ask A Vet App for feeding plans, ulcer prevention strategies, and hay-to-grain balance tips. 📱🐴

Dr Duncan Houston and the team can help design a gut-friendly routine tailored to your horse’s performance, turnout, and travel lifestyle. 💬🧠

🏁 Final Thoughts

In 2025, it’s clear: your horse’s stomach was made for constant nibbling, not large infrequent meals. To prevent ulcers and colic, keep forage flowing, feed small meals often, and introduce changes gradually. Your horse’s gut will thank you. 🐴❤️

Need a feed transition planner or ulcer prevention checklist? Visit AskAVet.com today 🌾🩺