🧪 Vet Guide 2025: Preventing Gastric Ulcers in Horses Through Stress-Free Management 🐴🌿

Author: Dr Duncan Houston, BVSc

Stomach ulcers are surprisingly common in horses—especially those under stress or confined in stalls. While ulcers are rarely found in wild horses, studies show they affect up to 90% of racehorses and 60% of show horses. That’s because ulcers in horses are largely man-made, resulting from modern feeding and housing practices. In this 2025 guide, Dr Duncan Houston outlines how to prevent gastric ulcers in horses through better management and proven therapies. 🐎📈

🔬 Why Horses Get Ulcers

Unlike humans, horses produce stomach acid 24 hours a day. In natural conditions, they graze nearly nonstop, constantly buffering that acid with saliva and forage. But when horses are:

• 🚫 Fed only once or twice daily
• 🚪 Stalled with no access to forage
• 🌪️ Exposed to stress (hauling, shows, intense training)

…they develop ulcers due to prolonged acid exposure on the stomach’s sensitive lining. ⚠️

📍 Where Do Ulcers Form?

• ⚪ Squamous (non-glandular) region: Most affected in performance horses
• 🔴 Glandular region: Less common, but seen with NSAID use

Squamous ulcers are caused by acid splash during exercise and fasting, while glandular ulcers are more related to drug use and systemic illness. 🧪

🌿 2025 Vet-Recommended Prevention Tips

1️⃣ Provide Constant Forage Access

• 🌾 Free-choice hay or pasture grazing keeps acid buffered
• 🧬 Horses are designed to eat 16+ hours a day

2️⃣ Minimize Stall Confinement

• 🏞️ Allow turnout whenever possible
• 👀 If stalled, ensure horses can see other horses

3️⃣ Enrich the Stall Environment

• 🎾 Use stall toys like balls or licks to reduce boredom
• 🧠 Provide a routine that lowers anxiety

4️⃣ Limit Stressful Triggers

• 🚚 Minimize unnecessary hauling
• 📅 Gradually increase training intensity
• 🔄 Avoid abrupt schedule changes

💊 Medications That Work

There are many ulcer supplements and treatments marketed to horse owners—but only a few have solid science behind them. ✅

✅ Proven Effective:

• 💊 GastroGard® (omeprazole) – FDA-approved for treatment and prevention
• 🛡️ Ulcergard® – Preventative omeprazole for high-risk periods

🚫 Use Caution With:

• 📉 Generic omeprazole products (may contain incorrect dosages)
• 💊 Supplements not backed by clinical trials

🧠 Dr Duncan Houston’s Advice

"The best ulcer prevention plan isn’t a product—it’s a pasture. Feed forage often, reduce stress, and medicate only when truly needed." 🐴🌿

📋 When to Suspect Gastric Ulcers

• 🥕 Decreased appetite
• 🏋️ Poor performance or reluctance to work
• 💥 Girthiness or flank sensitivity
• 📉 Weight loss despite good feeding
• 💩 Intermittent mild colic episodes

Diagnosis is confirmed via gastroscopy—a simple and effective procedure to visualize ulcers. 🔬

🔚 Final Thoughts: Grazing Is Medicine

Most gastric ulcers in horses are preventable. Feed small, frequent meals, offer free-choice hay or pasture, reduce confinement, and avoid unnecessary stress. Combine this with trusted veterinary products when needed, and your horse’s stomach will stay as strong as their performance. 🐎❤️

Need a tailored ulcer prevention plan? Visit AskAVet.com or download the Ask A Vet app for expert digestive health support. 📱🌱