Although originally associated predominantly with racehorses,
ulcers have become increasingly recognised in sport and leisure horses also
(11% of leisure horse owners mentioned Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome in the
2015 National Equine Health Survey.) First of all you need to get your head
around your horses’ digestive system. The stomach can be split in two, the
region food first enters is the non glandular section, not protected by a
mucous layer. Below is the glandular section, where hydrochloric acid is
produced and is consequently protected by a mucous layer. Ulcers occur as a
result of prolonged exposure of the stomach lining to gastric juices and
disruption to mucus production, causing erosion and ulceration, more often in
the non glandular unprotected region. In the wild, horses would roam
continually on pasture, eating little and often. To support this behaviour, the
digestive system evolved to produce gastric acid continually throughout the day,
breaking down forage. It is important to remember however as the horse
continually chews, saliva containing bicarbonate is produced, acting as a
buffer to the gastric acid. In their domesticated environment however, your
four legged friends may not always have the opportunity to utilise these
natural adaptions.
There are various factors that are believed to be connected
with ulcer occurrence. Firstly reduced access to forage, which means acid is
allowed to build up, teamed with a lack of chewing, so limited saliva is
available to buffer this. High cereal starch diets can encourage rapid
microbial fermentation leading to excess acid. Stressful situations including
travel and competitions can cause disruptions to the mucus lining the stomach,
reducing its acid defence. Irregular feeding patterns which may mean horses are
without feed for long periods. Finally gastric splashing, which involves acid
from the bottom of the stomach splashing up to the non glandular region, which can
occur especially when horses are galloping regularly on an empty stomach.
If you suspect your horse has ulcers, the vet must be
contacted and alongside treatment there are steps you can take from a
nutritional point of view. Access to forage is essential and should not be
restricted to less than 1.5% of bodyweight per day. Avoid your horse standing
for long periods of time without forage, allowing pasture turn out wherever
possible. Straw should not be used as the sole forage supply, as it is
abrasive, has low buffering capacity and does not form an effective fibre mat
in the bottom of the stomach to help prevent splashing. If possible, provide
forage whilst travelling and before exercise in small holed haynets if required,
to try to slow your horse down.
Regarding hard feed, starch intake should be restricted to
less than 1g per kilogram bodyweight per meal, so look for feed containing less
than 20% starch or less than 15% in low energy/calorie feeds. Feed little and
often, adding alfalfa to compounds to lengthen eating time. Due to the high
protein and calcium content, alfalfa is also useful for its buffering capacity
against acid. If your horse needs help gaining weight, consider using feeds higher
in oil rather than traditional conditioning feeds with high starch levels,
alternatively pure oil can be added, however speak to a nutritionist for advice
on this to ensure the diet remains balanced. Water should be available at all times to
encourage saliva production and flow and if your horse is sweating regularly
and you need to supplement with electrolytes, avoid using pastes. Always provide
a balanced diet, offering either the recommend amount of feed, or a balancer.
Finally a supplement may be considered, however it is important to remember
these cannot replace the need for veterinary treatment.
Should ulcers become a problem for your beloved friend, do
not be at a loss, with appropriate treatment and by putting the above tips in
to practise, hopefully they will be back to their old selves in no time.
Never had your yard visited by a SPILLERS® nutritionist
before? Then you must not have heard of the wonderful service that we offer.
At SPILLERS® we are committed to providing you with the best
nutrition for your beloved companion. With this in mind, each horse will
receive a tailor-made diet plan, formulated to suit his specific needs. 
Not only will your horse be weighed on our ‘super-sized’
scales. Our nutritionists will also get hands on and show you how to calculate
his body condition score. 
…depending upon the standard of tea making, of course! Many
horses require changes to their dietary management throughout the year and
we’ll be on hand should your horse need a repeat visit. 
