Question

I own a 975-lb (442-kg), six-year-old Thoroughbred gelding that I work 30 to 60 minutes six days a week, primarily at the walk and trot. He currently eats eight quarts of a low-starch feed per day, divided into two meals, and he is fed hay four times a day. I am worried about ulcers because of his old career (that of a racehorse), his large grain meals, and the hard work he does. Would it hurt to put my horse on an ulcer supplement even though he doesn’t have any signs of ulcers?

Answer

Horses can have ulcers without showing outward signs. In the surveys that have been done on Thoroughbreds at the racetrack, researchers have found over 90% of the horses have ulcers, but less than half of them actually show the classic outward signs. With the risk factors your horse has for ulcers (high amounts of concentrate, meal feeding, etc.), I would think it reasonable to go ahead and put him on a supplement.

The only definitive test to know if your horse has gastric ulcers is gastroscopy. Gastroscopy is helpful to to know the severity of any ulcers and to determine if treatment with omeprazole is necessary. However, some horses without gastric ulcers will do and eat better when stressed (transport, showing, etc) if treated for gastric ulcers. There are many anti-ulcer supplements available and these are likely to do no harm and may be effective to reduce the likelihood of developing gastric ulcers.

Of the supplements, you might consider KERx RiteTrac because it is the only one on the market that has ingredients that coat the stomach and buffer both the stomach and hindgut. A hindgut buffer is recommended for horses that consume significant amounts of concentrate.