Jan Byyny, professional eventing trainer and rider, recently said, “I think the more you can care for the horses to meet their gut health needs, the better and more relaxed they are going to be when they perform.”
She’s right. Isn’t a healthy, comfortable horse going to be a happier, more competitive animal? Of course, it is! As humans, we can never “give it our all” if we are not feeling well. And the same holds true for animals. Unfortunately, due to conditions endured during competition, such as limited turnout, confined stalls and vigorous traveling, horses are susceptible to digestive upset and ulcers.
Ulcers, a term that has become all-too-familiar in today’s equine industry, are lesions in the horse’s digestive tract. Although common in the sporthorse world, they are not something to be taken lightly, since prolonged ulceration can cause chronic colic and digestive issues, which can be fatal. In addition to the increased risk of colic, if your horse is suffering from ulcers, he or she will also tend to be uncomfortable, grumpy, girthy, unthrifty and perform under expectations. There are two different types of ulcers that can occur in a horse: gastric or hindgut. Let’s explore each type.