Feeding the good doer prone to gastric ulcers
By Vanessa Allen, nutritional content manager, MARS Horsecare UK
Most people know one general ‘rule’ around feeding horses prone to gastric ulcers is not to let them go for long periods without forage. But if you have a good doer who needs a calorie-controlled diet, how do you go about restricting their intake without compromising their health?
In short, owners need to try and extend eating time by finding enrichment methods which work for the individual horse to keep them chewing for longer, while also looking for ways to reduce the calorie density of their forage.
Horses are natural browsers and in the wild would spend most of their day foraging. For much of the year, on the hills and moorland of the UK, their food is of low nutrient value, so eating plenty of volume is key. But pop a horse or pony on lush grazing pastures, limit movement, provide forage and shelter with rugs or stables and many can soon become overweight.
Studies have reported a high incidence of gastric ulcers in leisure horses – many leisure horses are good doers or overweight so managing their diet carefully is essential.
Gastric Disease
The horse’s stomach can be broadly divided into two regions; the squamous or ‘non glandular’ region where food enters the stomach and the lower, glandular region where acid is produced. The term Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) includes non-glandular ulcers (which are the most common form of ulcers) and glandular ulcers.
Risk factors include:
- High starch, low forage diets
- Intensive exercise
- Stress including weaning
- Prolonged stabling and travelling
- Use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s) such as ‘bute’
What causes gastric ulcers?
Non-glandular ulcers are likely to be caused by the prolonged exposure of the lining to acid.
- Reduced forage intake – saliva provides a natural buffer to stomach acid but, unlike people, horses only produce saliva when they chew. So, long periods without forage limits the horse’s opportunity to neutralise acid.
- The fermentation of starch by bacteria in the stomach results in the production of volatile fatty acids which in conjunction with an acidic environment, increases the risk of ulcers forming.
- Exercise increases abdominal pressure and as a result, acid ‘splashes’ on to the lining of the non-glandular region. Exercise may also increase acid secretion.
The lower region of the stomach is made up of a glandular mucosa which secretes a thick mucus and bicarbonate layer which helps to protect it from acid. Glandular ulcers are thought to be the result of a breakdown in the mucosal defence system and may be less responsive to medical treatment and nutritional management.
Signs may include:
- Irritability – this may just be when grooming, tacking-up or changing rugs
- Loss of appetite
- Poor body condition
- Poor coat
- Tucked up appearance
- Teeth grinding
- Colic
- Crib-biting
- Pot-bellied appearance
- Poor performance
If a customer thinks their horse may have gastric ulcers it’s important they get a confirmed diagnosis from a vet to establish the location and severity of the ulcers, which will likely affect treatment options.
Nutritional Management
While diet is only one risk factor for gastric ulcers, it is one that owners can directly influence. Careful nutrition management is key to reducing both risk and severity. The following recommendations are generally advised for horses with both glandular and non-glandular ulcers.
Forage for Good Doers
- Forage First: The diet should be based on forage as much as possible - while being mindful of their body condition. Avoid leaving a horse without forage for more than six hours, in one study this showed to significantly increase the risk of non-glandular ulcers.
- Reduce Calories, Not Quantity: For overweight horses, focus on reducing the calorie density of the forage rather than severely restricting the amount where possible. This can be achieved by soaking hay or replacing up to 50% of the hay ration with good quality straw.
- Minimum Forage Intake: Ensure the horse receives at least 1.5% of its current bodyweight in forage (dry matter) per day. For a 500kg horse with no grazing, this means weighing out approximately 9kg of dry hay or 11-12kg of haylage.
- Soaking hay: Helps to reduce the water soluble carbohydrate or ‘sugar’ content - less sugar means fewer calories! As a guide soak for 1-3 hours in warm weather (16°C and above) and 6-12 hours in cold weather. If soaking hay, increase the amount weighed out by about 20% to account for dry matter losses during soaking.
- Extend Eating Time: To prevent long periods without forage, divide the restricted rations into as many small servings as possible. Using multiple, double-layered, small-holed haynets can extend eating time compared to using a single small-holed net. Manufactured slow feeders come in various creative designs and maybe a great option for some.
Grazing Management
For those on pasture, consider using areas of poor grass, implementing strip grazing, a track system or using a grazing muzzle to control intake.
- Strip grazing – a recent study found ponies strip grazed in a small paddock gained less weight compared to those with free access to a small paddock.
- Track systems - owners can research the wealth of ideas and information available to help restrict grass intake and promote movement in a safe and interesting environment for their individual or herd to enjoy.
- Muzzles – increasingly popular and generally well accepted, they may reduce intake by up to 80% which could allow horses to spend longer in the field and less time stabled – increasing movement, allowing steady grazing, providing enrichment, socialisation and fresh air.
Nutrition Management
- Cut Calories NOT Nutrients: While forage only diets can easily meet or exceed energy (calorie) requirements for good doers, they may fall short of key nutrients including copper, zinc, selenium, vitamin E and lysine. Balancers provide a concentrated source of vitamins, minerals and quality protein but due to their low feeding rate, add minimal calories, starch and sugar to the diet.
- Low-Starch Energy: If additional calories are required, opt for high fibre feeds, low in starch and sugar.
- Control Carbohydrates: Aim to feed less than 1 gram of non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) or ‘starch and sugar’ per kilogram of body weight per meal, with a total daily intake of less than 2 grams of NSC per kilogram of body weight. For a 500kg horse, this means under 500g of NSC per meal and less than 1kg daily.
- Meal Management: Keep meals small, not exceeding 2kg of dry weight for a horse, less for a pony. Adding short-chopped fibre, especially alfalfa, to each meal can help buffer stomach acid due to its high protein and calcium content. Providing a small amount of chopped fibre before exercise can also reduce "gastric splashing."
- Lifestyle: Maximize turnout time, but avoid free access to lush pasture, horses at pasture tend to have a lower incidence of ulcers. Always provide access to forage during travel.
- Hydration: Ensure fresh water is always available. Avoid using concentrated electrolyte pastes, which may increase ulcer number and severity.
More on Straw
Straw provides a great source of fibre - it takes longer to chew and is lower in calories than hay making it a super replacement for up to half of the forage ration. In a recent study, there was no increased association between gastric ulcers and feeding straw as 50% of the forage ration.
Straw should be introduced slowly to allow horses to adapt the way they chew and digest the different fibre source. Straw shouldn't be used for horses with poor dental health or those prone to impaction colic.
Balanced diets
Providing a balanced diet is essential, especially for those who are on a calorie-controlled diet which tend to provide fewer vitamins and minerals versus a horse on free grazing and ad lib forage. Most good doers will do well on a balancer and a double handful of chaff alongside their restricted forage diet. Many balancers also include added functional ingredients – ideally recommend a balancer which contains gastric as well as digestive support for those prone to gastric ulcers.
Supplements
For those not feeding any gastric support in the bucket feed adding a gastric supplement may be a useful addition. Recommend gastric supplements which include the following ingredients:
✔️ Marine calcium to help maintain a healthy stomach pH
✔️ Lecithin and apple pectin to support the mucosal lining
✔️ Threonine - a major component of the mucus lining the digestive tract
✔️ Liquorice root or fenugreek traditionally used to support stomach health
The BETA® EGUS approval mark
For added reassurance, suggest feeds carrying the BETA® EGUS approval mark. Feeds must pass a rigorous three-stage approval process including independent laboratory analysis as well as review of the claims and packaging to ensure their suitability for horses and ponies prone to gastric ulcers when fed as part of a balanced diet.
Supplements are not covered under the BETA® EGUS scheme, but we always suggest recommending supplements which are BETA® NOPS approved.
