Understanding Gastric Ulcers in Horses — Who’s Most at Risk and How to Help

A horse’s stomach is small, delicate, and constantly producing acid. In the wild, horses graze throughout the day, keeping their stomachs buffered with forage. But in modern Indian stables — where feeding schedules, travel, training intensity, and climate vary — that natural rhythm is disrupted. The result? Gastric ulcers have quietly become one of the most common issues affecting performance, appetite, and behavior across all equestrian disciplines.

Why Horses Develop Ulcers

When a horse’s stomach remains empty for too long, acid splashes against the unprotected upper portion of the stomach lining. Over time, this leads to irritation, discomfort, and ulceration — what we commonly refer to as Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS).

Intense exercise, irregular feeding, dehydration, and long intervals without forage increase the risk. In India, where temperature and humidity fluctuate and many performance horses are stabled indoors, the combination of stress, limited turnout, and concentrated feeding further amplifies this risk.

Which Horses Are More Prone

While any horse can develop gastric ulcers, certain groups are particularly vulnerable:

• Racehorses and Polo Ponies: High-intensity work, travel, and controlled diets raise acid production while reducing natural chewing time.
• Showjumpers and Dressage Horses: Long training sessions and competition stress can lead to mild, recurring ulcers that affect performance and temperament.
• Endurance and Eventing Horses: Extended exercise periods, long travel, and fluctuating hydration often lead to stomach irritation.
• Stabled or Stall-Fed Horses: Horses with limited access to pasture or constant hay face longer fasting intervals between meals.

Even calm horses can develop ulcers if their management doesn’t support continuous forage intake or if they experience prolonged stress.

Spotting the Subtle Signs

Gastric discomfort doesn’t always show up as dramatic pain. Common indicators include:

• Reduced appetite or reluctance to finish feed
• Mild weight loss or dull coat
• Sensitivity when girthing or tightening tack
• Restlessness or anxious behavior
• Dips in performance or inconsistent energy

If you notice any of these, it’s best to act early with both dietary adjustments and gastric support.

Protecting the Stomach — Nutrition’s Role

Constant access to forage is the best natural defense against ulcers. Feeding smaller, more frequent meals, ensuring clean water is always available, and limiting long fasts are simple but powerful preventive steps.

For horses already prone to acidity or showing signs of digestive stress, adding a gastric-support formulation can make a visible difference.

Supplements like TRM GNF (Gastric Nutrition Formula) is designed to maintain a healthy stomach lining and buffer excess acid naturally.
These advanced formulations combine antacids, prebiotics, and specific amino acids to promote tissue repair, maintain pH balance, and enhance feed utilization — ideal for Indian equestrian conditions where heat, travel, and irregular feeding patterns can increase acid load.

Regular use helps keep performance horses eating well, maintaining weight, and staying more relaxed under saddle — especially during competition season or heavy work phases.

The Takeaway

Gastric ulcers are not just a “racehorse problem” — they affect all types of horses when management, feeding, and stress aren’t in sync. The best prevention comes from consistency: balanced nutrition, continuous forage, regular turnout, and smart supplementation.

At Rising Equine, we work with equestrians across India to design nutrition plans that support gut health and long-term performance. Our programs often integrate trusted solutions like TRM GNF, proven globally to maintain gastric balance and keep horses feeling their best — inside and out.