Feeding
ulcer-prone horses ● Feeding before a ride ● What to feed poor-doers
QMy vet suspects my horse has gastric ulcers and is planning on scoping him. What’s the best strategy for feeding him? Katherine Donnelly, Sheffied
AIt’s good that you’re having your horse scoped to either confirm or eliminate gastric ulcers. If he does have ulcers, it’s advisable to change his diet and management regime, as well as having veterinary treatment to reduce the risk of the ulcers reoccurring. Try the following tips: Feed as much fibre/forage as possible, at a minimum of 1.5% of bodyweight (dry matter) per day. Avoid prolonged periods without forage. Avoid straw being the predominant or sole forage source. If extra energy is needed, look for feeds that have restricted starch and sugar levels and added oil, rather than cereals. Aim to feed less than 1g per kg of bodyweight of non-structural carbohydrate (the sugar and starch content of feed) per meal and preferably less than 2g NSC/kg bodyweight per day. Spread meals across the day. Multiple small meals are better than one large one. Add chopped fibre to every meal, especially alfalfa, which has been shown to help buffer gastric acid. Avoid very stalky, sharp chopped fibre, which can increase the risk of damage to the stomach wall. Provide a small chopped, fibre-based meal or access to forage before exercise to reduce gastric acid splashing up onto the sensitive unprotected upper non-glandular part of the stomach. Turn out to pasture as much as possible and provide access to water at all times. Avoid using electrolyte pastes. Provide forage while travelling.