Gastric ulcers can affect horses of all ages and breeds and often result in economic losses due to the cost of treatment and loss of training and competition time. 60 to 90 percent of performance horses suffer from gastric ulcers due to the stressful nature of their training and competition schedules. Clinical signs of gastric ulcers can include weight loss, inappetence, dull coat, or behavior problems both on the ground and under saddle. Understanding how to identify potential signs of gastric ulcers is crucial to reducing your horse’s discomfort. If you suspect your horse has gastric ulcers, work closely with your veterinarian so they make an accurate diagnosis and develop an effective treatment plan. 

July is Equine Gastric Health Awareness Month on The Horse, where we’ve partnered with SmartPak to help educate owners about equine gastric health. Look for equine gastric health-related content all month on TheHorse.com, our Facebook page and Twitter feed, and in our e-newsletters.