Should My Horse Exercise on an Empty Stomach?

Riding before your horse gets fed could put him at risk for gastric ulcers. Find out why.
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should my horse exercise on an empty stomach
The best thing you can do when your horse hasn’t eaten for several hours before a ride is to feed something beforehand. This might just mean allowing your horse to munch on hay in a net while you’re grooming or feeding a pound or so of hay pellets. | Photo: iStock

Q.I board my horse and ride in the morning and sometimes late afternoon, often before he gets fed. I am worried about the potential gastric ulcer risk of riding him on an empty stomach. Is there anything I can do to combat this?

—Via e-mail

A.You’re right to be concerned. Although historically it wasn’t the case, veterinarians now generally understand that horses should have some amount of food in their stomach, ideally, at all times

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Clair Thunes, PhD, is an equine nutritionist who owns Clarity Equine Nutrition, based in Gilbert, Arizona. She works as a consultant with owners/trainers and veterinarians across the United States and globally to take the guesswork out of feeding horses and provides services to select companies. As a nutritionist she works with all equids, from WEG competitors to Miniature donkeys and everything in between. Born in England, she earned her undergraduate degree at Edinburgh University, in Scotland, and her master’s and doctorate in nutrition at the University of California, Davis. Growing up, she competed in a wide array of disciplines and was an active member of the U.K. Pony Club. Today, she serves as the district commissioner for the Salt River Pony Club.

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