Feed for Horses with Gastric Ulcers – How to Choose the Best Nutrition for a Horse with Ulcers? | Equibiotic.com

Proper feed for horses with gastric ulcers is not an add-on—it is the foundation of effective support for your horse’s health.
Gastric ulcers are among the most commonly diagnosed conditions in sport, leisure, and even breeding horses. Their treatment requires not only veterinary care, but also a carefully selected diet that supports regeneration of the gastric mucosa and reduces the risk of recurrence.

Choosing the right feed for a horse with ulcers, as well as supplements that support the digestive system, is of key importance—daily nutrition directly affects gastric acidity levels, digestive comfort, and the horse’s overall condition.

It is worth choosing feeds and additives that:

• are safe for a sensitive digestive system,
• contain no grains or artificial additives,
• support the stomach’s natural protective mechanisms.

Which feeds truly help horses with ulcers? Which ingredients should be avoided? And why does diet play such a crucial role in the fight against ulcers? In this article, we answer the most common questions asked by horse owners and explain how to choose feed that genuinely supports the health of a horse with gastric ulcers.

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Why does feed matter in horses with ulcers?

The diet of a horse with gastric ulcers is one of the most important elements of prevention and therapeutic support. Proper feed can significantly reduce gastric acidity, alleviate symptoms, and improve the horse’s quality of life.

How does diet affect gastric acidity in horses?

A horse’s stomach produces gastric acid continuously—24 hours a day, regardless of whether the horse is eating or not. Under natural conditions, horses consume forage almost constantly, which stimulates saliva production.

Saliva plays a crucial role—its function is to neutralize gastric acid. When a horse has long breaks between meals or receives feed low in fiber, saliva production decreases and acid levels rise, increasing the risk of ulcer formation.

Why is fiber so important in a horse’s diet?

Fiber-rich feeds such as hay, chopped forage, or beet pulp require prolonged chewing—and chewing is what stimulates saliva secretion. In addition, fiber forms a natural protective layer in the stomach, limiting direct contact between acid and the stomach lining.

Check out our fiber-rich feed – Lambey Vita Fiber

Starch and sugars – what should be avoided in feeding ulcer-prone horses?

Feeds high in starch (e.g., grains) and simple sugars cause sudden spikes in acid production and may worsen ulcer symptoms. Therefore, in the diet of a horse with ulcers, you should:

• limit or eliminate grains, molasses, and high-energy grain-based feeds,
• choose low-starch, high-fiber feeds,
• ensure regular access to good-quality hay.

What should be avoided in feeding a horse with gastric ulcers?

If you want to effectively support a horse with gastric ulcers, you must know which dietary components and feeding practices to avoid. Some ingredients and mistakes can worsen symptoms and hinder treatment.

1. Grains – a source of starch

Oats, barley, corn, and wheat are grains rich in starch, which ferments in the digestive tract and increases gastric acid production. In ulcer-prone horses, this can intensify symptoms. Therefore, it is advisable to limit—and ideally completely eliminate—grains and replace them with low-starch, high-fiber feeds.

2. Large meals given infrequently

Feeding large portions at long intervals is a common mistake. A horse’s stomach produces acid continuously, so regular feed intake helps neutralize it. Large meals eaten at once and long feeding breaks promote ulcer development. A better solution is to provide smaller portions more frequently throughout the day.

3. Long breaks in access to feed

Horses are adapted to continuous intake of forage. Long breaks, especially those exceeding 4–5 hours, lead to excessive acid production and aggravate ulcer problems. Constant access to good-quality hay or chopped forage—preferably in small-hole hay nets—is the basis of the daily diet for a horse with ulcers.

The ideal feed for a sport horse with ulcers – check out Lambey Regul Digest

What ingredients should a good feed for a horse with ulcers contain?

Not every feed is suitable for a horse with gastric ulcers. To support mucosal regeneration and alleviate symptoms, it is worth choosing products with carefully selected compositions that not only provide energy, but above all support digestive health.

Fiber is a key element of the diet of a horse with ulcers. It promotes prolonged chewing and, consequently, saliva production, which naturally neutralizes gastric acid. Good sources of fiber include:

• high-quality hay,
• chopped forage without added molasses,
• beet pulp (unsweetened).

Fiber-rich feeds also help create a natural protective layer on the stomach walls.

Low starch and sugar content

In the diet of a horse with ulcers, grains and high-energy, starch-based feeds should be avoided. Choose low-starch and low-sugar feeds—they reduce the risk of gastric irritation and help maintain stable conditions inside the stomach.

Some natural ingredients can further support digestive health in horses with ulcers, such as:

• linseed (a source of plant mucilage that forms a protective layer in the stomach),
• herbs with soothing and protective effects (e.g., marshmallow root, ribwort plantain, licorice),
• vegetable oils (as an energy alternative to grains and a source of fatty acids).

Supplements are also worth remembering

As with feeds, supplements for horses with ulcers should be carefully selected—free from unnecessary fillers, sugars, molasses, and artificial additives. It is worth choosing supplements designed specifically for horses with sensitive digestive systems, which support mucosal regeneration and help mitigate the effects of excess acidity.

Discover our hypoallergenic supplements

Gastric ulcers in horses are a problem that requires a comprehensive approach—treatment, proper care, and above all appropriate nutrition. Diet plays a key role both in alleviating symptoms and in preventing recurrence of the disease. In daily care of a horse with ulcers, it is essential to focus on high-fiber, low-starch, and low-sugar feeds, and to avoid ingredients such as molasses and grains. Equally important is constant access to hay and feeding small meals frequently.

In addition to well-chosen feeds, supplements also play an important role—they should be free from unnecessary additives and tailored to the needs of horses with sensitive digestive systems. Conscious feeding, based on natural ingredients and well-thought-out formulations, is one of the best ways to support a horse’s health and comfort. If you are looking for feeds and supplements developed with ulcer-prone horses in mind, we invite you to explore our offer—we focus on quality, naturalness, and real support for your horse’s health.

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