Ulcers continue to be an issue for many horses. • Ad lib access to suitable forage is important, including in the paddock. If the grass is insufficient, hay will need to be put out. • If you soak hay, not for more than one hour directly before feeding, or it builds up acid. • Stress is an important contributor to ulcers. Horses need company, close physical contact, space and plenty to eat. Confinement, isolation and restricted forage all cause stress. • Lucerne buffers acid better than grass. If your horse cannot tolerate lucerne, Sainfoin Pellets or Sainfoin Brix are excellent alternatives. • Target Feeding, which is feeding directly before work, is important. A good scoop/0.5 kg or more of well-dampened Build & Shine is a good start. Feed directly after work, too. Ulcers are a major issue and your vet will help diagnose and treat, but is on-going management and feeding that will keep them at bay.
In the wild, with unrestricted access to pasture, horses would spend the summer “stocking up†by eating nutritious grass - and plenty of it - to aid them in building a thick coat and laying down excess weight...
Horses’ teeth change throughout their lives - they are continually growing and continually wearing, as they chew and grind their grazing and forage.
Grass has the potential to grow all year, which is different from many other plants. Certain things are necessary for this growth, but if they are not met, the grass will be dormant, waiting for conditions to improve.Â