Gastric ulcers occur in up to 90 percent of performance horses for a number of reasons. The leading causes are the stomach’s exposure to excessive acid levels, a reduction in the natural protection of the stomach’s lining, or both. Most equine ulcers occur in the upper portion of the stomach near the esophagus, where feed enters the stomach. Under normal circumstances, these cells in the stomach are protected from excess acid by the production of the horse’s saliva.
Jack Grogan
