Presence of Gastric Ulcers in Horses Used for Historical Races in Italy.
Authors: Busechian Sara, Orvieto Simona, Nocera Irene, Rueca Fabrizio
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary Equine gastric ulcer syndrome affects horses across diverse disciplines, yet data remain limited for historical racing—a traditional Italian sport utilising Anglo-Arabians and Thoroughbreds in speed races and jousting tournaments. Busechian and colleagues conducted endoscopic examinations on 73 horses across ten training facilities competing in these events, comparing prevalence and severity of squamous (ESGD) and glandular (EGGD) gastric disease between breeds and competition types. An alarming 88% of horses presented with ESGD at grade 2 or above across all severity grades, whilst EGGD occurred in 45% of the population—rates comparable to conventional racehorse cohorts. Anglo-Arabians competing in speed races demonstrated higher disease prevalence and severity than Thoroughbreds in jousting events, likely attributable to increased racing frequency and transportation demands throughout the competitive season. These findings suggest that historical racing disciplines impose similar gastric ulceration risk as conventional racing, warranting proactive management strategies (enhanced turnout, forage provision, stress reduction) regardless of competition format, with particular attention to high-frequency competitors.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Historical racing horses have very high rates of gastric ulceration similar to conventional racetrack horses; regular gastroscopic screening and preventive management should be considered for competing animals
- •Speed racing disciplines appear to carry higher gastric ulcer risk than jousting tournaments, suggesting training intensity and competition frequency warrant targeted nutritional and management interventions
- •The dual diagnosis of both ESGD and EGGD in nearly half the population suggests comprehensive ulcer prevention protocols addressing both squamous and glandular mucosa are necessary for this athletic population
Key Findings
- •88% of historical racing horses had ESGD grade 2 or higher, with all severity degrees observed
- •45% of horses in the cohort were diagnosed with EGGD
- •ESGD and EGGD prevalence and severity in historical racing horses is similar to racetrack racehorses
- •Anglo-Arabians used for speed races show higher prevalence of both ESGD and EGGD compared to Thoroughbreds used for jousting, likely due to increased racing frequency and travel