Prevalence of gastric ulcer syndrome in horses with different exercise intensity
Authors: O. Stefanyk, L. Slivinska
Journal: Scientific Messenger of LNU of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnologies
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Exercise Intensity and Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome Gastric ulceration remains a significant welfare concern in working horses, yet the precise relationship between training demands and lesion development warrants closer examination. Stefanyk and Slivinska performed gastroscopic evaluation of 28 riding horses (15 Thoroughbreds and 13 Ukrainian riding horses) across two training phases using the Equine Gastric Ulcer Council grading system, comparing prevalence and severity during periods of mild versus intermediate-intensity exercise. During mild training, EGUS prevalence reached 35.7%, with most lesions graded as 2 (21.4% of horses); this increased significantly to 46.4% prevalence during intermediate training, with a notable shift towards grade 2 (28.5%) and emergence of grade 4 lesions (3.5% of affected horses). Squamous mucosal ulceration predominated in both periods (35.7–50%), substantially outweighing glandular involvement (7.1–10.7%). These findings establish a clear dose-response relationship between training intensity and ulcer prevalence and severity, suggesting that practitioners should implement strategic rest periods, adjust feeding protocols (particularly timing relative to exercise), and consider prophylactic management during intensified training schedules to mitigate gastric mucosal damage.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Horses undergoing intermediate training have nearly 1.5× higher ulcer prevalence than those in mild training—monitor training load progression carefully
- •Squamous lesions are the primary concern in working horses; glandular ulcers are less common but warrant attention when present
- •Consider gastroscopic screening for ridden horses showing signs of training stress, as ulcers develop progressively with workload escalation
Key Findings
- •EGUS prevalence increased from 35.7% during mild training to 46.4% during intermediate training intensity
- •Squamous mucosal ulceration (35.7-50%) occurred significantly more frequently than glandular ulceration (7.1-10.7%)
- •Severity of mucosal defects escalated with training intensity, with grade 2-3 lesions predominating in both training periods
- •Association confirmed between increased training intensity and both prevalence and severity of gastric ulceration across two horse breeds