| Horse lovers are definitely becoming more | | | | instance, the super-competitive Wood horse can |
| educated about horse ulcers. This growing | | | | easily develop ulcers from sheer restlessness and |
| awareness is wonderful because it means great | | | | boredom, while the laid back Earth horse may do |
| relief for horses who have suffered from ulcers, | | | | fine with confinement so long as plenty of food is |
| sometimes for years. | | | | present. Find out more about each of the |
| Because of the expanding number of horse | | | | Five-Element horse personality types at the Horse |
| owners who are aware of ulcers, I often get | | | | Harmony website and test your horse's |
| questions about how to prevent ulcers, especially | | | | personality type at no cost at the Horse |
| in specific situations. In this article I'm going to | | | | Harmony Test website. |
| answer three of the most prevalent questions. | | | | Having said that each personality type responds |
| People want to know how to prevent ulcers if | | | | differently to confinement, there are three |
| their horse is: | | | | general guidelines you can follow to prevent horse |
| - going on antibiotic therapy | | | | ulcers for any equine who has to be confined for |
| - must be confined due to an injury or illness | | | | an extended length of time: |
| - heading into training for the first time (especially | | | | - cut back on grain-type feeds - increase the |
| young horses) | | | | amount of hay you feed - feed herbal |
| These are all great questions, and each has a | | | | supplements like Relax Blend from Equilite or |
| different answer. | | | | Omega Sun blue-green algae from Simplexity |
| #1: How to Prevent Horse Ulcers during Antibiotic | | | | Cutting back on your horse's grain-type feeds will |
| Therapy | | | | ensure that he isn't bursting with excess energy |
| As much as I try to avoid it, sometimes antibiotic | | | | that he has no way to release. The extra hay will |
| therapy is necessary, especially with acute | | | | provide hours of entertainment since horses were |
| conditions or serious injuries. As you probably | | | | meant to eat all day long. In addition, the hay also |
| already know, antibiotics kill off the "friendly | | | | forms a fibrous mat in the upper part of your |
| bacteria," or probiotics, that live in your horse's | | | | horse's stomach, which acts as a buffer against |
| gut. These friendly bacteria are an important part | | | | the acid produced in the lower stomach. If this |
| of your horse's digestion, and form a first line of | | | | buffer is not present because your horse isn't |
| defense against foreign invaders that cause illness. | | | | getting enough hay, he could develop stomach |
| Acidophilus is the probiotic that lives in your | | | | ulcers if the acid from the lower stomach |
| horse's small intestine while bifidus lives in the large | | | | contacts the upper stomach. |
| intestine. | | | | Finally, the Relax Blend from Equilite or the Omega |
| A healthy population of these bacteria keeps your | | | | Sun blue-green algae from Simplexity will keep |
| horse's food in his gut, preventing food from | | | | your horse in a relaxed and calm state. When |
| leaking into the bloodstream, which can ultimately | | | | your horse is relaxed he is operating from his |
| cause allergies, food sensitivities, and a host of | | | | parasympathetic nervous system, which is the |
| other chronic conditions. As you can see, antibiotic | | | | nervous system associated with relaxation, |
| therapy can seriously affect a horse's health and | | | | rejuvenation, and healing. |
| the functioning of his digestion. All of this can | | | | #3: How to Prevent Horse Ulcers if Your Horse is |
| ultimately lead to horse ulcers. | | | | Going into Training |
| The educated horse owner, knowing all this, then | | | | Many horses going into a training program for the |
| asks the following:a. Do you feed digestive | | | | first time will develop stomach ulcers because |
| support products like probiotics during antibiotic | | | | they are under stress. If this is the case for your |
| therapy, or after the course of antibiotics is | | | | equine friend, the best way to prevent horse |
| complete?b. Do you feed prebiotics, probiotics, or | | | | ulcers is to keep him relaxed and to provide |
| both to prevent horse ulcers? (Prebiotics are | | | | plenty of probiotic support. |
| substances that serve as "food" for the probiotics | | | | For calm horses, daily doses of Fastrack should |
| in your horse's gut)c. Which brands of prebiotics | | | | provide enough probiotic support to prevent |
| or probiotics are best? | | | | ulcers. For horses with a more intense or nervous |
| These are all good questions about preventing | | | | personality, the Simplexity Essentials would be |
| horse ulcers, and the answers are simple.a. It | | | | more suitable. The Essentials are more |
| never hurts to feed prebiotics and probiotics | | | | nutrient-dense, and provide more probiotics per |
| during the course of antibiotics. Feeding probiotics | | | | serving than Fastrack. It's important to provide |
| after your horse completes the course of | | | | probiotic support because probiotics are the |
| antibiotics is a must.b. To replenish your horse's | | | | bacteria that produce B-vitamins in your horse's |
| population of probiotics and prevent horse ulcers, | | | | body. B-vitamins are known to have a calming |
| I prefer products that include both prebiotics and | | | | effect, which both reduces your horse's stress |
| probiotics.c. Fastrack is one popular brand that | | | | level and helps prevent horse ulcers. |
| includes both prebiotics and probiotics, with the | | | | Finally, if you think your horse is going to be really |
| paste form being more powerful than the | | | | stressed by his training program, consider adding |
| powdered form. If your horse has only been on a | | | | two capsules of Eleviv to his daily regimen. Eleviv |
| short course of antibiotics (one week or less), | | | | is an herbal product that helps keep horses |
| Fastrack may be strong enough to replenish your | | | | functioning from the parasympathetic, or calm, |
| horse's gut with probiotics. If you horse has been | | | | nervous system. Eleviv can have a dramatic |
| on antibiotics for longer or has had digestive | | | | effect on certain horses for whom probiotic |
| issues in the past, the Simplexity Essentials are a | | | | support is not enough. |
| better choice. The Essentials are daily packs of | | | | Horse Ulcers: Not the Same in Every Situation |
| supplements that include not only acidophilus, | | | | As this article amply demonstrates, horses can be |
| bifidus, and enzymes, but also two forms of | | | | stressed by any number of life situations. Horse |
| blue-green algae. This special kind of blue-green | | | | ulcers are often the result of that stress. I hope |
| algae acts powerfully to heal any ulcers that may | | | | this article helps you navigate these stressful |
| be forming. | | | | situations more easily, and prevent horse ulcers in |
| #2: How to Prevent Horse Ulcers if Your Horse | | | | the process. There is so much more that could be |
| Must be Confined | | | | discussed about horse ulcers, their prevention, and |
| Depending on your horse's personality type, | | | | their treatment, so I'm sure I'll be writing more |
| confinement can either be restful or stressful. For | | | | about them in the future. |