Grumpy mare & gastric ulcers

[Joeyjojo]

Hi everyone,

Another thread last week has got me thinking my mare might have ulcers. I've only had her 3 months and in that time she appears to have got grumpier. She is very protective of her food and lunges/kicks out at the wall of the horse next to her as she is in an open barn style stable. She can also be very grumpy with the people who handle her (she is on full livery) all this seems to have become worse over the last few weeks and could be signs of ulcers.

I've enquired about cost of scoping, which at my vets is £250 + call out so not exactly cheap (the perils of living near London). Anyway I'm happy to get it done, but am only hesitating because I'm not sure her symptoms are actually ulcers.

Thing is, she's pretty much always lovely with me. Can go in her stable, groom when feeding etc and not have issues. Certainly she is a different horse if my friend comes over, pulling faces etc (my horse pulling faces, not my friend!) The only other sign of ulcers is the fact that she is still pretty skinny, has been on calm and condition for a month now and has put on a bit of weight but not loads, but she certainly has a good appitite!

I think she is just protective over her food and a very dominant mare who will show you who's boss if she thinks she's in charge. She has also been much calmer at feeding time since putting up boards between the stables so she is more enclosed.

But then it has got worse, so could be both, you can probably tell I am undecided! Anyway, much rambling later I get to the point. Is there anything I can try to feed her to see if it makes a difference to give me an idea if scoping is the way forwards? I'm thinking aloe vera juice, natural yoghurt etc? Any ideas are appreciated

 

[the watcher]

What you are describing wouldn't automatically shout ulcers at me. I have a mare who is an angel in nearly every respect but she absolutely hates being overlooked in a stable and I have had to rebuild two stables where she has kicked walls and partitions down over the years. I learned with her to give her complete privacy.

In her case this wasn't necessarily connected to food but being protective of food is not an unusual behaviour.

Can i suggest you put up boards so she isn't overlooked (or move her to a more private stable) and see it that makes a difference.

 

[Joeyjojo]

Boards have been put up and fingers crossed she seems better, she still kicked out a bit though

 

[Daytona]

My mare was exactly like this we thought ulcers too, got her done by a specialist at cost of over £600 and although there was signs of low grade ulcers nothing that was really bothering about he said. It did not explain her behaviour , so while she was there we also had overies scanned to and these were normal - you could put her on regimate to rule out hormones. I never got to the bottom of her behaviour and in the end I have retired her at the age of 12 and she gone to be brood mare and has come into her own. She never seemed to settle into a yard environment , always seemed on edge. She is much happier now. I would maybe try regimate first as it's cheaper option and you can rule it out if no improvement , btw you should see results very quickly if it is the problem. Also you could try her on gastro guard again if you see improvement then get her scoped.