Ulcer friendly feed

[Mambo83]

Hi my new horse was found to have grade 3 ulcers. Whilst being scoped it showed that she had scar tissue, suggesting she has had them previously. I am so confused what to feed her. I am totally clueless when it comes to feed. At present she is on happy hoof molasses free in the evening with a magnesium oxide supplement. She is a good doer and has ad lib forage 24/7.
I was putting hay on floor in piles but vet has suggested haynets and different sides of stable. Vet also advised to give her a bit of chaff before exercise, so I’ve been giving her a handful of happy hoof molasses free. And to give her rapeseed oil with her main feed. Just feel like such a novice about where I go from here with her feed?

 

[photo_jo]

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[deicinmerlyn]

Depends what type of ulcers. What you’re feeding is fine as long as it is a complete feed, ie all vits and minerals included at the recommended rate.
Feeding chaff before riding is also good advice.
Basically feed should meet nutritional needs and be low sugar and starch. If you’re not sure, it’s probably best to seek advice from an independent nutritionist.

 

[Aimzz]

It's difficult isn't it. My mare is half way through her treatment at the moment.

What treatment is your horse on? Did they explain why to go from floor feeding to haynets? I'm confused about that one.

The most important thing is to get her starch and sugar intake low. Which your chaff should be? I haven't checked the percentages, it's not one I feed, but I believe they're low. I think Happy Hoof Molasses Free also has some alfalfa in it? Which can buffer stomach acid. Unsure if it is chop or pellets though? Some people believe chop can be too stalky and therefore irritating.

My vet said a big bucket of chaff, not a handful, before exercise. And yes, adding fat (oil) can help.

You also want to keep stress to an absolute minimum. As much turnout with friends as possible. And if you can, feed little and often. I feed twice a day, but if I could, I'd do at least three.

Id suggest the feeds I'm using, but my mare needs weight, so they won't suit your good doer unfortunately!

Sounds like you are doing everything right

 

[HopefullyRiding]

If you're not requiring high calorie feed for horses in hard work I wouldn't worry too much about your base feed as long as they get plenty of adlib forage and their lifestyle is low stress.

As yours is a good doer, you might find this interesting. https://www.yourhorse.co.uk/horse-c...acen Horse Feeds,daytime rather than at night. The haynets recommended are probably to slow down eating rates to make the forage last longer

I've not found different chaff to make much difference between my two horses that have been treated for ulcers shortly after I've bought them. Dengie molasses free feeds are my go to generally and a simple balancer like Bailey's number 19. Acid ease is my go to supplement but generally only feed in winter when turnout is limited

You can tie yourself in knots looking at everything and listening to everyone!

 

[nahenm]

My horse is currently on omeprazole for ulcers and I'm also feeding the topspec ulcer kind cubes, top spec balancer and thunderbrooks healthy herbal chaff. It's very confusing but a few people recommend this to me so I decided to try it!

 

[Bobthecob15]

It’s the forage that is the most important bit, they should never be without either hay or grass. On top of that low sugar and starch, so yes the healthy herbal chaff is great but any low sugar and low starch chaff would also be fine. You hear conflicting things about alfalfa, some horses don’t agree with it. Any of the ulcer friendly feeds are worth a try, mine was on the Allen and Page soothe and gain mash or muscle and focus with thunderbrooks chaff. Also had him on the spillers ulcer cubes. Lots of people rave about ease and excel too x