Pearlsasinger
Up in the clouds
She lets me know! Tail swishing if I brush her belly or put my leg on too strongly, ears back and barring teeth in the stable, having to do her girth up very slowly, and if I don't talk to her while I do it she lets me know! Sh'e s really placid character usually, but when her stomach is sore she tells me loud and clear! I just feel bad that it still gets sore and we haven't found the magic cure.
We had a full lameness work-up with the vet a few weeks ago, and they couldn't see any other signs of pain - hocks, stifles, SI etc all ok. She had a tender back, so whether the ulcers are causing her to tense up and hold her back into spasm, or whether the sore back is causing the ulcers, I don't know. Physio/chiro booked for next week, and then we'll be scoping again I think....
Trouble is, she's not a typical ulcer horse at all! She's big and chunky and doesn't lose weight much. When I tell people that she's my ulcer horse they think I'm joking. Poor poppet!
I had a big Westphalian Draft horse obese and showed signs of ulcers when I got her with badly fitting tack and a history of sugary/starchy feed over the last 9 months. I didn't have her scoped but did rectify all the obvious contributory problems and also gave her Aloe Vera juice. I am not suggesting that AV would cure severe ulcers but it did seem to ease my mare's discomfort.