A preliminary investigation into the association between competition and gastric ulcer formation in non-racing performance horses

Abstract

Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS), having become a more recognized disease since the availability of gastroscopy, has been the focus of numerous studies on prevalence, pathogenesis, and treatment. At a Maryland racetrack, 94% of Thoroughbreds in race training were identified as having gastric ulceration, and 100% of the subjects that had raced had lesions.1 A 58% prevalence of gastric ulceration has been demonstrated in show horses.2 Though much research effort has been placed on EGUS, particularly in the racing industry, current studies do not closely examine the association between gastric ulceration and nonracing competition through the use of precompetitive and postcompetitive gastroscopy. Equine athletic disciplines are exposed to numerous potential risk factors, including transportation, increased levels of exercise during a competition, changes in diet,3 altered feeding schedules and housing.4 An essential step in learning to control or eliminate EGUS is identifying when and why the lesions develop and progress. This paper examines the development and progression of gastric ulceration in nonracing performance horses during preparation for and competition in a single event.