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Ulcers, Stomach and Hind Gut
Cynthia Collins and Larisa
I want to start this page by stating that I am NOT a Veterinarian. Also, I do not sell any of the products mentioned on this page, however, I have used them and worked with the companies. I am a rider who has experience with a horses that have had stomach and hind gut ulcers, hock, and TMJ problems. I have lived with my ulcer horse everyday for 10 years. I have been all over the country and seen many horses that also show signs that they might have ulcers, sore hocks and TMJ's. I decided to add this page to my web site to help inform the many riders who have experienced many of the same issues that I have had. I am merely sharing my experiences and knowledge, so that it might help any horse and rider that might be having problems. There is a lot of information on this and the joint page. Please feel free to visit it more than once or print it out so you can refer to it often. It is your decision if you follow any treatments on this web site. If you have any concerns, you should consult your veterinarian.
Sometimes people think their horse is having training difficulties, when if fact, the horse is in pain. I have found time and time again, if your horse cannot or will not do something that you think they should be able to do, PUT DOWN THE WHIP, GET OFF, AND START LOOKING FOR A PAIN ISSUE. It may not be easy to find and you need a good vet to help, but I assure you, once you find it, the horse will work willingly. It could be sore hocks, stifles, hooves, backs, ovulation in mares, TMJ, or stomach or hind gut ulcers. There are very few horses that are bad tempered. They usually want to please. Some horses have been in pain for so many years, they have lost all the joy that was once in their souls. Most of the time, the horse is as frustrated as the rider.
Does your horse spook, bolt, rear, buck, or kick while riding? Is your horse “girthy”? Is your horse nervous or does it worry? Do you ride a mare, stallion, or sensitive gelding? Do you believe your horse is not happy? Does your horse always seem to be crooked to the right? Does it not want to pick up the right canter lead or do flying changes in that direction? Does your horse have a hard time holding weight? Is it a picky eater? Does it have a dull coat? Has your horse just experienced a recent trauma in their life? Have they been recently imported, moved to a new barn, or their buddy has left? Has your horse's behavior gotten worse as your training proceeds where as it should be getting better? Does your horse colic when the weather changes, either hot, cold, or both? If you answered “yes” to even one of these questions, your horse could have ulcers. Even if you answered “no”, your horse still could have stomach and/or hind gut ulcers. The only sure thing about ulcer symptoms is that all horses react differently to stomach ulcers.
MY STORY
I own a very talented mare. She’s an excellent mover and loves to work, but, being a mare, she worries. I trained my last mare to Grand Prix with the help of Hilda Gurney. I have started many babies, so I felt that I knew what I was doing. Unfortunately, the farther we got into our training, the more spooking was occurring. She is extremely athletic, and most of the behavior was blamed on her hotness.
A friend of mine had told me that her gelding was very similar to my mare in personality and she had treated her horse for ulcers. I began researching on the internet. I found out that horses had been treated successfully with the use of over the counter human treatments. I consulted two of my veterinarians for their opinions. Since they both knew her, they both thought ulcers were a high possibility. We discussed have her scoped, but both vets said that I should try a test treatment. We decided to treat her with 1 cup of Calcium carbonate (Mylanta) 3 -5 times a day for a week. It couldn’t hurt my horse to try it. If I didn’t see any changes in a few weeks, I could take her off the medicine.
After a few days, I saw a major change in my horse’s behavior. She was more relaxed and less spooky.Since then, I have tried several different treatments. Below is what I have found works best for my horse. For years, I have had trouble putting weight on this mare and now she has good weight. Her coat is glossy and she is moving better than she ever has moved. She continues to gain confidence in both me and herself. I was amazed at the difference in her behavior.
My Treatment and Feeding Program
Many have asked what I feed my horses. Below is what food I give and why I feed it to them. You can use whichever you feel might help your horse. *These are what are the most important to give your horse.
Home:
Medication: AM 1/4, 1/2, or full dose of generic Omeprazole
Feed: 1/2 cup Soy Bean meal or sprouted soy beans (high protein low sugar), 1 cup Rice Bran (Omega 3's), 1/2 cup *flax seed that's been ground in coffee grinder (Omega 3's), 1/2 cup freeze dried *cabbage (L-Glutamine to heal the stomach), 1/4 cup *Oat Flour/Fiber (heals hind gut), 1 cup *Aloe Vera (heals digestive system), (or replace last 3 items with 2 Tum Ease cookies), 2 capsules of *Hyaluronic Acid (100 mg), 1 teaspoon *MSM, 1/4 Avocado, 1 tablespoon pumpkin seed powder or 1/2 cup soaked and chopped *pumpkin seeds (nitric oxide for healing everything) (see joint page about the last 4 things), 2 oz. *Fast Track (Probiotics which aids digestion), 1 tablespoon Brewer's Yeast (aid digestion and high in B Vitamins), added to 2 cups of hay pellets (Alfalfa/Timothy), water to mix everything together, Grass hay (fed free choice). I do not feed any grains (oats, corn, barley, etc.), synthetic vitamins (most are), or processed/concentrated feeds. For a whole foods multi-vitamin, you can use Optimum EQ from TheraCell EQ. Because it is all natural, your horses body can digest it.
(You can give this either AM or PM.)
Before ride: 4 cups alfalfa/grass pellets and 20 - 100 cc of Mylanta squirted into mouth with syringe.
PM 1 cup Soy Bean Meal or sprouted seeds, 1/2 cup of Flax seed (ground), 1/4 cup *Oat Flour/Fiber, 1/2 cup *Aloe Vera, 1/2 cup freeze dried *cabbage, 1 teaspoon *MSM, 2 capsules *Hyaluronic Acid (100 mg), 1/2 cup soaked and chopped *pumpkin seeds, 2 cups of hay pellets (Alfalfa/Timothy), Grass hay (free choice).
Shows: The only difference is I increase to a full dose of 2.8 g of Omeprazole at least four days before any show or traveling and continue this through the entire show. I make sure her stomach is full before riding. Then, I also give her 20 -100 cc of Mylanta right before mounting and before entering the arena. If she is nervous at home, I might may use a drop of Lavender on her nose. However, this is illegal at USEF shows.
You must start the administration of the Omeprazole four days prior to and continue this through out the show. You can help your horse with the use of an antacid such as Mylanta or Tums and keeping the stomach as full as possible with wet hay pellets. You should administer the antacid before hauling, after arrival, before riding, and when you bed the horse down for the night. You may find it necessary to administer the antacid at other times too. This treatment can be used for any show, trail ride, or training session that could cause your horse stress. This will help to absorb the extra acid your horse is producing during these stressful times.
TEST YOUR HORSE
If you want to see if your horse has stomach problems, you can give it 100 cc to 1/4 cup of Calcium Carbonate several times per day for 3 - 5 days. If you see any type of changes, you need to treat your horse. It may or may not have ulcers, but a change means there are stomach problems.
Stomach Ulcer Research
(Please see Hind Gut section also)
According to the latest veterinarian studies, “Almost 60% of performance horses have ulcers. Up to 57% of foals have stomach ulcers, particularly during the first several months of life. Most of these horses and foals show no signs of illness.” (See www.horseadvice.com; “Gastric Ulcers in Horses,” by Robert N. Oglesby, DVM.) (“USDF Connections, Oct. 2003.)
"New research shows that stomach ulcers can occur within five days in horses exposed to recreational show conditions and activities. The study, reported in the September 1, 2005 issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) , indicated that seven out of 10 horses developed ulcers when exposed to normal situations related to weekend show travel. These included transportation, twice daily feeding, light exercise and stall confinement. Researchers and veterinarians have historically associated stomach ulcers with high-performance or racehorses. This new study shows just how easily horses can develop stomach ulcers in association with less-strenuous, recreational activities such as weekend horseshows or events. “The research demonstrated that conditions representing typical activities of the recreationally used horse are associated with an increased incidence of gastric ulcers within a short time period,” said Dr. Scott McClure, DVM, PhD, author of the study. “The findings reported should increase awareness that gastric ulcers affect a greater population of horses than previously thought.” The study included a total of 20 horses determined to be ulcer-free. Ten of the horses were exposed to conditions over the next five days that simulated a weekend horse show. This included four hours of transport to a secondary facility, three days of light training (thirty minutes of lunging twice per day), twice daily feeding, stall confinement and a four-hour trip back to the home facility. The other ten horses remained together in a paddock at the home location as a control group. All 20 horses underwent a second endoscopy on day five. Results showed that seven out of ten horses transported off-site had developed stomach ulcers within only five days. Furthermore, two of the control horses developed ulcers, possibly due to the change in herd dynamics after the first group was transported away. The research highlights just how easily horses can get stomach ulcers and the opportunity for proactive prevention. Ulcers can be prevented with a maintenance dose of Omeprazole.
Three ways to reduce stomach ulcers
It is important to understand that these horses are producing excess stomach acid and you MUST CONTROL THE AMOUNT OF ACID in the stomach in order TO CONTROL THE DAMAGE TO THE STOMACH. Ulcers are a result of damage done to the upper lining in the stomach by acid. Omeprazole and the use of Calcium Carbonate will help you control it. There are times you may need to use more, less, or none. Only by observing your horse and it's behavior will YOU be able to make these decisions. Your horse is basically a living science experiment that you will need to monitor on a daily basis. Please keep in mind, the medications do not heal the stomach. L-Glutamine in cabbage and nitric oxide in pumpkin seeds along with the Aloe Vera will heal the stomach. It's important to use the medication and the feeds to heal the stomach as soon as possible.
1. Reduce the amount of acid in the stomach
The first part is to lessen the production of stomach acid over the day. This is achieved by the use of one of three products Cimetidine (generic Tagamet) or Ranitidine (generic Zantac) which are both effective for 8 hours, or Omeprazole (generic Prilosec) which is effective for 24 hours. Because of this, all products that reduce acid production are legal at USEF and FEI shows. "Since 2000, three drugs to treat and prevent gastric ulcers may be given (in FEI competitions). The FEI conducted a detailed evaluation to ascertain whether the permitted medications had any secondary performance enhancing properties and concluded that they did not (other than relieving any distress caused to the horse by the ulcers themselves), and so, subject to annual review, the histamine type-2 receptor antagonists Cimetidine and Ranitidine, and the proton pump inhibitor Omeprazole are now permitted when horses compete under FEI rules." (US Equestrian Magazine; Feb. 2004, pg.59.)
Omeprazole has been proven as the most effective of the three in horses. Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor which means it "restricts the production of stomach acid, thereby protecting the lining of the stomach from acid exposure." (USDF Connection; Oct. 2003, pg. 27.) One reason this is the most effective means of treated ulcers is because it is effective for 24 hours. Because it works for a long period of time, the stomach can have enough time to heal itself. These medications need to be given for 21 to 60 days to ensure adequate healing of the ulcer. However, the reoccurrence of ulcers is high, so a 1/4 maintenance dose may be necessary.
Buying Omeprazole
There are several ways of getting Omeprazole. I will start with the most expensive down to the cheapest. I will also explain the way it comes to use.
You can buy GastroGard from your vet or Ulcer Gard. This is the same company and the same dosage in a tube. It's just packaged and marketed differently. This is, however, the most expensive way at about $38 full dose. It contains 2.8 g of Omeprazole in each tube. This comes in a tube of paste, so you can just squirt it into the mouth of the horse. You need to get a prescription for GastroGard, but do not need one for Ulcer Gard. Maintenance is 1/4 tube per day.
I have found two great sources of generic of Omeprazole. It is very effective. I have found NO difference by using any of these product.
This is the only source that you don't need a prescription from your vet, so this may be easiest for you. You can order 700 mg tablets from ponymeds.com You only need to give 4 pills per day for a full dose. I have had no problem with my horse eating them after I soak them in a bit of water, then mix with her feeds. (Do not worry about the protective coating. That is meant for people, the horses don't need it.) Maintenance is 1 caplet per day. This a very reasonable price for the medication.
The final way to get Omeprazole is in a powder. This comes with a 1.4 g scoop, so it would take two scoops for a full dose. It can be added to the grain and is apple flavored. This also a very good price if you can get your vet to call them. However, your vet may order it him/herself and add their cost to it. You do need a prescription. Your vet can order this at Precision Pharmacy (877) 734-3338 or Fax at (661) 377-3334 or www.myprecisionpharmacy.com Maintenance would be 1/2 scoop per day. This has been a great product for me. It has made a huge difference in her as I have also been able to build her confidence since her stomach no longer hurts. I HIGHLY recommend it if you can get a vet, any vet to call in the prescription. If not, use pony meds.
Precision also has a generic paste. However, you MUST have YOUR VET order this or YOU NEED the vet to write you a prescription or call them. The cost for a tube of 2.2 g of Omeprazole paste for your vet is 1/3 the cost of Gastro Gard or Ulcer Gard with a prescription. Maintenance dose is 1/4 of a tube per day. It is slightly less Omeprazole than GastroGard, but my mare works just as well on this as the GastroGard. This is great for horses who don't always eat well.
***It is important to understand the dosage of Omeprazole. Each horse produces different amounts of stomach acid depending on the situation. It may take time before you decide which amount is best for your horse. Omeprazole shuts down some of the pumps in the stomach. The number of pumps shut down depend on the dosage. The higher the dose, the greater number of pumps shut down. I do recommend full dosage for at least two to four weeks to start with. Then you can try 1/2 dose for the next two weeks. Finally, try a 1/4 dose. As long as the horse is doing well, you can try to take them off the Omeprazole altogether. If, however, your horse experiences stress during that time or starts having any problems again, you will need to return to a full dose, so that you protect the stomach from making new ulcers. After the stress has passed, you can try to return to maintenance doses for a few weeks. Your horse may be able to be Omeprazole free once the ulcers have healed and there is no stress. But remember, stress can come in many different forms, including changes at your barn. Also, if you are going to take your horse "off" the property for training or showing, it is recommended you use full doses starting 4 days prior and during the "off" property experience. This is really the best way to keep the horse's ulcers from re-occurring. You will need to try different doses and watch your horse to see how it is. I have decided, for the time being, that my horse needs full doses all the time. I am hoping that I can reduce the medication eventually.
*There has been some discussion about the prolonged use of Omeprazole lowering the absorption of calcium. This can be easily remedied by adding a small amount of Alfalfa hay or pellets to the diet. This hay is extremely high in calcium, so if you are concerned, this should help.
2. Absorb excess acid
The second part is to absorb excess acid and coat the upper 1/3 of the stomach. This is done by using Tums, Maalox, Mylanta, U-Gard, or Neigh-Lox. These all do the same job, absorb stomach acid, so you my substitute one for the other without any problems. Although they work almost immediately, they only work for about 30 - 45 minutes. So using them alone will not give the horse's stomach enough time to heal itself. But they are very effective in reducing stomach pain quickly. Since these products work almost instantly, the horses do make a connection that the stuff you are putting in their mouth helps their stomach stop hurting. This usually causes the horse to relax very quickly.
It's also important to know that these products themselves will not make the horse to relax. The horse is tense because it's stomach hurts. "Exercising, particularly at the trot and canter, exposes the unprotected part of the stomach to hydrochloric acid. Ulcers then form on the top part of the stomach. Add to that the intensity of competition or training and we have a potential welfare problem." (US Equestrian Magazine; Feb. 2004, pg.59.) These products, and riding with food in the stomach, allow them to return to their natural way of going.
3. Foods and Herbs that can help heal
Many also believe that the use of herbs, such as Slippery Elm, Marshmallow root, Ginger (illegal to use at USEF shows), and Licorice may also help soothe the stomach. You can get the herbs at your local Health Food store or over the Internet. You can mix them together and give 1 tablespoon per feeding. These can be ordered in bulk from www.glenbrookfarm.com/herbs
You can add pumpkin seeds to the diet. These are high in Nitric oxide which the body uses to heal everything that needs healing. You can get it in a powder at Glen Brook Farms. I prefer soaking pumpkin seeds for 1 - 4 hours, dump out the water, then chop in the blender/food processor the following day. The benefit is that it brings the seeds alive and makes them active and more potent. I soak 1 cup of seeds, then feed 1/2 in AM and 1/2 in PM. I have found the pumpkin seeds to benefit all three of my horses, one with chronic sore feet, another recovered from OCD surgery, and the oldest, at 19 years old and 6 years off, healed her suspensor ligaments. These little seeds contain amazing healing abilities. I wouldn't believe it, but I have seen them work. I feel ALL performance or injured horses need these. Give them 3 - 6 months, but you will be amazed by the results. You can get them at www.bulkfoods.com
I have also found Aloe Vera Juice to be very helpful. You can get it at Wal-Mart. You can give 1 cup twice a day. While these may have benefits, the use of the above medications will still be necessary. Aloe Vera is thought to heal the stomach, so your horse could benefit from the use of it.
There is an amino acid, L-Glutamine, that is proven to heal the stomach lining. You can get it as a pill (2 twice a day) from Puritan's Pride, or feed Freeze dried or fresh cabbage as this is very high in L-Glutamine. However, PLEASE add the cabbage SLOWLY to the diet over 2 - 4 weeks as it can make the horse gassy. You can get the freeze dried cabbage at www.harmonyhousefoods.com Also, if you feed MSM, the body will make Glucosamine from L-Glutamine for the joints.
If you want to try one product that has everything in it, except the Omeprazole, I HIGHLY recommend this product. It is made from organic sprouted seeds along with oat bran, mirco-crystalized aloe juice, and cabbage, called Tum-Ease EQ. It "helps reduce the effect of stomach acid production on interestinal mucosa. I have also used the True Balance EQ. This "helps reduce the effect of stress on three major body systems; digestive/intestinal, liver, and immune." My mare has done VERY well on both this program. She seems happier, more relaxed, and moving better than ever. They are in the form of cookies, so they are very easy to use. You can either hand feed or add your horse's grain. You can get them at www.TheraCellEQ.com The founder of these products has horses and developed her products with amazing results with her own horses. She has over 20 years experience in the human supplement field. She also makes a natural whole feed multi-vitamin called Optimum EQ that has all the vitamins your horse needs.
Ulcer Theories
There are a lot of theories about the causes of ulcers and how they should be treated. Although I agree with them, there is no guarantee that by doing these things, your horse will never have ulcers.
First, that horses need food in their gut 24/7. This is true. The bottom 2/3 of horse's stomach produces acid to help the digestion of food. However, the top 1/3 is not meant to have any acid on it. Because of that, this is where the ulcers occur. To help with this, it is recommended that you keep grass hay in front of your horse at all times. The reality is many horses with ulcers do not eat on a regular basis because their stomach hurts. So merely placing hay in front of them, may not help. Also, many people board their horse and do not control the feeding process, so again, this may not be possible. Even if you do have grass hay in front of them 24/7, that, in itself, has never been proven to prevent ulcers, although, it is highly recommended.
At the 2003 conference of the American Association of Equine Practioners, ulcers were a major topic. One cause of ulcers is the mere act of exercising the horse without enough food in the gut. Studies have proven this by running a scope into the horse's stomach and then exercising them on a treadmill. The acid in their stomach did splash up to the top third of the stomach wall causing irritation. However, horses that had food in their gut had less problems as the food combined with the acid to form a paste. Thus there was less splashing. I have solved this problem by feeding my horse three or four cups of hay pellets that have been mixed with Mylanta 10 minutes before grooming and tacking her up. I may also give another 20 cc of Mylanta/Maalox just before I place the bit in her mouth to help coat the top of the stomach.
Second, is that horses are meant to be outside rather than locked up in a stall. I not only agree with this, but my horses have their stall and access to turn out 24/7. Again, the reality for many horse owners is that they board and these faculties only have stalls. Also, although most horse owners do turn out their horses on a regular basis, some don't for fear that the horse may injure themselves while playing. This is a real concern. An injury can not only lead to expensive vet bills, but the mandatory stall rest and, maybe, the end of their competitive career. Also, when showing, stalls are the only safe way to bring together a large number of horses. It is also important to know that ulcers have been found in horses who are kept in a pasture, so again, this, in itself, may not prevent ulcers.
Third is that reducing stress will cure and prevent ulcers. While keeping the horse as relaxed as possible is the goal of many riders training program, today's modern athlete has been bred to perform. Many riders make their living by competing on their horses. Although we love our horses, their job is to perform. It is because of this love that many riders want their horses as comfortable as possible and the use of medications to help this process is absolutely necessary. This is because these highly bred athletes tend to produce more acid than they actually need to digest their food. Many of them are high strung and often become nervous during work outs and/or competitions. Think of yourself when you get nervous. You may develop "butterflies in your stomach." This is actually caused because your stomach gets tight and starts producing acid. What do you do? You take something to help relieve the discomfort. This is the same for your horse. It is recommended to try and help relax your horse as much as possible whenever possible.
Fourth, is that ulcers are caused from the bacteria H. pylori. Although this can be true in people, there has been no evidence that this bacteria exists in horses.
One last note, if you think your horse might have stomach ulcers, it probably does. Even if the horse doesn't actually have ulcers, it can still give itself an upset stomach which can cause great pain and unwanted behavior. Don't wait. Do something about it today. Your horse will thank you and you'll both be happier.
Hind Gut Health and Colonic Ulcers
During his presentation at the 2005 American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Practice Management Seminar: Focus on Equine Colic, internationally recognized veterinarian Frank Andrews, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM, discussed the importance of recent research conducted by Franklin Pellegrini, DVM. Pellegrini’s work, published in the March issue of the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, sharply highlighted the previously unrecognized frequency and importance of colonic ulcers in horses. Pellegrini’s findings show that colonic ulceration may be present in up to 63% of performance horses, and 54% of performance horses may have both gastric and colonic ulcers. “Ulcers in the colon can be a significant cause of colic for many horses,” Andrews said. “Dr. Pellegrini’s research reveals just how many horses may be affected, but the trouble is that medications designed to work on stomach ulcers just don’t provide relief or treatment in the colon.” This suggests that an entirely different method of treatment is necessary to help with colonic ulcers than for stomach ulcers. He recognized probiotics and digestive aids as important tools in helping the many performance horses that may have colon pain. Polar lipids, present in oat fiber, were among the nutrients that Dr. Andrews presented as helping with overall digestive health. These components of oat oil help transport nutrients into the blood stream and support a healthy gut lining. Soluble oat fiber, which supports the immune system, amino acids and yeast extracts were also discussed as important nutrients.
If you have ever wormed your horses, used Bute or Banamine, or the horse has been stressed for any reason, YOUR HORSE PROBABLY DOES NOT HAVE A HEALTHY HIND GUT and may even have ulcers there.
Horses are "Hind Gut" digesters. They are nonruminant herbivores. The hind gut is designed to process plant materials by micro organisms (good bacteria) in the fore gut and then digest the food in the hind gut. That means, if the hind gut is not healthy, they are not getting all the nutrients from the food you are feeding them. By healing the hind gut, your horse will get more from it's feed, be healthier, perform better, and have less chances of colic.
There are things you can feed to help the hind gut and they are not expensive.
The first is by adding oat fiber or flour, not oats, to your horses daily feed. You can go to a local health food store and purchased Oat flour. Or you can order 50 lbs. of oat flour for $45 or oat Fiber for $105 from www.Honeyvillegrain.com . I recommend feeding 1/4 cup twice a day for 30 days, then once a day after that. When you have worm, use NSAIDS, or the horse gets stressed, go back to twice a day for a few weeks. It does take 30 - 90 days to see the results since the hind gut is about 24 feet long. Either the flour or fiber will work, however, the fiber is more highly recommended.
The second is by adding a Pre-Probiotic. This will coat the intestinal walls which will then allow the good bacteria a place to attach. I think these ingredients are very important in aiding the hind gut to heal itself and stay healthy. The first is 1 cup of Aloe Vera juice twice a day. I buy this at Wal-Mart. I also add 1 - 2 Chlorophyll liquid caplets (if there is no access to fresh grass) which can be found at www.puritan.com . I also add 1 tablespoon of Brewer's Yeast from Bulk Foods (see above for link).
Third is by adding a Probiotic to you daily feed. There are several products out there that contain the good bacteria which your horse must have in order to digest the nutrients out of it's feed. Lactobacillus Acidophilus is one of the most common used. These good bacteria are destroyed by wormers, the use of Bute and/or Banamine, treatment of antibiotics, and stress. I highly recommend Fast Track. I feed 2 - 4 oz. per day. You can purchase that at
FASTRACK Microbials for Horses and Dogs
Worming the Ulcer Horse
Worming the ulcer horse can be a bit tricky. Try only to worm as few times as possible. It has been recommended by many vets to only worm 4 times per year in the western US. Although it may be necessary to worm more often in other parts and depending on the horse's condition. If you are not sure, you can always do as fecal test and take this to your vet. They should have information on how to process it. There are many different types of wormers and most feel you should rotate them through out the year. Although the Ivermectin is very effective, it does seem to cause ulcer horse's some problems. I only use this once a year and only when I can give her 2 - 3 weeks to recover. I have had good success with Pyrantel pamoate and many feel this is one of the better wormers to use with the ulcer horse. I have also used Fenbendazole with the same success. There are natural wormers out there, but I have not used any, so I am not sure about them. Just try to plan to worm during a time when there is little stress and know that you horse will need some time to get everything in it's system back in balance.
Controlling Spooking Behavior
If you are having spooking or control issues for any reason, I would highly recommend using the John Lyons "Head level" control method. You can purchase a DVD from his web site that contains head level, shoulder, and hind end control. I have used this method and it really works. When ever my horse gets afraid, I can now control her head level and thus the spooking. It's simple, easy to learn, easy to teach to the horse, and gives you a tool to use when things start to go wrong.
In Conclusion
Sometimes people think their horse is having training difficulties, when if fact, the horse is in pain. I have found time and time again, if your horse cannot or will not do something that you think they should be able to do, PUT DOWN THE WHIP, GET OFF, AND START LOOKING FOR A PAIN ISSUE. It may not be easy to find and you need a good vet to help, but I assure you, once you find it, the horse will work willingly. It could be sore hocks, stifles, hooves, backs, ovulation in mares, TMJ, or ulcers. There are very few horses that are bad tempered. They usually want to please. Some horses have been in pain for so many years, they have lost all the joy that was once in their souls. Most of the time, the horse is as frustrated as the rider.
I have worked with many different breeds and in many different disciplines for over 30 years, and the more I ride the more I believe that horses will work through a tremendous amount of pain. They are kind animals who seek the approval of the head of the herd, the rider. But we, as horsemen and women, have a tremendous responsibility to our horses. We must really listen to our horses. They cannot talk to us with language, so they must speak with actions. If you were in pain, and someone was forcing you to do something that hurt, wouldn't you act out? Once you have looked for a pain issue first and are secure in the knowledge that there is no pain, then continue with the training.
Remember, a qualified Veterinarian is the best help for your horse. If you have any questions or would like to chat (see Home page for contact information). I will be happy to help in anyway that I can, even if it's just sharing experiences. I have lived with my ulcer horse for 10 years. It's a way of life, but one that has taught me true horsemanship.