December 2, 2025
Posted by Phoebe A. Smith, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM
Find out what breed, discipline, and behavior factors might make a horse more susceptible to developing gastric ulcers.
Q: Are there any genetic, breed, or behavior predispositions to developing gastric ulcers, or can any horse be equally at risk?
A: Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) is highly prevalent across multiple breeds and disciplines, but risk for developing EGUS might not be evenly distributed among breeds. Gastric ulcers can be caused by an interplay of genetic, breed-related, physiological, and behavioral or personality predispositions, combined with environmental and management factors. While any horse can develop gastric ulcers, certain horses consistently show as more vulnerable. However, it is difficult to separate breeds from discipline or management conditions in most situations and certainly in scientific literature.
Research suggests that Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds exhibit the highest prevalence of equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD), with rates reported between 70–90% in those engaged in active race training. Feed type and timing, management, and high-intensity exercise play significant roles in the development of ESGD, regardless of breed, likely influencing this reported prevalence. Warmbloods, especially those used in dressage and jumping, have higher reported rates of equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD) than horses of other breeds and disciplines in some scientific reports. However, some variability exists amongst these reports. Warmbloods involved in lower level (national versus international competition) jumping and those exercising an increased number of days were more prone to develop EGGD than others in one study.
Endurance horses, most commonly Arabian horses, are another group frequently reported to have increased ulcer rates, with 60–90% suffering from gastric ulceration when in competitive periods...
Read more here:
https://thehorse.com/1141247/what-horses-are-most-likely-to-develop-gastric-ulcers/?lid=w8fjvynckzy0&uuid=01922f47f62f001a2720598a0e2705075009a06d00dc4
