FEED ADVICE – HEALTH
Understanding Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome
The high number of horses afflicted with gastric ulcers has only become truly apparent in the last 20 years, as long endoscopes have become common in equine veterinary practices. Sadly, most horses will suffer from gastric ulcers at some point in their lives. This means that all horse owners should be clued up to the threats that this unpleasant condition poses.
Key Highlights
Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) is a common condition in horses characterised by the development of ulcers in the stomach lining.
It is associated with factors such as stress, diet, and the use of certain medications. Clinical signs include poor performance, and behavioural changes.
Immediate actions during an episode of EGUS include providing pain relief, modifying the diet, and possibly using medications to reduce stomach acid.
Long-term management and prevention strategies for EGUS include dietary adjustments, stress reduction, and regular veterinary care.
Understanding EGUS
EGUS is essentially the erosion of the stomach lining due to prolonged exposure to stomach acid. It is characterised by lesions or ulcers in the stomach lining, leading to pain and discomfort. This condition is often triggered by factors such as stress, irregular feeding schedules, sugary diets, and the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
EGUS arises from a combination of genetic predispositions, environmental triggers, and management factors, including:
Recognising clinical signs of EGUS
Recognising the signs of EGUS is essential for prompt intervention and management. Early recognition can improve outcomes and minimise long-term complications:
Diagnosis of EGUS
Diagnosis of EGUS involves several diagnostic approaches. Veterinary examination focuses on observing clinical signs such as poor appetite, weight loss, behavioural changes, and any history of colic episodes. A detailed history covering the horse’s diet, management practices, and any recent stressors is essential.
Gastroscopy
The gold standard for diagnosing EGUS is gastroscopy, which involves using an endoscope to visually examine the stomach lining for ulcers.
Faecal Blood Test
A faecal occult blood test can detect hidden blood in the stool, indicating gastrointestinal bleeding, though it is not specific to EGUS.
Blood Tests
Blood tests can help rule out other conditions and assess the horse’s overall.
Treating a Horse with EGUS
Treatment for a horse with EGUS focuses on relieving pain, promoting healing, and preventing recurrence. If your horse is diagnosed with EGUS, the following steps should be followed:
Dietary Changes
Increase access to forage, reduce sugar intake, and provide small, frequent meals to buffer stomach acid.
Medications
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) like omeprazole are commonly used to reduce stomach acid and promote healing. Antacids and coating agents can also be beneficial.
Stress Management
Minimise stress by providing a calm environment, consistent routines, and regular turnout.
Recommend Dietary Changes
Effective management and prevention strategies can help minimise the occurrence of EGUS in horses and promote overall gastrointestinal health.
Dietary Adjustments:
Forage-Based Diet: Providing a forage-based diet with constant access to hay or pasture helps buffer stomach acid and prevent ulcers.
Small, Frequent Meals: Feeding small, frequent meals can help maintain a more constant stomach pH and reduce ulcer formation.
Balanced Diet: Ensure the diet is balanced with appropriate levels of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids to support overall health.
Avoid Sugary Diets: Limit high-sugar and starch feeds, which can increase stomach acid production and risk of ulcers. Did you know all of our feeds (apart from our Pure Performance) are suitable for horses with ulcers!
Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids can help modulate inflammatory responses and support gastrointestinal health.
Developing a Sustainable Routine
Developing a sustainable management routine is crucial in managing and preventing EGUS in horses. Consistent feeding schedules, adequate forage, and stress reduction are key components.
Stress Reduction
Implement practices to minimise stress, such as regular turnout, social interaction, and a stable routine.
Regular Veterinary Care
Regular check-ups with a veterinarian can help detect early signs of EGUS and implement preventive measures.
Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding EGUS is crucial for the well-being of horses. Recognising the signs, implementing effective management and prevention strategies, and providing a balanced diet are essential steps in managing this condition. By taking immediate actions during an episode and making long-term adjustments to diet and routine, you can help minimise the risk and ensure your horse’s health and performance.
What we recommend for horses with ulcers
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Just one of the many ingredients that go into making up a bag of Pure Feed ?
Any guesses on which one this is ? Comment below 👇
Heatwave 🤝 Refuel
The easiest way to get essential electrolytes, water and key recovery ingredients in your horse, whether they’re competing this weekend or relaxing in the field ☀️
Do you have any tips or tricks to keeping your horse cool in this weather? 🤔 Drop them in the comments below 👇
The brief was simple =
“Can you make a recovery mash that’s low in sugar & starch, plus no molasses or cereals?”
So that’s exactly what we made.
The result?
🥄 Pure ReFuel: 46g sugar + starch
🥄 Another recovery mash: 80g.
🏆 Winner: Pure ReFuel.
The only acceptable eating noises 💁♀️
After working hard or a hot day in the sun, there’s nothing better than seeing (or hearing!) a horse slurping down a bowl of Refuel 🍒
Horse owners spend a lot of time trying to fill nutritional gaps:
✅ A supplement for this.
✅ A powder for that.
✅ An extra scoop of something else.
But what if there weren`t any gaps to fill?
At Pure Feed, every complete feed is formulated to provide the vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fibre, gut support and slow-release energy your horse needs, all in one feed 🩵
Most performance feeds rely on one energy source.
Pure Performance uses two.
⚡ Bruised oats provide readily available energy for horses that need power, responsiveness and athletic output.
🌱 Oil and superfibres provide slower-release energy to help support stamina, condition and endurance throughout the session.
The result?
Energy for the jump-off.
Stamina for the last fence.
Condition to keep going all season.
That`s why Pure Performance is the only feed in our range to contain cereals; carefully combined with fibre, oil, prebiotics, probiotics and live yeast to support digestive health alongside performance 🩵
Horse nutrition has become surprisingly complicated, and somehow we`re still left wondering if we`ve missed something.
At Pure Feed, we started with a different question:
**What if one feed could do the whole job?**
Every complete feed is built around the fundamentals of equine nutrition:
🌱 A high-fibre foundation for digestive health
🧬 Quality protein to support topline and muscle function
⚖️ Balanced vitamins and minerals for everyday health
⚡ Premium oil sources for slow-release energy
🦠 Gut and hoof support built in as standard
No nutritional gaps.
No complicated feeding plans.
No guesswork.
Just confidence that every feed is helping your horse get what they need 🩵
Most horse owners think about gut health when there`s a problem, but a healthy hindgut influences far more than digestion alone.
In fact, around 80% of the immune system is associated with the gut, and the hindgut is home to trillions of microorganisms that help break down fibre, produce energy and support normal immune function.
That`s why gut health can have a knock-on effect on:
🛡️ Immunity
🥕 Nutrient absorption
🌱 Condition
⚡ Performance
💪 Recovery
🧠 Behaviour
The challenge is that modern horses face plenty of pressures that can disrupt the hindgut environment; from travel and competition schedules to changes in grazing, forage quality and routine.
That`s why gut support isn`t an add-on at Pure Feed, it`s built into every complete feed through:
✔️ Prebiotics
✔️ Probiotics
✔️ Live yeast
✔️ High-quality fibre sources
Want to start feeding Pure, but not sure where to start? Comment down below to recieve a link to our diet plan service 🔗🩵
The biggest summer feeding mistake? 👉 Assuming that because a horse is gaining weight, they`re getting everything they need. 🌱
Grass is brilliant at supplying calories, but calories aren`t the same as nutrition.
In fact, summer grazing can often be:
☀️ High in energy
⚖️ Low in certain minerals
🧬 Variable in quality protein
🦠 Missing the gut support that many horses benefit from
That`s why it`s not unusual to see horses carrying plenty of condition whilst still struggling with things like topline, hoof quality, recovery or overall performance.
The goal isn`t necessarily to feed *more*, it`s to make sure what`s missing gets replaced.
That`s why every Pure Feed complete feed contains vitamins & minerals, amino acids, pre & probiotics, fibre, salt and oil-based slow-release energy, all in one feed!
Me during the heatwave: "Drink."
My horse: "No."
Me: "DRINK."
My horse: "No."
Me: makes a bucket of Refuel
My horse: "Well, why didn`t you say so " 🍒
"I can`t believe how good my horse feels."
Not sharper.
Not stronger.
Not more explosive.
Just more consistent.
More consistent energy.
More consistent focus.
More consistent condition.
Because for most horses, performance isn`t limited by a lack of energy 👉 it`s limited by how efficiently that energy is supplied and utilised.
That`s why Pure Feed uses fibre and oil as the foundation of its feeding philosophy, supporting horses that can work, perform and recover without the highs and lows often associated with traditional high-starch diets 🩵
Most feed rooms get more and more complicated.
A balancer, chaff, nuts, supplements, gut products, a hoof supplement, oils, and even more!
Before long, you`re feeding half a dozen products just to create a balanced diet.
At Pure Feed, we took a different approach.
What if the feed already contained everything most horses need?
That`s why every Pure Feed complete feed contains:
✔️ Vitamins & minerals
✔️ Pre & probiotics
✔️ Amino acids
✔️ Biotin
✔️ Salt
✔️ Fibre
✔️ Oil for slow-release energy
All combined into one simple feeding system.
And because we believe horses thrive on fibre-based nutrition, our feeds are free from:
✖️ Molasses
✖️ Alfalfa
✖️ Soya
✖️ Wholegrain cereals
✖️ Artificial mould inhibitors
The result?
Less time worrying about what`s missing from the diet. More time enjoying your horse 🩵
"He`s living out on good grass, so he doesn`t need any feed."
It`s one of the most common things we hear this time of year.
The challenge? Grass provides calories. It doesn`t always provide balanced nutrition.
Even good doers can benefit from additional vitamins, minerals, amino acids and gut support! That`s why many owners choose a balancer or low-calorie complete feed during the summer months.
🌱 Pure Balance – concentrated nutrition with minimal calories
🌱 Fibre Balance – ideal for horses needing a little more fibre in the bucket
🌱 Pure Easy – higher in slow release energy and fibre, still low calorie
Not sure where to start? Comment diet plan below to recieve your FREE diet plan 👇
The Pure Feed range is built around one simple principle: work with the horse’s digestive system, not against it.
That’s why our range is cereal-free (with the exception of Pure Performance).
Instead of relying on traditional cereal grains as a primary energy source, we prioritise highly digestible fibre and superfibres. These ingredients provide a more natural route to energy production in the hindgut, supporting a steadier release of fuel rather than the rapid spikes often associated with starch-heavy diets.
Cereals have long been used in horse feeds for energy density, but they can place a greater digestive load on a system that is fundamentally designed for forage fermentation. By reducing reliance on them, we aim to support a more stable gut environment and more consistent overall condition.
The result is a range designed to be suitable for a wide variety of horses, from leisure horses to performance types, without compromising digestive health or nutritional balance.
Want to learn more about our cereal-free feeds? Tap the link in bio to learn more 🩵
“Mine lives out 24/7 on good grass… do they really still need a balancer?” 👀🌱
Short answer: very often, yes.
Because grass supplies calories brilliantly… but it doesn’t always supply nutrients in the right balance for modern horses, especially those in work, restricted grazing, poor doers or horses with higher nutritional demands.
The tricky bit?
Grass quality changes constantly depending on:
☀️ Sunshine
🌧️ Rainfall
🌱 Growth stage
🧪 Soil mineral levels
🐴 Grazing pressure
So while your field may look rich and healthy, key nutrients like copper, zinc, selenium, amino acids and vitamin E can still be lacking.
That’s where a balancer or complete feed comes in 🩵
At Pure Feed, our feeds are designed to help fill the nutritional gaps that forage and grazing alone may not cover, without unnecessary sugar, molasses or feeding huge bucket feeds.
Why that matters 👇
✔️ Supports hoof quality & skin condition
✔️ Helps maintain topline & muscle function
✔️ Supports immunity & recovery
✔️ Helps balance forage-based diets
✔️ Supports gut health & fibre digestion
Think of grass as the base of the diet…
and balanced nutrition as the part that helps everything function properly around it 🌾🧬
Hoof supplements are one of the most commonly purchased products in the horse world.
But what if the nutrients that support hoof growth were already in your feed? 👀
Every Pure Feed complete feed contains added biotin as standard, alongside the amino acids, vitamins and minerals needed to support hoof growth and horn quality.
Because whilst hoof oils, dressings and supplements all have their place, hooves are built from the inside out.
✔️ Added biotin in every feed
✔️ Essential amino acids
✔️ Balanced vitamins & minerals
✔️ Complete nutrition in every bucket
Your horse can stand in a field full of grass…and still be missing key nutrients 👀🌱
Because while grazing looks “natural”, modern pasture isn’t always nutritionally complete, especially for horses in work, restricted grazing, mixed grazing systems or poorer-quality field conditions.
Grass nutrient levels constantly change depending on:
☀️ Weather
🌱 Growth stage
🌧️ Rainfall
🐴 Grazing pressure
🧪 Soil mineral content
Which means the same field can provide very different nutrition throughout the year.
That’s why many horses can still benefit from targeted vitamin & mineral support, even when the grass looks lush or if they`re a good doer 🩵
At Pure Feed, we believe forage should always come first… but it shouldn’t have to do all the heavy lifting alone.
A well-balanced diet helps support:
✔️ Hoof quality
✔️ Muscle function
✔️ Energy metabolism
✔️ Immune health
✔️ Skin & coat condition
✔️ Gut health and fibre digestion
Need help figuring out which feed would suit your horse? Check out our diet plan service, link in bio 🩵
If you turned your horse’s feed label over… would you actually know what you’re looking at? 👀
A lot of feeds focus on calories first. At Pure Feed, we focus on what those calories are bringing with them 🌱
Because a horse’s bucket should support far more than just weight maintenance ⬇️
🧬 Amino acids to help support muscle repair, topline and recovery
🦠 Pre & probiotics to support a healthy hindgut microbiome
⚡ Oil-based slow-release energy for stamina without the starch spikes
💧 Salt & hydration support to help maintain fluid balance during work and warmer weather
🌾 Highly digestible fibre sources to support gut function and digestive health
🦄 Vitamins & minerals balanced to support normal bodily function, immunity and performance
🐴 Added biotin to support hoof quality and skin condition
And the best bit?
It’s all already built into the feed 🩵
Just complete, fibre-focused nutrition designed around what horses actually need to thrive.
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