Ridecamp: RE: [RC] Wine Country/Gastroguard

On the other hand, "survival of the fittest" in today's 
world is being lucky enough to have an owner that wants 
a pasture potato as a pet.

I'll concede that genetics may contribute something to 
ulcer formation, but unless we have more data we don't 
know for sure to what extent.  There are too many other 
questions that need to be answered.  As you said before, 
a good geneticist will separate out the environmental 
factors out of the equation, but we still are exploring 
what the environmental factors are.  For all you know, 
the population of the "old style" Arabian may still have 
as many ulcers as the "show style" Arabian.  The data 
just isn't there yet.  

Since my endurance horses are geldings, the 
genetic "survival of the fittest" point is pretty moot.  
Beau enjoys doing endurance, it is a manageable health 
issue, and I see no logical reason why he shouldn't 
continue competing (except maybe it just plain costs too 
much to keep him on Gastroguard and he can't compete 
without it......)  Just as he has a bad stifle, he's a 
farrier's balancing nightmare, has chiropractic issues, 
thumps and has a parrot mouth - (yeah Heidi, he's a 
genetic mess in your eyes), he still loves competition 
and can power up our hills with ease. This is just 
another bump in the road. No vet has ever told me that 
he couldn't compete with these problems. They just 
offered their services and/or advice and we have 
overcome each issue as I become aware of them.  I have 
learned so much from trying to compete with this horse, 
I almost view it as a gift.  I owe it to him to let him 
come to at least some of his athletic potential.  

As far as the AERC drug issue, the research vet 
essentially said that a maintenance dose of Gastroguard 
is needed in a competing horse after the ulcer healed.  
I bet this will change with more research and getting a 
handle on the environmental factors.  Also, the research 
vet indicated that the "home compounded" drugs are 
proving not to have much efficacy in ulcer treatment so 
far.

I haven't read the Gastroguard literature yet.  It will 
be bedtime reading for me.

Time to hit the sack.  I cleaned my trailer today in 
between this great discussion.  Much food for thought. 
Keep on feeding me.

K.

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