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Re: [RC] Ulcers - SpirittxarabiansSome of the ads for ulcer products I have seen state that as many as 50% of all competition horses may have ulcers. (I don't know where the data came from though.) The definition of Competition horses includes eventing, showing, rodeo, racing, etc. Ulcers are usually caused by stress, which is different from horse to horse, but can be stress from hauling, staying in strange surroundings, being separated from pasture mates, being stalled too long, being worked too hard. The signs of ulcers include going off feed, taking longer than normal to eat, being picky about what they eat. In my opinion, if a horse is showing signs of ulcers they need to be treated and given an opportunity to recuperate from whatever stress may have caused the problem. Competing a horse with signs of ulcers would make the problem worse. Rather than medicating the horse as a preventive, you can do whatever is necessary to reduce the stress for that particular horse - bring his buddy to the ride, have everything at the ride be as close as possible to the conditions at home (same feed, etc.) and condition him enough that the ride is easier for him, in other words go slower than he may be fit to go on the next few rides and ride with less excitable horses, etc. Selena Copeland Spirit of Texas Arabians spirittxarabians@xxxxxxx www.spirittxarabians.com D ·§vêÚ?Ç¢²Ö¤?x2¢êç¢xh®Ç²}©¢?+hj¸?yƦ§?*. è??*0j·l®'^q©©?ëb?ú+?«b¢xm¶?ÿà ?Û«jw ?ë®'^q©©
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