Ask The Horse

Gastric ulcers are common in both performance and pleasure horses, but the clinical signs can be easily overlooked. Affected horses might show poor performance, changes in attitude, decreased appetite, or unexplained weight loss. Because the horse’s stomach continuously produces acid and is designed for foraging, management factors such as intermittent feeding, high-starch diets, and stress from transport or work can contribute to ulcer development. The only way to definitively diagnose gastric ulcers is through gastroscopy, so it’s important to work with your veterinarian if you suspect your horse might have them.
Two veterinarians answer your equine gastric ulcer questions during this archived Ask TheHorse podcast, brought to you by Bimeda.
About the Experts:
Laramie Winfield, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, cVA, cVMMP, grew up in the Salinas Valley, riding horses with her mom and sisters. Winfield’s professional interests are equine internal medicine, emergency and critical care, neonatology, acupuncture, sports medicine, and ophthalmology. Winfield is certified in veterinary acupuncture and is also a veterinary medical manipulation practitioner, having completed her training at the Integrative Veterinary Medical Institute in Reddick, Florida. In integrating her riding background with her training in internal medicine, acupuncture, and spinal manipulation Winfield strives to offer a comprehensive view of horse health and performance. Winfield is an equity partner at Steinbeck Peninsula Equine Clinics, in Salinas, California. She enjoys spending time with her husband, Nick Carlson, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, and their children. She loves horseback riding and three-day eventing with her horse Franky.
James D. Conway III, DVM, is the associate director of veterinary technical services at Bimeda. He previously held the same roles at Dechra Veterinary Products and Contura Vet. Conway has been an industry veterinarian for the past 10 years. Prior to his role in industry, he served as an associate veterinarian at a large regional referral lameness and rehab facility in North Texas. Conway completed an internship at Equine Sports Medicine and Surgery, in Weatherford, Texas, and upon completion started his own lameness and sports medicine practice in the panhandle of Texas and Oklahoma. He is a 2012 graduate of Colorado State University Veterinary School, in Fort Collins, where he was heavily involved with equine stifle and condylar fracture research. Conway's publications on bisphosphonates, the equine stifle ethesis, and medial condylar fractures can be found in Equine Veterinary Education and Equine Veterinary Journal.

Equine colic refers to abdominal pain rather than a single disease and can arise from many causes, ranging from gas buildup to intestinal impaction. Horses with colic might show subtle signs such as reduced appetite or lethargy, or more obvious behaviors like pawing, flank-watching, rolling, or repeatedly getting up and down. Because some types of colic can become life-threatening quickly, recognizing early signs and contacting a veterinarian promptly can improve the horse’s outcome.
This episode is sponsored by CareCredit.
About the Experts:
Michael Fugaro, VMD, Dipl. ACVS, is the owner and founder of Mountain Pointe Equine Veterinary Services, in Hackettstown, New Jersey. Fugaro received his VMD at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine, in Kennett Square, where he graduated in 1997. He then completed a large animal internship at the University of Guelph, in Ontario, Canada, and a large animal surgical residency at Purdue University, in West Lafayette, Indiana. Previously, Fugaro was the resident veterinarian and a tenured full-professor at Centenary University, in Hackettstown. He has also taught as a visiting instructor at Rutgers University in the Animal Science Department, in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Fugaro has held veterinary positions with the New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s Division of Animal Health and the New Jersey Racing Commission. He has also been the president of the New Jersey Association of Equine Practitioners, an advisory board member for the Rutgers University Board for Equine Advancement (RUBEA), and an admissions committee member for University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine. When not performing surgeries, Fugaro enjoys golfing and going to the gym. He resides in Morris County, New Jersey, with his wife, Donna, and dog, Curtis.
Bianca Ruspi, DVM, is a third-year resident in equine surgery at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. She attended the University of Kentucky (UK), in Lexington, for her undergraduate degree and Cornell University, in Ithaca, New York, for veterinary school. She is interested in orthopedic surgery and joint disease and is pursuing a PhD at UK's Gluck Equine Research Center following her residency.

As horses age, managing their soundness using a multimodal approach becomes increasingly important. Experts emphasize proactive joint care, appropriate exercise, and routine veterinary evaluations. Regular, low-impact work helps maintain joint mobility and muscle support, while avoiding long periods of confinement, which can worsen stiffness. Strategic hoof balance, body condition management, and early intervention for mild lameness are key. With thoughtful management and early attention to subtle changes, many senior horses can remain comfortable and active for years.
During this episode, two experts discuss keeping horses sound as they age.
About the Experts:
Lauren Trager, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVSMR, is a clinical assistant professor of equine sports medicine at the Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, in Blacksburg. She is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. Trager loves to teach and enjoys working on challenging lameness and poor performance cases, particularly those with neck and back pain and anything that involves advanced imaging.
Howland M. Mansfield, DVM, CVA, CVMMP, of Summerville, South Carolina, received her DVM from Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine, in Alabama, and completed internships in both general equine medicine and surgery and in advanced equine reproduction. She is certified in both veterinary acupuncture and veterinary medical manipulation. She has practiced along the East Coast over the course of 14 years, in addition to time in Germany providing veterinary care for some of the most elite show horses in Europe. In 2012 Mansfield was named by the South Carolina Horseman’s Council as the Horse Person of the Year for her efforts in equine rescue and in combating animal cruelty. She joined American Regent in 2023 as a technical services veterinarian where she can support the welfare of and improve health care for horses and small animals throughout the U.S.

Managing a horse diagnosed with metabolic problems means understanding how conditions such as equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) and insulin dysregulation increase the risk of serious complications, including laminitis. Horses with metabolic problems often benefit from controlled diets low in sugars and starches, tailored to prevent spikes in blood insulin and support healthy body condition. Regular exercise and weight management should be part of a comprehensive plan because activity can help improve insulin sensitivity and supports overall metabolic health. While there’s no cure for these conditions, strategic, research-based care can help improve your metabolic horse’s well-being.
During this podcast, two experts answer listener questions about managing horses that have metabolic problems.
About the Experts:
Greg Schmid, DVM, originally from Canada, moved to Ohio as a teenager, where his family trained dressage and eventing horses. He earned a Bachelor of Science in equine science from Otterbein University, in Westerville, Ohio, and a DVM from The Ohio State University, in Columbus. After graduation, Schmid completed an internship at B.W. Furlong & Associates, in Oldwick, New Jersey, and then worked with Dr. John “Doc” Steele in a hunter/jumper-focused practice covering the East Coast. He later practiced in Portland, Oregon, working with various English and Western sport horses. Schmid joined Dechra as an equine professional services veterinarian in September 2020 and now lives in Asheville, North Carolina.
Caitrin Lowndes, DVM, is a research fellow at the Van Eps Laminitis and Endocrinology Laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center, in Kennett Square, with a background in field practice. Her main area of research is the improved diagnosis and management of insulin dysregulation, with particular interest in how that research can be translated into clinical practice for the treatment and prevention of laminitis.

Horse owners often feed supplements to address gaps in their horses' diet that forage and concentrates might not meet, such as supporting joint comfort, hoof quality, or muscle recovery. Researchers suggest that supplements can be beneficial when a horse has a documented deficiency, such as low vitamin or mineral levels, or a clearly identified need, such as poor hoof quality. Owners should always consult a veterinarian or an equine nutritionist when choosing supplements for their horses and prioritize products backed by research.
During this Ask TheHorse Live episode, two experts answer questions and discuss everything you need to know about equine supplements.
This episode is brought to you by SmartEquine.
About the Experts:
Frank M. Andrews, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM (LAIM), is a graduate of Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine in Pullman, where he received a DVM and MS. After a year in private veterinary practice, he completed an equine medicine and surgery residency at The Ohio State University, in Columbus. After 20 years on the faculty at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, in Knoxville, he is currently LVMA Equine Committee professor and director of Equine Health and Sports Performance at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine (LSU Vet Med), in Baton Rouge. Andrews has clinical and research interests in gastric ulcers and gastrointestinal disease, and he's completed research on the efficacy of pharmacologic agents in the treatment of gastric ulcers in horses. Andrews is actively involved in clinical equine practice and clinical research.
Liz Schatz, DVM, is a graduate of the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, in Manhattan, where she was awarded the Glenn Ray Teagarden Award for Proficiency in Equine Medicine. After veterinary school, she completed an equine surgery internship at New Jersey Equine Clinic, in Millstone Township, and a large animal medicine, surgery, and emergency/critical care internship at New Bolton Center, in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. She then completed a fellowship at the Comparative Orthopedic Research Laboratory while doing equine emergency work for New Bolton Center Field Service. She moved on to private practice for several years prior to joining SmartEquine in 2022, where her main area of interest is nutrition education. Schatz is a passionate Thoroughbred aftercare advocate and is an active volunteer for both MidAtlantic Horse Rescue and CANTER Pennsylvania. She is an avid lifelong rider and owns a horse farm in Central North Carolina, where she cares for her own OTTBs and any number of beloved vagabond animals.