OK — So it seems pretty far fetched that feeding shredded cabbage to horses can aid in curing their ulcers. (First, I’d emphasize PREVENTATIVE care before having to even deal with ulcers BUT … obviously, there are many horses who already have them prior to one’s acquisition of the animal.) …  What are the SIGNS of ulcers?  Anything from girthiness to chewing wood or kicking walls.  It ‘s been found that 52% of all domestic horses, all breeds  have ulcers in one degree or another.

A gastroendoscopic study (Murray et al.) of all breeds of horses from one to twenty four years old showed more than 52 percent to have gastric ulcers. When only racehorses were tested, the incidence of gastric ulcers was even greater.  ~Dr. Richard Shakalis, http://www.infohorse.com/

That’s a pretty large number, 52% !!!

So what can one do about it? Well, one can treat the symptoms with Ulcer Guard or other band-aid approach but what is going to truly help the animal heal itself?

Quick study on natural horses:  They’re herd animals; they graze 18 hours of every 24 hours so the gastric acids always have something other than unprotected stomach to work on; they move — alot — up to 20+ miles a day; they eat with their heads down to the ground (physiological response = calm); they don’t eat processed foods and their food is ALL forage.  Plus, of course, the feral horse does not get put into any training routine or demanded to ‘perform’ in any way. All of those things contribute to stress on the horse in general.

Now I’m not saying all domestics should be set free to graze and socialize and live off the land as ferals do but there ARE things that can be done to help minimize the stressors on the animal. — 24/7 turnout with shelter free choice; free choice hay at all times or access to grass grazing; variety in forages – flowers, herbs, weeds, grasses, bark, leaves, trees, dirt; and herd life — living life with one or more buddies. Those things, alone, by themselves, will help a horse to be less stressed in domesticated situations.

But what IF the horse already has ulcers?  Apart from shoving a bunch of very expensive chemicals into him daily a more simple solution would be — cabbage.  Feed a handful or so shredded cabbage (red or white but studies have been more focused on white cabbage) a day to the horse or even 2 times a day.

OK — so ya think I’m nuts. That’s OK. Go on to Pt II of this to read a very credible article by a Dr. Richard Shakalis on the properties and findings of studies done with cabbage and peptic ulcers …