An Integrated Assessment and Prevalence of Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome in Criollo Crossbred Horses

Abstract

Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) is highly prevalent in performance horses, and police cavalry horses are a vulnerable group due to confinement and concentrate-based feeding. However, data integrating endoscopic, histopathological, clinical, and behavioral parameters in confined police horses under different management systems remain lacking. We describe a comprehensive evaluation of endoscopic and biopsy findings, blood parameters, and behavior parameters in a group of horses in two different kinds of confinement housing. This was a cross-sectional study. Thirty adult castrated male Criollo crossbred police horses were assigned to full confinement (Gconf, n = 20; no grazing) and semiconfinement (Gsemiconf, n = 10; daily pasture access). All received a standardized concentrate diet with incorporated dehydrated alfalfa hay (17% crude protein and 26% fibrous matter) three times daily. Assessments included clinical examination, hematology, gastroscopy, gastric mucosal biopsy with histopathology, body condition scoring assessment, and behavioral assessment during stable and patrol activities. Mean age was 11.8 ± 2.3 years. Gastroscopic examination revealed that 29 of 30 horses (96.7%) had no macroscopic alterations of the gastric mucosa. Hyperkeratosis was observed in one horse (5.0%) from the Gconf group. Histopathological examination identified mild hydropic degeneration in two horses from both groups (Gconf and Gsemiconf). All clinical and hematological parameters were within normal ranges. Body condition scores were optimal (median: 3.5). Behavioral assessment showed predominantly calm temperaments (stable: 45% Gconf, 60% Gsemiconf; patrol: 55% Gconf, 40% Gsemiconf). Fecal consistency differed post-feeding, normalizing after grazing in Gsemiconf. The main limitation is sample size (n = 30), and convenience sample from a single institution restricts generalizability. This integrated assessment revealed remarkably low EGUS prevalence (3.3%) compared to other police horse populations, with no differences between housing systems. The fiber-incorporated diet may mitigate EGUS risk even in confined horses, supporting evidence-based management strategies for working equines.