First gastric ulcer study launched
The University of Liverpool has launched what is believed to be the world's first large scale study of equine ulcers.
At an official launch briefing, 21 participating veterinary practices were told they will be making history by being involved in the project, which aims to improve the understanding of ulceration in performance horses.
The study, which will include well over 200 performance horses, is being conducted by Richard Hepburn MRCVS as part of his PhD at the university.
Commenting on the study, he said: "Gastric ulceration in sports horses is poorly understood, especially compared with racehorses. But what we do know is that it’s a very important factor in the performance and well-being of many horses in training and competition."
Deb Criddle, 2012 Paralympic Gold medallist, attended the event and explained the importance of regular gastroscopy and ulcer management of paralympic team horses, and the difference this made to her success.
Referring to her Bejing ride, Pavaroti, she said: "If it weren’t for the diagnosis and treatment of Pavaroti’s ulcers I don’t know what we’d have done. I would probably have had to withdraw him from training, so it made the difference between our partnership continuing or not."
Mr Hepburn expects prevalence to be 60 per cent, and has tasked participants with scoping all areas of the stomach, pylorus and duodenum, to ensure diagnosis of every incidence of ulceration.
It is hoped the study will improve knowledge of glandular disease, which Mr Hepburn explained "appears to have a very different aetiology to squamous ulceration, and often presents with different signs. We also believe that prevalence of glandular ulceration is most common in sports horses."
Mr Hepburn concluded: "We hope that publication of this study will help all equine vets in their work with performance horses and the quest to prevent and manage equine ulcers."
The BSAVA has opened submissions for the BSAVA Clinical Research Abstracts 2026.
