The AAEP estimates that 60-90% of adult horses suffer from gastric ulcers.  A number of things can cause equine ulcers: NSAIDS, stress, performance, and improper feeding.  The rate of gastric ulcers is much lower in horses allowed to graze 24/7. Slow feeding simulates the process of grazing. By introducing slow feeding into your horse's daily routine, you can help prevent ulcers and alleviate some bad behaviors as well. 

The Culprit:  Stomach Acid

Unlike humans, who produce stomach acid only when we eat, your horse is continuously producing acid. Regardless if his stomach is empty or full.  When your horse is constantly nibbling on forage, the hay or grass soaks up much of the acid.  In addition, your horse produces saliva while chewing.  Saliva is a natural buffer or antacid that helps keep hydrochloric acid in check.

Imagine, your horse is fed only 2 meals a day with nothing to munch on in between. His gastric acid is still churning and burning on an empty stomach.  With no saliva or food matter to protect his stomach, the acid slowly eats away the stomach wall.  If this continues daily, the stomach lining eventually becomes damaged and a sore emerges called a gastric ulcer.  This can happen in as little a 5 days.  In a desperate attempt to create saliva for relief, many horses will resort to chewing on anything they can find: bark, fence posts, barn wood etc.

 Prevention:  Slow Feeding

Slow feeding is the continuous in take of small amounts of forage.  The idea is to provide an adequate supply of forage 24/7 and imitate grazing.  Slow feed hay nets provide an easy way to accomplish this. 

Horses are slow feeders by design.  Studies have shown that horses that are allowed to graze continuously have much less stomach acidity compared to horses that must fast between meals.  Additionally, the horses with diets high in roughage produce twice as much saliva as those on high grain diets.  Therefore, decreasing the incidents of ulcers dramatically.  

By using a slow feeder, you can keep hay in front of your horse longer and help him maintain saliva production throughout the day and night.  The constant trickling in of forage helps to keep your horse's digestive tracked well lined, naturally providing protection from harsh gastric acids.