Ulcers, Stress, and the Nervous System: Why Gut Health Isn’t Just About Supplements
If Your Horse Has Ulcers, You’re Not Alone
Ulcers are one of the most common issues seen in horses today. Over 70% of horses with a job will get them.
And if you’ve gone down this path, you’ve probably already tried:
gut supplements
ulcer support products
feeding changes
medications like omeprazole
Sometimes they help. Sometimes they don’t.
Or they work… and then the problem comes right back (especially with ulcer medicine)
That’s where this conversation needs to shift.
Because ulcers are not just a stomach problem.
They’re often a nervous system problem first.
The Science: How Stress Directly Impacts the Horse’s Gut
Horses are prey animals.
Their bodies are designed to constantly scan for changes in their environment.
That system is controlled by the autonomic nervous system, which has two main branches:
Sympathetic (fight or flight)
Parasympathetic (rest, digest, repair)
When a horse spends too much time in a sympathetic state, several things happen:
1. Reduced Blood Flow to the Gut
Blood is redirected to muscles for survival.
This means:
less oxygen to the stomach lining
reduced ability to repair tissue
increased vulnerability to acid damage
2. Decreased Digestive Function
The parasympathetic system is responsible for digestion.
When it’s not active:
gastric emptying changes
enzyme production is altered
the gut becomes less efficient
3. Increased Cortisol
Chronic stress elevates cortisol. (Just like with humans)
Research has shown that elevated cortisol:
impacts immune function
alters gut barrier integrity
contributes to inflammation (which can ALSO cause other issues like allergies)
4. Behavioral + Physical Feedback Loop
This is where it gets missed.
A horse with ulcers:
becomes more reactive
braces more
struggles under saddle
That increases stress… which worsens the gut.
It becomes a loop. Its a horrible terrible loop most horse owners DREAD (me included).
What Research and Observation Both Show
Studies on equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) consistently link ulcers to:
confinement and limited turnout
high-concentrate, low-forage diets
intense training schedules
transportation and competition stress
But here’s the key point:
Even when those factors are improved…
some horses still don’t fully resolve
Why?
Because the nervous system has learned to stay on.
Why Supplements Alone Often Fall Short
Supplements can:
buffer acid
support the gut lining
improve microbiome balance
All important.
But they do not directly change:
the horse’s perception of safety
their baseline stress level
their nervous system state
So you can be doing “everything right”…
…and still not getting full results.
Where Regulation Comes In
For healing to happen, the body has to shift into a state where it can heal.
That means activating the parasympathetic nervous system.
In horses, this looks like:
licking and chewing
blinking and softening through the eye
lowering the head and neck
relaxed breathing
releasing through the body
This is not just “relaxation.” This is a biological state change that allows:
improved digestion
tissue repair
reduced inflammation
Now Let’s Talk About Energy (Without Leaving the Science Behind)
This is where some people tune out… but it’s worth understanding.
The body is not just chemical.
It is also electrical.
The heart produces an electromagnetic field
The nervous system runs on electrical signals
Cells communicate through electrical gradients
This isn’t just a theory.
So when we talk about “energy,” we’re not stepping outside science…We’re just talking about the body in a different language.
How This Connects to the Solar Plexus and Root Chakra
If you’re familiar with chakras, you’ll recognize these two immediately.
Root Chakra (Safety and Survival)
This relates to:
security
grounding
basic survival
In the physical body, this aligns closely with:
the nervous system’s threat detection
muscle tension patterns
the horse’s baseline sense of safety
A horse that does not feel safe will:
stay in sympathetic activation
struggle to relax
have difficulty regulating digestion
The root must be balanced for all the other chakras to follow it. Its the ‘root’ of you energetic tree.
Solar Plexus Chakra (Gut, Power, Processing)
This is where things get very interesting.
The solar plexus is directly associated with:
digestion
metabolism
personal power and processing
The solar plexus is also a real structure:
a network of nerves located behind the stomach.
This is part of the enteric nervous system, often referred to as the “second brain.”
This system:
communicates constantly with the brain
regulates digestion
responds to stress signals
So when people talk about “gut feelings” or “processing emotions”…
there is a real physiological basis for it.
Putting It All Together
When a horse is stuck in stress:
Root (safety) is compromised
Solar plexus (digestion) is affected
You see it as:
ulcers
tension
reactivity
inconsistency
You treat the gut…
…but if you don’t address the underlying state of the nervous system, the cycle continues.
Where This Is Going: A More Complete Approach
The most effective approach is not choosing one path.
It’s layering:
proper feeding and forage
thoughtful supplementation
turnout and movement
correct tack and comfort
bodywork
and nervous system regulation
This is where modalities like Reiki come in.
This is what I feel like is such a large missing piece of horse wellness. Regulation! Now there are a million and one ways to do it and it doesnt HAVE to be with Reiki, but Reiki not only helps to regulate, but to HEAL, which is why its one of my favorites.
TLDR; version
If your horse is dealing with ulcers, gut issues, or chronic tension…
Don’t just ask:
“What should I give them?”
Start asking:
“What state is their body in every day?”
Because healing doesn’t just depend on what goes into the horse.
It depends on whether their system is able to receive it.
Where Can My Horse Get Reiki?
If you’re working through ulcers, stress, or chronic tension with your horse and feel like something is missing…
I offer both in-person and virtual sessions that focus on:
nervous system regulation
bodywork
and energy-based support
You can learn more or book a session here:
👉 Click Here
If you just want to learn more about energy work click HERE
Or explore distance sessions if you’re not local.
Locally I travel to Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina for Reiki, Bodywork, and Bit Fitting.
Healing the gut means supporting the whole horse
Supplements matter. Nutrition matters. Management matters. But so does the nervous system. When safety improves, digestion can too.
A horse that feels safer in the body can often digest, process, and heal more effectively.
