Aloe Vera for Horses: Supporting Ulcer Prevention and Recovery
- Iron Will Performance Nutrition Team
- Sep 3
- 3 min read
Equine gastric ulcers are one of the most common health problems in performance horses. Studies estimate that 60–90% of horses in competition develop ulcers at some point in their careers. Ulcers can quietly reduce performance, affect appetite, cause weight loss, and even change behavior in subtle ways.
While pharmaceutical treatments like omeprazole are often prescribed, they can be expensive and do not always address the underlying causes. This is why many horse owners and equine nutritionists are turning to natural, long-term solutions such as aloe vera to both support recovery and help prevent ulcers from recurring.
What Causes Ulcers in Horses?
Ulcers develop when the protective lining of the horse’s stomach is compromised by excess acid or irritation.
Common causes include:
High-grain or low-forage diets → Horses are designed to graze continuously, producing stomach acid around the clock. Feeding large grain meals or limiting forage leaves acid unbuffered.
Stress from travel and competition → Hauling, new environments, and show pressure elevate cortisol, increasing ulcer risk.
Intense training → Exercise increases stomach acid splash, irritating the lining.
Medications → Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like phenylbutazone can damage the gastric mucosa when used long-term.
Stall confinement → Reduced turnout and chewing time decrease saliva production, which normally buffers acid.
Because these factors are so common in performance horses, ulcers often require a combination of treatment, recovery, and prevention strategies.
Aloe Vera: Nature’s Digestive Protector
Aloe vera has been used for centuries in both human and veterinary medicine for its soothing, healing properties. For horses, research suggests it may play a role in both the recovery from ulcers and the prevention of new ones forming.
How Aloe Vera Works
Forms a protective coating: Aloe contains polysaccharides that act as a natural buffer, coating the stomach lining to reduce irritation.
Anti-inflammatory effects: Bioactive compounds like acemannan reduce inflammation and irritation in the digestive tract.
Supports healing: Aloe promotes tissue regeneration, helping damaged stomach lining repair itself.
Antioxidant properties: By reducing oxidative stress, aloe may help protect gastric cells from further injury.
Gut flora support: Some studies suggest aloe vera has prebiotic qualities, encouraging a healthier gut microbiome.
In fact, research has shown that aloe vera gel can be as effective as omeprazole in improving gastric ulcer scores in horses over a 28-day period. While more studies are needed, these findings are promising for horse owners seeking long-term, natural support.
Additional Benefits of Aloe Vera
for Horses Under Stress
Ulcers rarely happen in isolation. They are often a symptom of larger stressors that affect performance horses. Aloe vera’s properties extend beyond ulcer care:
Supports hydration and electrolyte balance → Aloe contains compounds that help retain fluids, important during travel or heavy training.
Calms cortisol-related stress → By soothing the gut, aloe indirectly reduces stress responses in horses.
Aids in nutrient absorption → A healthier gut means better utilization of feed, forage, and supplements.
Anti-inflammatory support → This can help not only the digestive tract but also systemic stress from training and performance.
In other words, aloe vera helps create a healthier foundation for horses to perform, recover, and thrive.
Putting It All Together: Aloe Vera in 6 PAC Equine
For horse owners, the challenge is finding a reliable, high-quality aloe vera source that delivers these benefits consistently. That’s why 6 PAC Equine includes a unique, concentrated strain of aloe vera, carefully processed to retain its bioactive compounds.
But ulcer management isn’t just about aloe — it’s about addressing the whole picture of equine stress. That’s why 6 PAC Equine combines aloe vera with:
Essential amino acids to repair muscles and support recovery.
Chromium to balance blood sugar and cortisol, reducing stress.
Natural Vitamin E for antioxidant protection.
EPA/DHA from fish oil to combat inflammation.
Pre- and probiotics to stabilize the gut microbiome.
Together, these ingredients create an all-in-one solution that supports both ulcer recovery and prevention, while also tackling the hidden stressors that compromise performance.
If your horse is recovering from ulcers — or you want to prevent them from developing under the stress of training, hauling, or competition — 6 PAC Equine offers aloe vera plus five other key ingredients in one scoop.
It’s designed to simplify your feed room while giving your horse the digestive, joint, immune, and stress support they need to perform at their best.
References
MadBarn. Aloe Vera for Horses with Ulcers. Available at: https://madbarn.com/aloe-vera-for-horses-with-ulcers
Ali BH, Al-Qarawi AA, et al. (2002). Gastroprotective effect of aqueous extract of aloe vera in rats. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 82(2–3), 199–204.
Al-Harbi NO, Imam F, Nadeem A, et al. (2014). Aloe vera ameliorates ulcerative colitis in rats by modulating oxidative stress and inflammatory response. Inflammopharmacology, 22(6), 389–396.
Nieto JE, Snyder JR, et al. (2016). Evaluation of aloe vera in the treatment of gastric ulcers in horses. Equine Veterinary Journal, 48(6), 706–712.
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