I have a 2006 mare that we have had for 5 yrs now, she is a barrel/pole horse. The first 3 years we had no issues with her then 2 yrs ago she started to have gate issues and last year we went a few times and she absolutley refused. I can only lighlty ride her at home. If I ask her to lope she just completely stops. I treated her for ulcers this spring at the U of M and she was cleared after 8 weeks of gastro gaurd treatment. I also had cranio sacral release done on her. She was good for about a month after completing her ulcer treatment but now is back to how she was prior to treating her for ulcers. Can ulcers come back that quickly? I have been told her back is sore so I am pretty certain that is contributing to her issues. Treating her for the ulcers was not cheap and I dont have the funds to have a thorough workup done on her to determine what else is going on. She has impecable breeding (cow lines), but she is a maiden mare. She is a nice mare and I am considering selling her as a broodmare but at her age and she is maiden I dont even know if that is an option. I wont put her thru a sale, she is too nice. Looking for suggestions? Thanks.

If you cant do a full workup then do part of it at a time when you can afford.  You will spend more money guessing.  There a reason for ulcers and back soreness.  I would start at the bottom and work my way up.  start with the feet.  Have your feet guy do hoof testers and go from there.  if she shore in feet get opinion on your angles and if you need xrays. 

Back soreness can be caused from so many things! Good luck!

Ulcers can be an ongoing issue if you are not careful.   What does she eat?   A horse needs something in their gut at all times, or yes, Ulcers can come back that quickly.   Especially if the mare is anxious because she's sore and you're expecting her to work.   I would suggest a daily ulcer supplement as well as good hay in front of the horse at all times. 

I realize you said you can't afford a vet work up.    Unfortunately, horses are expensive critters.   I would call around and get some estimates on what a vet workup would cost from different vets in your area.  Maybe they have payment plans.     

Problem is, you'll go through the same issue with another horse, most likely, if you sell this one and do the same things.     

They can develop ulcers within 24 hours. And often the omeprazole treatment will cause them to recur itself. Once you buffer the acid for so long, the body begins to overproduce. Well what happens when you're done with the treatment? You've got high levels of acid in ther gut now. Treatments have to be use simultaneously with a preventative of choice. Some use Zesterra, Aloe Vera juice, Gastro-Plex, U-Gard, etc. There's a ton of options. I got my gelding caught in that cycle many times not knowing, my local vet didn't warn me. I can get the omeprazole compounded with sucralfate for hind gut from one of my other vets, a full 30 day cycle is $220 that way. Try seeing if your vet can get you something cheaper. Or I think some have had success using the Abler brand omeprazole, it's very cost efficient. And put your horse on a preventative once you start the treatment and leave her on it. If your issues were resolved originally by treating, I would try treating again. And get as much alfalfa into her diet as you can and feed her the least amount of grain possible, preferably a lot NSC with no molasses or corn in it. When you compete/haul also give a gastric paste, such as Gastro-Plex or a partial tube of omeprazole. Their backs can get sore from ulcers as well, use Draw It Out or another liniment on it daily to relax muscles 

My mare refuses to lope when her kissing spine starts to hurt again after injections wear off. Also when her SI injections have worn off. If your issue continues that might be a place to start looking 

She is turned out 10 to 12 hours a day and get Purina Healthy Edge with Outlast. 

thank you that is very helpful info. I am thinking she will need a daily ulcer supplement of some kind. Thinking of getting a product from smartpak. 

If they have ulcers once they will get them again. You may not need a daily supplement but possibly just something to soothe while travelling or at events. Sucralfate tabs dissolved in syringe then into the mouth work well and are cheaper than u-guard. Sounds like it could also be pain related. Maybe try in conjunction something to take the anxiety away (chloropromazine etc). Pain causes anxiety causes ulcers causes anxiety and it goes round and round.

14 is certainly not too old to breed.

Ulcers are a merry~go~round ride that is very hard to get off of. Once it's started. 

None of mine have had ulcer issues so far but I add a scoop of Greek yogurt for my herds  morning and evening grain.  Just like with people yogurt is a great preventative for ulcers. You just have to make sure that the yogurt has "live coultures" in it.  

A 14 year old maiden mare is not too old to breed. We breed our 8 year old maiden mare this year by AI and she took with the first try.  

Quit putting her in a stall. 

She is never put in a stall. I dont stall at night she goes into a large pen and during the day she is turned out.

Save up money,have you ever had her scoped?you cant just not do what she needs,its our responsibility  to take care of our animals,make sure ulcers really are the problem,before you keep focusing so hard on them.

Yes I had her treated at the U of M for ulcers where she was scoped. It was determined she did have ulcers. I treated her and then she was rescoped to see if the ulcers were gone on July 13. She was cleared of ulcers on July 13. The treatment and appointments all together cost me approximately $3000.

I'm sorry you are going through that. We have found a cost effective ulcer maintenance therapy with NeutraBac pH. Ulcers are never "cured", they are just managed so we feel NeutraBac is affordable to maintain ulcers.

http://www.runninblivestock.com/neutrabac-ph/