Smart GI Ultra VS Succeed
I was wondering if anyone has any experience with either of these being better than the other.
I just finished my first carton of Succeed, and it did do the job–Horse’s appetite perked up & he appears to have put on a few pounds*, but it’s probably his winter woolies because a short month’s supply probably wouldn’t show results.
But, being horse poor I’m looking for a less-expensive alternative. I’ve shopped Smartpac & made use of their comparison chart. Still debating what to try.
*Horse is a tall rangy WB who looks like a TB. He’s 29, and has lately lost a lot of weight. Teeth are good, worming is on time; vet says his hind gut isn’t doing its job. Yesterday, just to see why he’s leaving the alfalfa stems behind, I chopped up the stems and mixed them in with the leaves–which made a difference in how much he ate. I don’t know if the stems hurt his mouth or if he’s just getting pickier than usual. (I’m reminded of some of my older relatives who preferred ground beef to steaks because it was easier to eat.)
The fact that SmartGI Ultra is ColiCare eligible makes me lean towards the smartpak option. I signed my mare up for the SmartGut Ultra and she has not dropped any weight since having her on it. SmartPak really stands behind their products. Signing up for a ColiCare was incredibly easy . BO had a SmartPak rep come out and talk to all boarders individually and helped compare products and sign those eligible up for the program.
I know a few horses at my trainers barn who are on Succeed and they like the product. So I believe both products work well, it really comes down to if your horse will eat it and whether you see if it is working after a month or so.
I have had a couple of horses with hind gut issues, but Succeed has always been rather out of my price range for ongoing maintenance. One of the primary ingredients in Succeed is oat flour. I buy it at the local bulk food store and it was very successful in addressing both horse’s hind gut issues. You might give it a try - it is inexpensive and easy to feed and both horses gobbled it right up. Others have had similar results if you do a search on here.
I have one on SmartGI Ultra and saw a big improvement with him. He was mildly ulcery; just kind of grouchy, girthy, ate his grain but slowly and would sometimes leave some grain to finish throughout the day/night. I did a week of ulcer guard and saw some improvement in his attitude, and then started the SmartPak immediately following (just how the order lined up). About a week after starting the SmartPak, he was not just not grouchy but bright and happy, and vacuuming up his grain every feeding. Granted with the close timing between the SmartGI Ultra and ulcer guard, it’s a bit hard to tell which had the most impact, but I do believe the supplement had a very positive effect on him. He continues to stay on it and has had no issue in the year since starting it. I have not tried Succeed, so no experience there. But I’m very happy with SmartGI Ultra, and so is the beast 
The nice thing about Succeed Vs SMart pack is that if your horse is off feed and not eating …the syringes of Succeed paste is the way to go…this way you know the horse is getting it…I usually do 60 days Succeed then transition to Smartpack
I have been using Succeed very successfully in my horse for the past 3 years. I was just looking at switching him to the SmartCombo Ultimate Pellets but the price is almost double the cost of Succeed! Someone mentioned feeding oar flour and I am wondering how much people feed daily or per feeding?
I haven’t tried Succeed yet, but SmartGIUltra didn’t work for us, sadly. I started it while we were still in the full tube stage of Gastrogard (we did 6 weeks based on scope results at 4 weeks). About 2 months after we ended the taper, I thought I was seeing ulcer symptoms again (over-reacting to noises; she never went off her feed) and we scoped again. One of the original ulcers still wasn’t completely healed (cue sounds of despair) and there was a new, smaller one. I expected that the SmartGI would at least prevent the new one… have since switched to Purina Outlast (and treated with sucralfate), but the Outlast doesn’t seem to be enough either as shortly after we ended the sucralfate, the symptoms returned AGAIN! Am thinking I might try U7 next. She’s already on SmartGutUltra so Succeed doesn’t seem like it makes sense.
I fed my previous horses oat flour and typically fed 1/4 cup per feeding. Really helped with hindgut issues.
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@leheath - this is something I have been looking into as well. How I know there is other natural additives you can feed, but is this something you can feed consistently without any long term negative effects? I know with some of the prescription drugs, long term use to heal stomach ulcers can actually cause hind gut ulcers due to limiting the acid in the stomach.
@raisethebar I fed oat flour to my horses for years with no ill effects so I feel it is safe for long term use. Yes, long term use of omeprazole definitely has the potential for undesirable side effects and is not really recommended. I only use omeprazole to treat a clear case of ulcers, then wean off and use only during times of stress (shipping and showing).
Ieheath…is this oat flour that can be bought at the grocery store , and how much did you feed ?
If your horse is off feed the Succeed oral paste syringes is the way to go …I like to do 60-90 Days …after that the Smart GI Ultra works well …but I’ve discovered Equine Elixirs Ulceraser …great stuff …per the owner of the company…it’s meant to be compared to Succeed …it’s half the price ! I’ve had good luck with it !
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Yes, oat flour from the grocery store and I fed 1/4 cup per feeding.
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I have some Succeed for sale if anyone is interested. 180 day supply unopened and a second 180 day supply opened (missing ~20 days).
I’m actually using this now - LOVE IT!!! So far - great results, excited to get on my boy today as the cold freeze finally is coming to an end in my area. I would highly recommend it so far!
Succeed doesn’t work i tried it on my one gelding it did absolutely nothing for him. Won’t waste my money on succeed. Use the real ulcer treatment do 28 or 30 days then done. No keeping horse on ulcer preventatives. No supplements i just feed alfalfa hay.
The gelding i tried it on supposedly had hindgut ulcers. Gelding i currently own won’t eat any supplements added to feed. So i don’t waste money on buying supplements.
