Choking Concerns?
Bolting food is a common problem with horses and one that can cause many issues. Bolting food and poor chewing can result in food being swallowed in large masses resulting in a blockage of the oesophagus, causing considerable pain as it is slowly forced down into the stomach. This is when choke can occur. Unable to bring the food back up, a horse with choke can appear extremely distressed and may even show signs similar to the onset of colic (sweating, pawing the ground, straining).
Chewing is the first part of the digestion process and it’s essential that food is digested properly to avoid any unnecessary damage. To stop your horse bolting his food, certain measures can be taken. Adding long fibre, such as chaff, to your horse’s feed and dampening it down with water, will increase chewing time. The inclusion of lumps of food such as succulents should be avoided.
Most dry feeds will expand in water (just like breakfast cereal does with milk). Allen & Page Horse Feeds recommend you mix your horse’s hard feed with plenty of water, allow the feed to absorb the water and then mix it well with chaff before feeding.
For more help and advice on how to feed your horse, simply call the Allen & Page Helpline on 01362 822902 or email helpline@allenandpage.co.uk
