Choking Horses: Prevention and TreatmentBy Kentucky Equine
Research Staff · October 25, 2008 Your horse is always happy to
see you approaching with a feed scoop in your hand. He's polite
enough not to trample you as you enter his stall, but he dances
from leg to leg right behind you as you dump the feed. As you
turn away, he can barely wait to get his head into the feed tub,
mouth wide-open for the biggest bite he can get. In no time at
all, his feeder is licked clean, and he's eagerly peering out of
his stall to see whether, by chance, there's another meal on the
way. Is this a familiar scenario at your barn? If so, your horse
might be at risk for choke, the term used to describe esophageal
obstruction caused by food or foreign matter. What are the signs
of choke? A choking horse may suddenly back away from the feed
tub and appear anxious or worried. He might extend his neck,
stand with his head down and legs spread wider than normal, and
repeatedly snort, cough, or make gagging noises. If the
condition is n