Another Choke
The new buckets for feeding the horses have been working well for me. Cyndie arrived home from a weekend away and I was excited to show off the new routine for her yesterday evening. Her ankle is still a little sensitive to the pressure applied by her winter boot, but she made a go of it and joined Asher and me in the barn.
Naturally, things didn’t go as smoothly as the last three feedings. Mia was overly anxious about moving past both Light and Mix to get across to where I’d been hanging her bucket. Instead of simply moving the strap for her bucket to where she was standing, I focused on trying to coax her over.
In hindsight, I fear we may have contributed to her subsequently inhaling her food too fast. It seemed like the horses had finally all settled down to eat. Cyndie and I were about to wrap things up, after practicing a few back-to-basics training with Asher in the barn. Then I noticed Mia had returned to the far side and she was lying down.
Uh oh. That is not normal behavior. Well, not normal for healthy, happy horses during feeding time. I looked into her bucket and verified she hadn’t even finished eating. She was rolling back and forth, getting up, then laying down again. Her early signs were mostly indicative of colic but eventually, she began coughing which is very normal behavior for having choked on her food.
When we initially suspected colic, it became important for us to get Mia up and walking. It was a bit of a trick to get a halter on her in the anxious and uncomfortable state Mia was in, but Cyndie eventually succeeded. That allowed us to attach a lead rope so I could coerce Mia into walking as a way of preventing her from lying down.
That was a little dicey for me at first because the other three horses had gotten a little jumpy and were crowding us which was making it hard for me to feel safe. Meanwhile, Mia began to cough up great blasts of air and spray I was dodging as well.
Daylight was fading, Cyndie had taken Asher back to the house, she was calling the Vet, and looking for meds that would help Mia if it was colic. I was trying not to panic and stay out of trouble while attempting to keep Mia up and walking.
As fast as the chaos started, things seemed to calm considerably. Mia’s productive coughing and the walking appeared to be easing her discomfort. The other horses decided to leave us alone and stood over by the dying willow tree. Cyndie returned with instructions from the Vet.
For the next few days, we need to monitor Mia for any after-effects. We will also return to adding water to moisten her food like I did a year ago after the first time she choked.
It’s a hassle but will be worth it to protect her from the unsettling discomfort and risks of an equine choke episode.
Horse fact: Choke in horses doesn’t interfere with the ability to breathe. So, unlike choking in people, it does not pose an immediate threat to life.
Here’s hoping Mia suffers no additional problems from yesterday’s dramatic affair.
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Relative Something 
I’m glad Mia got through and that’s an interesting fact about Horse choking. Thanks for sharing.
Catsandcoffee
December 5, 2023 at 9:56 am
Thank you for your support!
johnwhays
December 5, 2023 at 10:05 am
Choke is very scary and we have experienced it a few times and have one that is a repeat choker and has had to have help to resolve it. I think most feeds are just too dry.
All of our horses get watered down feed no matter what. Annoying and time consuming (especially for those with real winter, but I find it is worth it and works best). I also make sure each horse has their own quiet alone place to eat feed so they do not feel pressured or rushed. A stall. A pen. Or their own tie space. They get put up and allowed time to settle before feeding as sometimes they get too excited (especially if they have run in. They are all turned out together.) and that will lead to them eating too quickly. All are fed wet with a chopped hay mixed in their feed to help slow them down and encourage thorough chewing (a common practice I think in Europe? I could be wrong. I know many who do it in the UK). The one more prone to choke gets fed in a slow feeder bowl. I think the wetness works best over the slow feeder. It is pretty crazy how much water these feeds need to get full soft depending on your need. Most senior feeds that 3x water to food! And hay pellets take a very long time to actually break down. After eating I have them stay in their space for a little while too. They learn they have the time they need and can relax.
Good luck! I am glad everything turned out ok. I am sorry for the scare! It is very dramatic.
Avery
December 5, 2023 at 8:55 am
It also helps to have a larger surface area for the feed to be in, instead of a narrow deep bucket where they can shove their head down and get too much in their mouth at one time. A long trough or a wide low bucket. They have to use their lips more and only get smaller amounts in their mouths at a time.
Avery
December 5, 2023 at 8:58 am
Yes! We’ve been instructed to change back to our flat feed pans for Mia and will be soaking her feed from now on. I suffer with the hassles of dealing with water during our freezing winter conditions, but we do what we must for our beautiful beasts.
johnwhays
December 5, 2023 at 10:04 am
Yes we do! Also, feeding on the ground helps as well. Whatever we can do to get as close to grazing as possible.
Avery
December 5, 2023 at 10:06 am
Thank you for sharing that super amount of detail! I sure wish our small herd of 4 would know our routine by now and respect each other enough to mind their own food. Some days it works, some days it doesn’t.
johnwhays
December 5, 2023 at 10:02 am
Yes, that would be nice, but horses do not work like that! lol ❤
Avery
December 5, 2023 at 10:05 am