Soaking to prevent choke

Jane Ann Forbes Cumberland County, Virginia

I was interested to read “Choke” (First Response, EQUUS 465) because my horse, whom I’ve owned for 13 years, recently choked

Then he choked twice within four weeks. My horse always eats slowly, without rushing, and he had his teeth done just two weeks before the first incident.

I submit that the cause of the choke was the feed that he was switched to at his new barn. It’s for senior horses, and the pellets are small, tight and coated with molasses. That combination of extremely compact pellets with a coating of sugar is the perfect clog. A muzzle would help prevent choke with this product, but I’d rather either change feeds or be sure to soak it first. Other horses in this barn had choked on the same feed, and all are now getting that feed soaked. No more choking. Margie Robinson Montchanin, Delaware