pegasus mix and choke?

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CrackerJack1

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I've been feeding my cobX pegasus mix for about a month as that was the only not heating mix that the shop had in stock although he's never been too keen on it. He's normally on spillers cool mix or pasture mix. He has had two episodes of choke in the last fortnight although thankfully not particularly bad ones.

He has had choke once before about two years ago which was horrific- we (including the vet) thought he might have had grass sickness for about an hour as he lost all co-ordination, was sweating up and was rocking backwards all the time but not coughing or showing the other classic choke symptoms- thankfully as soon as he'd cleared the food he perked up. Looking back on it I think he was also on pegasus mix then.

Has anyone else had this happen? Could it just be this particular feed or do you think it more likely that he's just prone to choke?
 
I tried this mix a few years ago and found it quite sticky (it has a molasses coating), I didn't like it at all. And as it contains barley and maize was surprised that it was described as non-heating.

Perhaps a balancer fed with a handful of chaff would suit your boy better.

You have my sympathy, choke is horrible to see- quite dramatic, although once over the horse usually acts as though nothings happened.
 
My gelding had a scary but relatively minor bout of choke a few years ago. A friend almost lost her pony to choke around the same time. One of my DIY livery horses had the most horrendous episode a year or so later. All three happened while the horses were eating mix (not Pegasus). So I don't feed mix any more!
 
Add plenty of chaff to the mix and damp it well. Choke usually happens when horses eat too fast without chewing properly. If the horse is greedy place a large stone in the feed bowl.
 
CrackerJack1 said:
I've been feeding my cobX pegasus mix for about a month as that was the only not heating mix that the shop had in stock although he's never been too keen on it. He's normally on spillers cool mix or pasture mix. He has had two episodes of choke in the last fortnight although thankfully not particularly bad ones.

He has had choke once before about two years ago which was horrific- we (including the vet) thought he might have had grass sickness for about an hour as he lost all co-ordination, was sweating up and was rocking backwards all the time but not coughing or showing the other classic choke symptoms- thankfully as soon as he'd cleared the food he perked up. Looking back on it I think he was also on pegasus mix then.

Has anyone else had this happen? Could it just be this particular feed or do you think it more likely that he's just prone to choke?
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Yes, my horse got choke badly twice on this feed, must be drier than others. I soaked before feeding after the first episode but think it left her predisposed to it as she got it again.
 
Take him off mix altogether, just feed a balancer in some chaff which should also be made damp, all feed should have water added no mater what it is. Or a mash like fast fibre with a vit supplement.
Personally mix isn't a good food for horses anyway as their systems aren't designed to cope with the high sugar and starch levels found in cereal which they wouldn't normally eat ( horse ready meals ) in my mind, full of crap.
 
definately damp it down more-mine used to get very mild choke frequently, approx 30 sec of grunting and struggling to clear his throat as despite being a TB he's a greedy pig and bolts his food!

we tried putting a large granite block in the feed which worked until he became wise enough to tip the trug over and eject the block, then go back to pigging!

he's on a slightly different feed now (less chaff) but is a soakable mash which he has quite sloppy and he cant bolt that, so no more choke!
 
I can't feed my youngster any short feed that hasn't been soaked or she chokes. I have to put the speedi beet and mix ( Allen an Page ) both in to soak. She doesn't seem to eat fast. She has also choked on carrotts, no matter how they are cut up, so stopped giving them to her.
 
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