See Millie. See Millie buy a horse. See Millie panic. Run, Millie, Run!
Yes, as you heard on Episode 1, we are the proud owners of a 15 hand hackney cross with a choking issue. He is a sweet boy who is literally afraid of his own shadow. I’m. Not. Joking. He came from Amish country and is happiest when driving his little cart with his blinders on.
We are thrilled and terrified. I never in a million years thought I would own a horse. They’re giant, they’re expensive, and they’re easily broken. Seriously, for such giant animals, they are stupid fragile! We have no idea what we’re doing, so you can look forward to many entertaining anecdotes about all the ways we’ve screwed up. You’re welcome!
We made light of it in the episode, but, since horse choke is actually really serious, I thought I’d put a little information here for any of you who may also experience the joy of buying a horse who doesn’t know how to chew.
Horse choke, also known as esophageal obstruction, is a condition that occurs when a horse’s esophagus becomes blocked, preventing food or other material from passing through. This blockage can cause discomfort and potentially lead to serious health complications if not promptly resolved.
One of the most common causes of horse choke is when a horse eats too quickly or consumes large amounts of food without chewing it thoroughly. This can result in the formation of a food bolus or an impaction in the esophagus, blocking the normal flow of ingested material.
I’m not a veterinarian, so I’m not going to go into all the details because I don’t want to get sued. For a thorough description, symptoms, and treatment, please visit the American Association of Equine Practitioners here.
Suffice it to say, if you suspect your horse is choking, call your veterinarian immediately as it can be deadly.
So, how do we keep him from choking? (No, we do NOT chew his food and spit it into his mouth, but my daughter would if she thought it would help.) We soak his grain into a soup, get him regular dental care, and make sure he’s drinking lots and lots of water.
Here’s the excerpt for your listening pleasure. For the full episode, click here.