Choke looks spooky, especially to novice horse owners, but when handled correctly it usually resolves on its own. Horses don’t stop breathing like humans do when choke occurs. In time the chunk of apple or wad of food moves on in most cases. Horse owners will appreciate the counseling in this article, including the guidance to call their veterinarian. Consider it for social media posts or link to it in newsletters.
When a horse develops an obstruction in his esophagus, doing the wrong thing can turn a relatively minor event into a potentially life-threatening problem.”
Source: EQUUS, August 23, 2023. Link. When a wad of poorly chewed feed or a big chunk of apple gets stuck in a horse’s esophagus, the muscles may spasm and clamp it in place, causing him to cough, gag and produce prodigious amounts of drool and nasal discharge.