Horses are naturally grazers. Their physiology, particularly a relatively small stomach, suits a steady, consistent intake of food. Some will be perfectly happy like this, eating small amounts over the course of a day. However, others are greedy or learn a different behaviour and devour meals quickly. Feed bolting like this can lead to serious problems. We want to have a closer look here, then you can rely on us if you need to order horse feed.

What is it?

As we already said, feed bolting is when horses eat their meals too quickly. They get the food down as fast as possible, barely pausing to chew. Many horses learn this bad behaviour when they are young if they see other animals doing it. Some are simply greedy or get too excited for the meal.

You can see feed bolting quite often in herds of horses. It happens here because there is a hierarchy. Competition for food can cause some animals to worry about missing out. As a result, they try to eat as much as they can as fast as possible. It’s most likely with older and less dominant horses.

Some horses also resort to eating quickly if there are restrictions in forage or feed times are inconsistent. Again it often comes from a fear of missing out. If they have been neglected and without food for a period, they might devour food because they are starving. This shows how important it is to ensure you provide easy access to forage and horse feed.

Finally, bolting can become an issue for horses with dental problems. This includes missing teeth, sensitivity, and pain. They may have issues chewing or avoid drinking water.

The dangers

Feed bolting can be very dangerous for horses. The most significant problem it can cause is choke. What happens here is food gets stuck in the oesophagus because it hasn’t been chewed enough to sufficiently break down and moisten it with saliva. Unlike humans, the horse will still be able to breathe, but the blockage can lead to pneumonia. In the worst cases, the oesophagus could rupture.

It’s also important to note horses that suffer choke have a higher chance of it happening again in the future. A blockage can cause scarring on the oesophagus. As a result, it becomes narrower, meaning forage and horse feed is more likely to get stuck.

Choke isn’t the only issue with feed bolting. It can actually have a big impact on overall health and wellbeing. It will reduce nutrient absorption because the food isn’t broken down enough to digest. So, horses could end up with various deficiencies.

Want help to find the ideal horse feed?

Owners should be prioritising the health and wellbeing of their horses. A big part of this is ensuring they have a great diet and get the nutrients they need. There is a lot to look at, including behaviours like feed bolting.

If you need horse feed, you can rely on JS Hubbuck Ltd. We’re a family business with a fantastic history. Providing high quality products and excellent services is second nature to us. So, get in touch today and see what we have to offer.