THE FOOD PIPE (OESOPHAGUS)

The food pipe is the link between the horse’s mouth and stomach. The food pipe in a horse is superficially located and it is quite easy to see a ‘lump’ of swallowed food move down the left side of the pipe.

The food pipe of a horse is sensitive. The the feed is not properly wet through with saliva or if the horse has consumed something that it finds difficult to digest, there is a risk of the horse suffering from choke. This is when the food pipe gets blocked with parts of food. Horses that tend to rush their feeding ought to be fed on the floor/ground in order to reduce the risk of choke.