other way to stop a horse from bolting at its feed

Question
QUESTION: hello, is there any way to stop a horse from bolting at its feed except keeping a large pebble stone in the feed tub of the horse?

ANSWER: Hi Caine,

Thank you for your question.  Wetting your horse's grain 10 minutes prior to feeding may slow down your horses eating, but more importantly it will prevent the bolted feed from causing choke in your horse.  The only other alternative would be to feed very small portions at a time so that there really isn't enough food available to bolt.

Thanks, Corlena

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: madam, what does happens if i wet the horse grain 10 minutes prior to feeding? how come the horse starts eat slowly the wet grain? interesting answer. i like it. please explain me madam.

Answer
Hi Caine,

Thank you for your question.  By wetting your feed prior to feeding you create a mash of feed.  Mashes are a little unnatural for horses to eat so they tend to pick at it a little slower than they would dry feed.  More importantly, feed that has soaked in water has absorbed as much water as it's going to before it is swallowed.  The greatest risk a horse encounters in bolting their feed is that the food block the esophagus and cause choke.  The blockage can be blamed either on the fact that the food did not have enough time to mix with saliva to form a bolus that is easy to swallow, or because the feed did not begin to absorb saliva (and swell) until it reaches the esophagus...and the swelling of the food causes the choke.  Soaking the food eliminates both of the choke risks involved with a horse bolting its food.

Thanks, Corlena