Narrowing of the trachea

Jade, 5yrold Otstdbd was retired because she has a narrowing of the trachea.

On her first day here, she almost choked on her hay and scared the bejeebers out of me. After a few days of wet and well-spread hay, she got over it. She also had to learn how to graze. Stupid me, because other horses were in the paddock where I got her from and there was hay in her stall, I thought she was used to this. Apparently not.

Anyway, she's been fine as far as I know other than that. Up until yesterday... she had some kind of obstruction in her throat after having her well-soaked beet pulp and pellets. I got it cleared up quickly and no harm done, but it got me thinking that this is something I'm really going to have to watch with her. I am making her eat her food slowly (obstacles in her feed dish) so that I don't have to worry about that anymore, but any other ideas?

Does anyone have any experience with this? I searched the 'net, but couldn't find anything and it's not in my horsey books at home. I'm really hoping that her more balanced muscle development will eventually help -- simply keeping her head down to graze all day I'm sure must be a benefit. Is this something I should find out more about next time the vet is here? Should I have it scoped if my local vet can do that?

You should definitely ask the vet any questions you have concerning your horses health. I once knew a horse , an older palomino gelding named wouter, who if he even got ONE stick of hay, would almost chock to death.

I don't think it's a huge issue since the previous owner didn't even know she had this condition until he raced her unsuccessfully and then had the vet find out why she couldn't maintain her speed for a long enough distance.

I'm just wondering how the narrowed trachea could make her choke... I mean food *should* go down the oesophagus and not affect the trachea at all. I can see how the narrowed trachea affects her breathing and hence performance but it sounds odd that it sholud make her choke. But I could be wrong. I'm basing this on my knowledge of human anatomy and physiology, lol not all of it can be applied to horses!

SC -- this is part of what I'm trying to figure out. I have looked for a good image of the breathing and digestive anatomy together and haven't found one yet. If anyone finds one, I'd love to know about it. Maybe it doesn't affect it at all and she is just still learning how to eat proper horse food.