Jessica Jahiel's HORSE-SENSE Newsletter Archives

Altitude adjustment

From: Kym and Trent

Dear Jessica,

Thank you so much for all of the useful information you provide with Horse Sense. I am a recent subscriber, and have found it very informative.

My question is: Recently my father-in-law purchased two 5 yr appaloosa geldings for my husband and I. They are currently in Oklahoma. He's concerned with bringing the horses to Colorado (where we live) at this time because we cannot have them close to our house. The horses will only be about 1/4 of a mile away. However, he has stated that the altitude and weather adjustment would warrant that we keep them under close observation. Is he just being overly cautious? I'm not doubting him, however, I would like to know from the experts. He stated that he would rather wait until spring when the weather is better, and when we will be able to have the horses "in our backyard".

Again, thanks a lot for all your informative and helpful answers to our questions.

Kym

Hi Kym -- I have to agree with your father-in-law on this one. The move from Oklahoma isn't as drastic as, say, a move from Florida or Southern California would be, but it still represents a major change in climate and altitude.

There are ways of helping horses adjust to such changes: you can put blankets on the ones that don't have much of a winter coat, and that (plus free-choice hay) should keep them warm in their Colorado field. You can also feed probiotics to any horses experiencing changes of management, feed, weather, location -- as well as to any horses being stressed by travel, and indeed to any horses at all. But the best aid to your horses will be your own watchful eye. When horses react badly to changes, you need to be right there to act before a small problem becomes medical, before a medical problem becomes surgical, before a surgical problem becomes fatal.

It IS possible that your horses might make the transition easily, even without you there to watch over them, but why take the chance when you don't need to? Instead, use the time between now and spring to get ready for the horses, walk your pastures, check your fencing, fix your field shelter or barn, check that the water supply is plentiful and that there's nothing unsafe for horses in your pastures or wells. Then, when they arrive, you'll be absolutely ready for them -- and THEN you'll be able to monitor their condition closely during the first weeks in their new home. By that time, your father-in-law will have had the horses long enough to know them well, and he'll be able to tell you the details about their normal routine and behaviour. That will make it even easier for you to recognize the signs of something going wrong.

If you can wait a little longer, follow your father-in-law's advice -- as long as he's willing to keep the horses for you, that's great! Then you can move them in the spring, and everyone will feel better: you, the horses, and your father-in-law. ;-)

Jessica

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