Moving Horse from Mild Climate to COLD Climate

babyruth · 02-12-2008, 05:51 AM

Does anyone have any advice on how to better prepare a horse for a transition between a mild climate in the southeast to a significantly colder area?

Katsportsfreak · 02-12-2008, 06:07 AM

I don't but I'm very curious as well as I'm looking at buying a horse from FL ( from a memeber on here) but its alot colder here then it is there.

haunani · 02-12-2008, 06:26 AM

You mean like from northern florida to iowa?

I moved Meteor up here when I did in late 2006. He came up at the very end of September, at which time we were already getting down to freezing temps at night.

The first barn I had him at he wore blankets, as he was in a paddock with a north facing shelter and was only feed 2-4 flakes of hay per day (much of which was eaten by his dominant pasutre mate). He didn't have the hay to keep him warm, so he wore a blanket. Less than a month later, though, I moved him to a new place that had a south facing shelter and free choice hay. He was also in his own paddock, so no one to chase him off from the hay or the shelter. The day after he moved there I took off his blanket and he didn't need it again the rest of the winter, even through sub-zero temps.

For peace of mind, I would get at least a MW blanket to have on hand, if they need it. I still have Meteor's just in case (and need to get one for Mars).

Is your horse going to be stabled or 24/7 pasture? I think that can play a role, as well.

Karen Horse · 02-12-2008, 06:53 AM

I live in Ohio. Im told just to make sure the have hay because hay keeps them warm. Horses dont lose drop in body temperature till its 14 degrees F. Make sure their water don't freeze because then there is a greater chance for colic. My horses are mostly stabled with 12 other horses in the barn so we just keep all the doors closed (except a crack) so they can keep each other all warmed.
Hope that helped...

babyruth · 02-12-2008, 07:24 AM

Well, I am in the mild climate of Alabama and staying here but one of our horses is relocating...so I am more wanting to know what I can do on this end to make him more prepared for the chilly shock of where he is heading. Here, he is blanketed in a stall in a fully enclosed barn at night and he has never seen a hard freeze in his life - mid thirties are about as rough as he has seen it with the exception of a couple of times.

I guess what I am asking is that for his last couple of weeks here, should we stop blanketing him since we were really doing it to minimize winter coat growth in case we had him come show season. Maybe by doing that instead of encouraging the shedding of the winter coat he did grow, it will keep him looking like a sasquatch for his new home?

I just want to minimize shock within the transition as much as possible....

Xiphias · 02-12-2008, 07:47 AM

I would not change what you are doing, as he is used to that now, but make sure that he has a warmer blanket to wear at his new colder home...Cathy

babyruth · 02-12-2008, 08:01 AM

The blanket he is in now is medium weight - where he is going it is below zero at times! Maybe I will sew some little pockets inside the blanket and fill them with those hand warmer things that hunters use!

Xiphias · 02-12-2008, 08:10 AM

A nice heavy weight Rambo would do the trick! Cathy

AQHA Hunter · 02-12-2008, 08:18 AM

What sort of situation is he going into? I wouldn't want to move him from a warm comfy barn into a pasture situation right away. If he's going into another barn, I think he should be fine. Also, he's not moving in the dead of winter, so it shouldn't be too bad. I agree, just put a bit warmer blanket on him and he should acclimate just fine.

mtgirl · 02-12-2008, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AQHA Hunter

What sort of situation is he going into? I wouldn't want to move him from a warm comfy barn into a pasture situation right away. If he's going into another barn, I think he should be fine. Also, he's not moving in the dead of winter, so it shouldn't be too bad. I agree, just put a bit warmer blanket on him and he should acclimate just fine.

He is coming to Montana, it has been below zero here and we have a ton of snow. All of our horses are out in pasture, but they can go in the barn if they like (they never do).

So basically, just a heavier blanket, when he gets here should I keep him in the barn for awhile?

thanks for all the great advice

02-12-2008, 05:51 AM	#1
babyruth Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pawnee, AL Posts: 2,131 Images: 259	Moving Horse from Mild Climate to COLD Climate Does anyone have any advice on how to better prepare a horse for a transition between a mild climate in the southeast to a significantly colder area?

02-12-2008, 06:07 AM	#2
Katsportsfreak Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Reading Pa Posts: 794 Images: 97 Blog Entries: 7	I don't but I'm very curious as well as I'm looking at buying a horse from FL ( from a memeber on here) but its alot colder here then it is there. __________________ Whisky Girl(Qh/TB) ,Troy boy(Saddlebred), Secert(QH), RIP Stormy (OTTB) ,Proud Member of the Paint Club!! ~ Proud Member of the Thoroughbred Club Times fallen off this year so far: 7 I've been Snowballed

02-12-2008, 06:26 AM	#3
haunani Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: currently Marion, IA... soon to be Newfield, NY Posts: 3,337 Images: 237 Blog Entries: 1	You mean like from northern florida to iowa? I moved Meteor up here when I did in late 2006. He came up at the very end of September, at which time we were already getting down to freezing temps at night. The first barn I had him at he wore blankets, as he was in a paddock with a north facing shelter and was only feed 2-4 flakes of hay per day (much of which was eaten by his dominant pasutre mate). He didn't have the hay to keep him warm, so he wore a blanket. Less than a month later, though, I moved him to a new place that had a south facing shelter and free choice hay. He was also in his own paddock, so no one to chase him off from the hay or the shelter. The day after he moved there I took off his blanket and he didn't need it again the rest of the winter, even through sub-zero temps. For peace of mind, I would get at least a MW blanket to have on hand, if they need it. I still have Meteor's just in case (and need to get one for Mars). Is your horse going to be stabled or 24/7 pasture? I think that can play a role, as well. __________________ Carmen & Meteor & Mars I've been Snowballed!

02-12-2008, 07:47 AM	#6
Xiphias Senior Member+ Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Maryland, horse country USA Posts: 16,718 Images: 627 Blog Entries: 29	I would not change what you are doing, as he is used to that now, but make sure that he has a warmer blanket to wear at his new colder home...Cathy __________________ Member COL Club- hand over the Oil of Olay and nobody gets hurt! http://www.freewebs.com/xiphias21034/ I was on HGS the day we made 2 million posts and 3 million posts

02-12-2008, 08:10 AM	#8
Xiphias Senior Member+ Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Maryland, horse country USA Posts: 16,718 Images: 627 Blog Entries: 29	A nice heavy weight Rambo would do the trick! Cathy __________________ Member COL Club- hand over the Oil of Olay and nobody gets hurt! http://www.freewebs.com/xiphias21034/ I was on HGS the day we made 2 million posts and 3 million posts

02-12-2008, 06:53 AM	#4
Karen Horse Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: not important Posts: 307 Images: 39	I live in Ohio. Im told just to make sure the have hay because hay keeps them warm. Horses dont lose drop in body temperature till its 14 degrees F. Make sure their water don't freeze because then there is a greater chance for colic. My horses are mostly stabled with 12 other horses in the barn so we just keep all the doors closed (except a crack) so they can keep each other all warmed. Hope that helped...

02-12-2008, 07:24 AM	#5
babyruth Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pawnee, AL Posts: 2,131 Images: 259	Well, I am in the mild climate of Alabama and staying here but one of our horses is relocating...so I am more wanting to know what I can do on this end to make him more prepared for the chilly shock of where he is heading. Here, he is blanketed in a stall in a fully enclosed barn at night and he has never seen a hard freeze in his life - mid thirties are about as rough as he has seen it with the exception of a couple of times. I guess what I am asking is that for his last couple of weeks here, should we stop blanketing him since we were really doing it to minimize winter coat growth in case we had him come show season. Maybe by doing that instead of encouraging the shedding of the winter coat he did grow, it will keep him looking like a sasquatch for his new home? I just want to minimize shock within the transition as much as possible....

02-12-2008, 08:01 AM	#7
babyruth Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pawnee, AL Posts: 2,131 Images: 259	The blanket he is in now is medium weight - where he is going it is below zero at times! Maybe I will sew some little pockets inside the blanket and fill them with those hand warmer things that hunters use!

02-12-2008, 08:18 AM	#9
AQHA Hunter Senior Member+ Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Idaho Posts: 3,033 Images: 95	What sort of situation is he going into? I wouldn't want to move him from a warm comfy barn into a pasture situation right away. If he's going into another barn, I think he should be fine. Also, he's not moving in the dead of winter, so it shouldn't be too bad. I agree, just put a bit warmer blanket on him and he should acclimate just fine. __________________ My Boy: Outer Banks (Obie) - 4 yo 17H AQHA Gelding My Current rides: "Imperator" 5 yo Oldenburg gelding and "Joy" 11 year old Belgian DraftX mare Discipline yourself first, and your horse second.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Climate Change -- Just Hates Us!!	Rising Star	Horse Chat	2	08-12-2007 09:23 PM
Anything I should know for keeping horse in cold climate?	BluEyedCowgurl	Horse Chat	21	04-11-2007 11:37 AM
Climate chance - how much do you know?	melissathegreat	Off Topic	3	03-08-2007 03:36 AM
Climate Change	John	Off Topic	7	02-03-2007 01:51 PM
What Climate Would You Prefer To Live In?	Wrangler	Off Topic	28	02-03-2006 02:06 PM