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Due to the tremendous splenic capacity that horses have, they adjust to altitude far more readily than humans, and have little difficulty with it at all. 

 

I agree that the toughest is to go into high humidity coupled with heat, if not acclimated to it.  Going the other way or going to altitude are much easier.

 

Heidi

On Fri, 26 May 2006 11:17:56 -0700 (PDT), Jody Rogers-Buttram
<dragnin100@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>I think that horses from hot/humid less hilly areas, can go and acclimate to altitude *better* than those from higher altitude, but dry, arid conditions can come ride in hot/humid terrain.
>  
>  My personal thoughts and observation only.
>  No Truman, I have no stats to back that up.   :))

I agree 100%, that has always been my experience.  "Sea level" horses that came
to the Races of Champions that were held at high altitude did very well, and
that's been the case at such high-altitude rides as the Big Horn 100 too.

Also, I believe that it takes at least six weeks, and can be longer, for a horse
coming from a dry climate to acclimate to high humidity.  Conversely, a horse
coming from high humidity into a dry climate doesn't seem to have much
difficulty from day one.  After all, it's easier for a horse (or human) to cool
himself when the humidity is low, even if it is very hot.  I will caution,
though, that dehydration can sneak up on you in low humidity, where you don't
"feel" the sweat loss because it evaporates so quickly, until you're already
dehydrated.

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