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Re: [RC] [RC] [RC] Horses and climate adjustments - Jennifer Adam

I am still confused... Does altitude matter or not?? I'm from NE Missouri - where the highest hills can only be called "gently rolling." Training for the mountains interests me greatly, but I want to know more.

In "Go the Distance" by Nancy S. Loving, DVM, she discusses altitude and horses. Some of her points are:
"In regions of high elevations, altitude becomes a critical factor in developing and assessing the metabolic health of your horse." p.130


"Even a well-acclimatized horse must ventilate more at high altitude than a horse performing a similar exertion at sea level." p.135

"...a horse at altitude urinates more than usual. This is particularly challenging to the long-distance athlete faced with arduous exertions over many hours...thereby accelerating dehydration." p.136

"...many horses go off their feed slightly at elevation..." p.136

"...recovery from work is delayed at altitude relative to recovery rates seen at sea level." p.137

She does mention a horse's large spleen, but then goes on to say "However, the contribution of red blood cells from the splenic reservoir will not carry a horse through the sustained exertions of a 100 mile competition, or even a 50 mile event." p.138

Her definition of altitude is over 7 or 8,000 feet. So...is it a problem for horses or not?? Please enlighten me further! :/

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