I am considering moving to Zurich for my job in a couple of years. I have one mare who I will keep forever, and would have to come with me if I decide to make the move. She has lived her entire life in southern states +100F is normal for us, unfortunately. I am very worried about moving somewhere with such a high elevation and very cold would be poor for her health to make such a drastic move. Has anybody made moves with horses to such drastically different climates? Also, I am not very familiar with what horses are fed out there, so if anybody has insight into that and how to deal with a flight, changing climates, and feeding programs without over-stressing her would even be remotely possible. I would really like to move for my career, but my horse comes first, and I would rather stay in the US than risk doing anything that would severely negatively affect her, so any insights would be helpful. Thanks 
Some of the best hay you will find anywhere, horses live in the valleys rather than up the mountains. Sound horsemanship, vets available…
She’ll probably appreciate the break from the heat!
In general, horses are most comfortable between 15 and 50F. She will do much better out of the heat.
You will have professional help to manage the trip, so let them advise on feeding protocols, etc.
Horses are flown around all the time for competitions, maybe contact one of the shippers for some information on how this works and then you’ll have some information to process rather than just worrying.
Here’s one that came up in a search, I’ve never used them: https://www.irt.com/
Zurich is not so high and horses in that region thrive.
Swiss horses do very well in international competitions, showing us that they manage them well.
Also horses do better moving to cooler climates than the opposite.
I expect you and your horse will like it there, a wonderful place for man and beast.
Good luck on your move, enjoy it, don’t fret, all will be fine.
I second what the others have said, and as far as elevation adjustment, if she’s fit and has good cardio, she may need a little while to adjust to the altitude, if she’s in work start slowly and monitor her heart rate for the first few weeks.
Switzerland, how fun!
might want to check into what is required to import a horse there as it not like loading baby into a trailer here and driving across state lines
We live at about 600 ft elevation, we have had our horses into the mountains above 7,000 feet without an issue. We did competitive trail rides of 50/60 miles over a weekend, admittedly our horses were fit but none ever had an issue with the elevation.
Just moved mine from Kentucky to the UK, and when it’s time for us to move again in a couple years, I’m looking at Germany. Do it. You’ll love it.
Hire a shipper (IRT, Dutta Corp, Equijet, many others) and they will work all the details for the export. Clarify quarantine requirements and any import taxes. Ask them lots of questions and just know this is an extremely expensive choice, so I would advise start saving now. That said, I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
