Are there changes I should be making to their diets? Thinking I should soak their grain so they get enough water, because it is so dry up here. One is a OTTB 6 yrd old and the other is a welsh arab 21 yr old. Both on pasture with feeding hay in the am and pm, the OTTB gets grain mixed with complete. Welsh-Arab is a very easy keeper, and I want the OTTB to gain some weight (may start feeding beetpulp?) . Open to advice and suggestions! Thank you.
Beet pulp soaked with LOTS of water will really help to both get some water into your TB and help him gain weight. I use the bp and rice bran pellets with good success in keeping/adding weight on my TBs.
Welcome!! I haven’t ever moved a horse to here, but to my knowledge none of my friends who bought horses from humid/sea level climates made any specific changes to their diets regarding hydration. I’d say the typical change in environment/feed/hay cautions apply and keep an eye on water intake/monitor manure to make sure it’s not looking too dry. Beet pulp sounds like a good idea but perhaps start it either before the move or after they are settled in to avoid a simultaneous move + diet change?
Find a vet(s) up there and ask away. I moved from central coast CA to 4000 ft elevation CA (high and dry). One difference is in my area, per vet, is I now only have to worm 2x per year as it is so dry (used to worm 6x per year)! Also mare is benefitting from 1x/week hoof dressing- again due to dry climate- gelding has been OK without. Good luck. Hope you enjoy your new locale.
