His inclusion, for injured winger Matt Saunders, is one of five changes to the side that beat the Cheetahs 31-28 in Bloemfontein last weekend.
Aaron Bancroft replaces the injured Brett Mather at centre, Jimmy Cowan supplants Toby Morland at halfback, Alando Soakai comes in for Tim Boys on the openside flank, and Jason Macdonald resumes at hooker, in place of David Hall.
New faces on the bench are lock Isaac Ross, who was left behind when the team toured South Africa, and three players, No 8 Steven Setephano (calf), first five Daniel Bowden (concussion) and centre Niva Ta'auso (illness), who have missed recent games.
Both Saunders (head knock) and Mather (knee) are to be assessed and it is unsure whether they will return for the season-ending game against the Crusaders.
Horton, normally a specialist fullback, has played just six games for the Highlanders and two for Otago because of various injuries in the past 18 months.
He has played club rugby for Har-bour during the last month and was whistled to Africa to join the Highlanders as a replacement but did not take the field.
Moore said part of the selection for the Blues game revolved around who had not played much rugby last week, citing players such as Cowan, Soakai and Macdonald.
"Jason only played the last 20min last week, Alando came back from Africa early and Jimmy only played 20min last week," Moore said.
"We've also looked at the bench and getting some fresh legs in there."
Moore said the toughest decision was leaving out flanker Tim Boys, who he said had been in outstanding form in the past two weeks.
Two players, outside backs Fetu'u Vainikolo and Paul Williams, will play their 12th consecutive games this season.
Captain Craig Newby will make his last appearance at Carisbrook as a Highlander and Moore said the Leicester-bound loose forward would be missed.
"Newbs has been what I would class as a very, very good Highlander.
He's got good leadership qualities and good experience, and he'll be really missed here.
"He's always been really hard-nosed and committed and uncompromising, and he's got a competitive attitude to the game, which I really like.
"I understand the timing is right for him to go overseas. I'm sorry to be losing him but I'm also supportive and understanding of his decision."
