Cold back, just curious.

[Janah]

As title really. A friend said her pony has a cold back. I know about putting saddle on and doing up girth slowly and maybe walking horse before getting on. My query is what is the cause/causes and is it a permanent condition, can it happen at any time?

I would really like to know more about cold backs.

Jane

 

[chestnut cob]

A lot of cold backed horses can have underlying problems - the cold back is just a symptom. Mine was cold backed and then diagnosed with spavins in both hocks and associated pain in SI and lumbar areas of his back. Had everything treated and although he occasionally still pulls a face when being girthed, he isn't "cold backed" any more. The faces are just habit now more than anything else.

It might be that your friend's pony has maybe had a badly fitting saddle in the past and he still thinks having the girth done up might hurt. Mine loathed a dressage saddle I had, despite it being fitted numerous times, and would kick when the girth was done up. All of the behaviour stopped when I changed to a different saddle.

Maybe the pony is stiff somewhere or has a sore back?

 

[teddyt]

As well as the things mentioned by chesnutcob, a cold back can also be an involuntary reaction to a nerve being stimulated. A bit like your lower leg pinging up if your kneecap is hit by a hammer.