Cold Backed Horse Help

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fathorse

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Has anyone with a 'cold backed' horse gone on to find that there was an underlying medical cause and the horse was infact in pain for another reason that wasn't checked out?
 
My boy was VERY cold backed when I got him - as in dumped you rather quickly if you got on without lunging and doing the girth up very gradually. It was due to him being extremely unsupple from being kept in a stable and cross tied during the day because of his box walking for 18 months as a 4-5 year old, it didn't come up in his vetting though. Now he's lovely and supple we don't have any problems. Although I do know one where it was due to kissing spines, long lining and injections and right as rain now, with no "issues".

The term cold backed generally just describes any horse sensitive through his back, so really there probably is a reason. If you're concerned, get it checked out, maybe by a chiro after some conversations with your vet?
 
I had a cold backed horse. She was 5 stage vetted when I bought her, this showed no problems. She was very tense and cold backed when first mounted, she was much better if lunged first. I had physios and vet out who said there was nothing wrong with her.
I put her out on lwvtb the lady bought her after 6 months. She was still a bit cold backed. Eventually she had xrays and was found to have such severe kissing spines she had to be pts ��. A sad story, I feel bad as I had sought professional help but was told there was nothing wrong.
 
I have the vet coming to check her out this week. I have just taken this horse on trial for permanent loan and the ex loanee has told me that she is cold backed and to lunge her prior to riding. She show no signs of sensitivity when I touch her back, groom her, saddle and girth her. I got on her for the first time last week after lunging her for 10 mins on each rein to make sure her muscles were warmed up. I got on and walk for a while then asked her to trot and we had a swishy tail and didn't feel right, I really pushed her on and she proceeded to buck, leap and then do a massive rear. My instructor told me she looked in pain and to get off. I'm also having her saddle checked as it doesn't look a great fit. Just seemed such an extreme reaction for asking to trot. She has settled in really well and has a really laid back temperament and nice nature that I don't think it was naughtiness. People have mentioned kissing spines, hock problems etc. could be the issue so just getting her checked out. She had her back looked at 4 weeks ago.
 
No Hazel was never naughty. She was reluctant to move forwards and tense. She was generally ok in trot but sometimes bunny hopped when asked to canter. She was a lovely mare , I just ended up thinking it was me that was the problem as professionals said she was ok.
You could try a Bute trial to see if it is pain related, I wish I had asked for this and xrays.
 
Vet is saying X-Rays are a drastic action at this stage and wants to see her first. Instructor did suggest bute trial so see what vet says. Thanks for your replies.
 
A Bute trial is often totally ineffective for kissing spines and sacroiliac pain.

Two cold backed horses I've known had kissing spines, one so severe it was put down and the other was operated on.


What does your vet think is 'drastic' about £200 of spine x rays?
 
I think A) Because the horse is on trial and there is the option of just sending her back and B) That it may be something that she has done either on the journey or in new field since I have had her and C) That i'm querying the saddle fit so basically there are other avenues to explore first that are relatively inexpensive.
 
Mine was due to saddle issues, but he still now flinches a little when I put the saddle on, so he remembers the pain, i'm hoping it might go away with time now we have a lovely fitting saddle, I knew it was the saddle because he was perfect bareback, good luck x
 
I have one who used to be very cold backed, he chucked me off numerous times in the first 2 years I had him, had his back checked several times to no avail and his saddle (although later that was found to not fit well eventhough pro fitted). Weirdly, it was after giving him the winter off work and him being on NAF Superflex for him to come back into work a million times better. I have no idea what happened during that winter but only very occassionally is he a bit funny and nowhere near what he used to be (explosive!).
 
FH - be very wary. I have not come across a cold backed horse that didn't have pain as the route cause. Now it could be something as simple as the saddle fit, but it could be more serious.
 
Yes -sorry. Mine became tense through his back, reluctant to girth and was found to have sacroiliac pain and grade 3 ulcers. Also a mare at my previous yard was sensitive when touching her back and was eventually found to have hind suspensory problems.
 
I would have any cold backed / stiff horse which improves with exercise tested for PSSM which can be done via Animal Genetics for £30 with a tail hair sample you pull yourself.
 
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