Cold backed or nervous?

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KRjumpjump

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Hi all,

I have a bit of an odd one! I bought a horse from Ireland in May, he was broken last year then had some time off. He was ridden in Ireland before he came over (I’ve been told was fine) and then had some time off when he got to England.
I’ve been trying to ride him the last few weeks, but when you rise in the saddle (walk or trot) he shoots off for a few strides and is just tense. I’ve got nobody to help me from the ground so I’ve had a girl in to ride him. He does settle a bit but will go back to be a bit jumpy when you get going again.
He can be a bit of a wimp, I can spray him with fly spray 30 times and the 31st time he’ll suddenly get over it. Lots of little things like that, so I have a feeling he’s just a bit nervous and needs some help.
However the girl suggested he might be cold backed. Has anyone had a cold backed horse like this? He’s absolutely fine to get on and off (you can jump on him from the ground, he’ll just stand there), no issues whatsoever saddling, girthing, rugging etc?
The only ones I’ve ridden have been mental the moment you sit on their back? I’ve lunged him first etc it makes no difference. He just seems worried someone’s moving on his back?
He’s got full back, hock etc X-rays, passed a 5 stage vetting!
Just interested if anyone has had something similar and how they got over it?
Thank you!
 
If he came untried/unseen from Ireland is he just very green? He sounds as if he needs some education if he has recently been properly vetted. Maybe get a professional in to assess him and perhaps get teeth back etc checked again. Has his shaped changed? New saddle? So many possibilities but he you likely need professional help if you are not experienced in young newly backed green horses.
 
Check saddle fit and make sure numnah/ saddlecloth is comfortable and not causing pressure points.

Lunge to warm up and take it slowly from there- it could be that very little has been done in the breaking process.

Does the horse have the same reaction if you stand continuously in the stirrups- some very weak horses (which the newly broken usually are) really struggle with the riders weight shifting in rising trot. Strengthening with sitting trot first might be worth a try?
 
Sounds like many of the horses I have known coming over from Ireland 'backed'. To me he sounds nervous/worried by your movement in the saddle. He is probably very green. I would just take things very slowly with him getting used to you moving around him and above him. Sometimes they are also worse with movement on the off side because they are not used to people being there.
I have ridden many horses coming over from Ireland like this, they have just needed the time they should have had a backing.

It goes without saying that tack and physical health should e checked.
 
I rode a youngster for a friend that had been in work for a while. Needed to tighten the girth and did what I always do, lifted my leg forward so I could reach down to tighten the girth. Obviously no-one had ever done that before and I nearly landed on the floor as he shot forward. Nothing wrong just scared.
 
Agree with the others he sounds green, weak, worried I would just take it easy and slowly to build his trust.

My friends cob that came from Ireland was exactly the same he came good in time.
 
This horse needs to be re-backed and treated as an untouched 3 year old. I had to do the same with my cob. He'd bolt if you as much as touched your nose!
He did turn out to be back and hock pain too so not sure how much of the bolting was due to pain and how much it was due to nerves. Probably a bit of both.
 
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