cold backed or what !!

hunteress

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My boy has done this before, he's hunting fit and looks superb but every now and again when I get on his back comes up and he feels almost like he wants to buck me off (Never do's YET !) he has a good fitting saddle I did wonder about the girth is it just high spirits anyone had the same thing happen to them, thanks.
 
My daughters horse does this has never bucked but goes all tight. neck comes up and sometimes his bum. He is cold backed, so we keep his back warm if we know we are riding out. put saddle on about 20 mins before hand and play around with the girth and flaps and move saddle slightly till he chills out. Once on he's an angel. Hope this helps you.
 
My newly backed (12 yr old!) mare does this. No problem slapping a saddle on and doing the girth up really snugly but when you first get on she seems to need a minute or 2 just to think about things and feel the rider on her back. If you rush her or mistake her sluggishness in moving off the leg and boot her harder, she arches her back and it makes you take stock pretty sharpish! BUT, if you just give her a moment or 2 to walk a few steps, think a bit, walk a few more, then she's absolutely fine and never, ever threatens again. I'd be really interested if people think this is just a "newly backed" thing that is easy to accommodate or if it might grow into an evasion? By the way, hunting fit she AIN'T!
 
Probabaly a daft question, but have you had his teeth, back, and tack checked? A friend has a horse that is cold-backed and he does the same thing, only he will explode in spectacular style if she doesn't tack him up and then leave him alone for ten/fifteen minutes or so. He is a lovely horse, and amazing to ride, he just needs this small thing to be done his way. I have seen sort of heat lamps that are supposed to help with cold backed horses - we were going to get one if our bid on a yard had been succesfull. Another friend's horse won't work properly if his forelegs aren't brought forward after the girth is tightened.
 
thanks "Mrs Mozart " I will try the bringing for ward of legs but I do tack up and then he travels in trailer for at least 20mins with his saddle on also I have a new Equisage pad Im going to try and put it on before I put the saddle on high mode I always put the pad on after hunting on low as you are supposed to for 30 mins I have this year also left his saddle pach on I normally take it off !! thanks again.
 
You welcome. Is the Equisage pad the magnetic one? If it isn't then that might be another course of action. There's also the new 'H' shaped girth (can't remember who makes it!), and you could try lunging or long lining for a few minutes before you get on?
 
We tried lunging ours and it never made an ounce of difference. But I have heard good things about the H girth, it doesn't pinch the skin and keeps saddle securely in place.
 
Hi yes its the new equsage pad thats out its great I also have him massaged by a lady every 2 months now after ive clipped him he has a white mark on right side where girth buckles are the left side is not a bad he is so sensative he has a KB albion bridle as the other bridles marked him but Ive only noticed white marks after clipping you can't see with full coat also under belly where girth go's he wears the Aerborn waffle girth and griffin wool numnah.
 
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