cold backed symtoms

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megs22

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I've always believed my pony is cold backed but not all the time, on nice warm days I can tack her up and mount with no problems, if its cold she dips her back when I place the saddle on, but is fine when I do the girth even if I tighten if fully and she is good to mount, but on days like today as soon as I take her rug off and she can feel the rain she almost touches the floor (slight exaggeration) I can mount fine but she feels explosive I daren't put my leg on her for a few minutes until she relaxes or she can put a buck in, I don't wear a rain sheet as she freaks out with the feeling and sound on her back although I do use a woollen exercise sheet. In the past she had a ill fitting saddle and I know she had a rubbish time when being broken, I'm constantly learning with her as she is the type that needs managing and isn't afraid to tell me if I'm doing something wrong.
My question is are all horses that show cold backed symptoms have kissing spines or can they be caused by the way they were broken or could it be from remembered pain?
 
My horse had KS and was never cold backed, he just compensated in many different ways, like panic when asked to go downhill. I think the ulcer theory could be a very valid one. Sounds as though she had a stressful time when started.
 
mega spoilt ponies, how did your horse show he was cold backed as I've been told they hump rather than dip and hate having their girth done up and bronc as soon as you get on?
 
BethH yes she had a rubbish time when broken, was beaten on more than one occasion for not understanding what she was asked to do, I'm not adverse to carrying a whip but I can't get near her with one as she freaks out, I spent a good 6 months assuring her that I wasn't going to hurt her and have managed to build a good relationship with her and now she comes to call and I can catch her (yippee), I just find it frustrating when it rains that she reacts like she does, I've owned horses for many years and have never seen one that hates the rain on their back as much as she does. Could the rain exasperate the discomfort of ulcers?
 
PSSM would be another thing to consider. Temperature definitely affects them and diet (and occasionally the position of the moon - ok that's slightly tongue in cheek). If you have some seemly random issues with her and some times she is better than others, improves with exercise, worse when it's cold, those are all symptoms of PSSM and yes a million other things too but PSSM is very under-diagnosed in my opinion.
 
megs22 said:
mega spoilt ponies, how did your horse show he was cold backed as I've been told they hump rather than dip and hate having their girth done up and bronc as soon as you get on?
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When your bum hits the saddle you feel his whole body tense and stiff and back raises right up so you feel perched on top. We then walks like he has filled his pants for 2 strides, occasionally does a couple of little humps and every now and then plants and refuses to move. Also finds going downhill difficult. His back is clear (x-ray/ultrasound/bone scan), its all stomach. He needs regular osteo adjustment due to carrying himself awkwardly because of the ulcer pain and it helps a lot.
 
If you slide your finger tips along his back does she dip between the loins and croup as my chiro said in this area it 'can' be a sign of ulcers. My horse has also been treated for suspected spavins and showed muscle tremors just at the point of the start of the croup. It might give you a vague indication if your horse does the same. If a horse feels sore, then the damp/cold can make them tense and feel uncomfortable regardless of ulcer or back issues. Damp affects my horse more than cold so if the temperature is borderline cold and it's damp he is much happier when I ride him in a quarter sheet so his back end is warm. He has generally always accepted the saddle and if I am not sure, I put it on in the stable. He will walk away from it and stand in a corner if he is unhappy about me putting it on which makes it very clear to me that he is uncomfortable at that particular point in time.
 
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